Now that Christmas has passed, we wanted to reflect on some of our favorite Yule Tide flicks.

11. Elf: This movie is just full of joy. Unleashed, and ridiculous, it’s a release of Christmas fun. What if one of Santa’s Elves was “adopted” and human? Gold. Pure Gold.

10. The Nightmare Before Christmas: It does seem that Christmas starts right after Halloween these days. But this Tim Burton masterpiece makes the transition fun! Sandy Claws. tee hee.

9. Emit Otters a Jug Band Christmas: Thank you Jim Henson. I lived for this movie as a kid.  The movie is based on a book written by Russell and Lillian Hoban, which echo’s the O. Henry story, Gift of the Magi. This is good ol’ Christmas magic at work. P.S. The River Bottom Nightmare Band ROCKS.

8. A Christmas Carol: Any version really. Muppets, Scrooged or 1984’s version with George C. Scott. (Did I’m mention I’m a Patton Fan?) I have my favorites, but the story is what keeps you coming back.

7. Bad Santa: A Departure from the norm, but it has a touching message. Don’t take shyt form anyone, and it’s the thought that counts, even if it has blood on it. Refreshing amongst the sappy stuff, of the season. Plus, they say F*** 147 times.

6. A White Christmas: Got to have a musical! My favorite song, being “Sisters”, this Christmas classic written by Irving Berlin will forever have me hoping for snow.

5. Santa Claus the Movie: This is how I imagine Santa. Not just a happy old elf. Guy just can’t be happy all the time, and he’s certainly not perfect! Not to mention John Lithgow’s delightfully evil “B.Z.” is played perfectly.

[Towzer comments to B.Z. about the proposed puce lollipop] Towzer: If this catches on, we can come out with a liquid version: puce juice.

4. The Snowman: After seeing it as a child, rolling up the snow became more then just something to do, but a hopeful task. The film is not sappy; it is joyful and mystical, from the pencil sketch animation, to the haunting voice of Peter Auty singing “Walking in the Air”. Nothing is forever, but we can take joy in it, while we have it.

3. It’s a Wonderful Life: I don’t think need to explain why this is on my list. “Hot Dog!” “Buffalo Girls won’t you come out tonight, come out tonight!”

2. Little Women: As a New Englander, esp. when traveling, this movie brings me home. Louise May Alcott’s book is of course an American classic, but this movie is superbly acted, well design and directed. It captures everything I loved about a New England Christmas. Decorating the house in greens, cooking, snow, charity, and family. Truly good all year round, but at Christmas it’s best.

1. A Christmas Story: The number one, back-to-back awesome Christmas tale. Everyone in the family enjoys watching this film (thanks to TBS, we can all day long). So yes, midnight on Christmas Eve, I have this on. Scenes of Randy falling asleep under the tree like we used to do, mom and dad pointing out the cars or old appliances they remember from their youths, this movie reminds us all of not only the magic, but the mayhem of the holiday. Which I think, we need both. Christmassy Ying and Yang.

What are your favorite movies to watch during the holidays?