yes, die hard is a christmas movie

one of my favorite things about christmas time is christmas movies. i watch a lot of them during the month of december, but save my top 5 favorites for the week before christmas. i watch one every night starting 6 nights before christmas. on christmas eve, i watch whatever my dad has picked out. most of the time it is either some version of 'a christmas carol' or 'it's a wonderful life.' though great stories, neither one makes my top 5.

so in the week leading up for christmas, here's what i'll be watching:

1. 'the shop around the corner' - as jimmy stewart christmas movies go this one is, in my opinion, the best. most christmas movies are pretty darn unrealistic and while this one will make most people under the age of 30 say 'mail? what's mail?' it seems to me to have a much less cheesy premise than most christmas movies. but then, i'm the type of person to fall in love with someone through a letter they wrote.

2. the 1947 version of 'miracle on 34th street' - i don't really go in for the perpetuation of the santa claus myth, but i am a fan of the concepts of hopes and dreams and to me, that's what this movie is all about.

3. 'home alone 2: lost in new york' - this movie is just plain fun. and new york city at christmas time is one of my favorite places. i can't get there every year so this movie is the next best thing for me. though the pigeon lady is very creepy to me.

4. 'while you were sleeping' - most people don't think of this movie when their minds stray to christmas movies, but it is a favorite in my family. this movie isn't really about christmas, it just happens to take place at christmas time. which is enough for me to make it a christmas movie. favorite scene? the random scene of a kid on a bike wiping out as he tries to deliver a newspaper. makes me laugh hysterically every time.

5. 'christmas in connecticut' - this is my all-time favorite christmas movie. it is funny, festive, romantic and has uncle felix....everything a great movie should have. if you've never seen this classic, track it down. you won't regret it.

coming in at honorable mention (meaning i try to make a point to watch these movies sometime in december): 'edward scissorhands,' 'the muppet christmas carol,' 'love actually', 'scrooged,' 'elf,' 'the holiday,' 'better off dead,' 'die hard' and last but not least 'a claymation christmas.' that last one would make it into the top 5 if i had a copy.

there you have it...