22 ENTERTAINMENT
Movies to watch this holiday season BY AUBREY BANKS reporter
There are many ways to celebrate the holidays, but movies are the quickest and
easiest way to get into the holiday spirit. These three movies are my personal favorites
because of the comedy and Christmas references each movie holds.
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000) “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is a retelling of the classic book written by Dr. Seuss. The Grinch, who is played by Jim Carrey, plans to steal Christmas from the Whos by stealing their presents and Christmas decorations. If you liked both the animated film and the book, then you will surely love this film. Jim Carrey as the Grinch was perfect casting in my opinion. He made this live-action film come to life with his craziness and weird outbursts. The Grinch is known as a hateful person, which is something Jim Carrey portrayed perfectly in his acting. From acting crazy to eating garbage and glass, Jim Carrey did a wonderful job showing the Grinch’s craziness and odd be-
“Elf” is about Buddy, played by Will Ferrell, who is accidentally transported to the North Pole as a baby and raised to adulthood among Santa and his elves. As a grown-up, Buddy travels to New York where he meets his biological father. While this movie is a comedy, it surely doesn’t miss out on the heart-warming moments. This Christmas movie is great if you are in a good mood and want to laugh. Will Ferrell is a genius at comedy, and he really shows that talent in “Elf.” From Buddy being overly excited at things to him being awkward at normal activities and events, “Elf” does a great job at making the smallest and most genuine things funny. While comedy is the main attraction in this
havior. Another great thing about this film is the special effects. The artists and directors of this film did a great job of showing Whoville with the snowy mountains and the cave that the Grinch lives in. They show Whoville as exactly like how I would have imagined it, with the Whos getting ready for Christmas in a rush. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is a movie I watch every year during the holiday season. This film has a lot of laughs and the Grinch’s unexpected actions and behaviors is really the icing on the cake. I highly recommended this movie because of all the laughs and fun things that are a reference to the original book.
“Elf” (2003)
movie, it has its touching moments. The actors in this movie did well in motivating the viewers to keep in touch with their families. How specific scenes are acted makes the movie a lot better because those scenes show a lot of emotion and heart. The ending of the movie is one of the more emotional scenes, and it ties the whole movie up perfectly. “Elf” is one of the best Christmas movies for when you want to laugh with your family. This movie is also great for getting into the holiday season, no matter when you are watching it. I highly recommend this movie because of all the funny and heartwarming scenes that play through most of it.
“The Polar Express” (2004)
“The Polar Express” is an animated film based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg. The movie is about a young boy who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, where he meets new friends and discovers the wonders of life. This movie is great to bring back memories of being a child and getting excited for Christmas. Throughout this film, there are many touching moments with the main character. The main character is doubtful of Santa at first, but, when he meets him, he changes his mind completely and starts to celebrate Christmas with his family and new friends. The touching moments of this film show how easy being a child was during
Christmas. The main attraction of this film was the train. The directors and special effects artists did a great job with showing and making a realistic train in an animation film. The train is one of the most important aspects of this film because it gives the main character a quality reason to believe in Santa. The train also gives the watchers hope in the sense that they will never be alone. “The Polar Express” shows the importance of both childhood and hope. The film is a great Christmas movie if you want to relive it again with your family. I highly recommend this movie because of the special effects and memories that I had as a child watching it.
