Once again, tis the season: tis the season to have Fairy-tale of New York on repeat, tis the season for too many pigs in blankets and tis the season for binge-watching Christmas movies.
Below are my three top picks to add to your December must-watch list that are sure to get you in the spirit of things this festive period.
Home Alone 2: Lost In New York
Somewhat controversially, my first recommendation is actually the second instalment of the biggest Christmas franchise in movie history; Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
The film follows Christmas poster boy Kevin McAllister after he accidentally gets on a different flight from the rest of his family, finding himself once again spending the festive period alone.
The sequel retains all the charm of its predecessor, but I personally find it to be funnier and more heartfelt, all the whilst set against the backdrop of New York; a city which seems to possess an almost magical quality at Christmas time.
Love Actually
My second festive top pick is the 2003 comedy drama Love Actually.
Featuring an all-star cast including Colin Firth, Kiera Knightley and Hugh Grant to name but a few, the movie is set in the build-up to Christmas day and follows nine intertwining stories which are all centred around the complexities of love.
The quirkiness and likability of the different characters is reminiscent of director Richard Curtis’s other rom-coms such as Notting Hill and Bridget Jones Diary and it is sure to have you both laughing out loud and sobbing into your box of Quality Streets.
Die Hard
My final recommendation is a far cry from the family-friendly scenes of most Christmas classics, instead substituting soppy sentimentality for machine guns, explosions and Bruce Willis at his action hero best.
I am of course referring to everyone’s favourite festive thriller, Die Hard.
Instead of panic buying last minute gifts, our protagonist John MacClane instead finds himself single-handedly battling against a group of terrorists intent on wreaking havoc this Christmas Eve.
A film that does not fit the typical Christmas movie mould by any means, Die Hard is the perfect alternative for those looking something a little less cheesy, and a little more edge-of-your-seat this Winter holiday.
Photo: Brandon Warren
