During Christmas eve, I always take a brake and have a Christmas movie marathon either in the company or family or in the solace of my won room. Watching Christmas themed movies for me is like making up for the delayed Christmas spirit that failed to crawl in my system due to so many preoccupations. And because it’s Advent here on my blog, I decided to share with you my 12 favorite Christmas movies of all time hehe. some of you will label me as a geek and emo, but who cares, it’s Christmas for Crying out loud. So to all of you who have nothing to do on Christmas eve while you wrap your gifts and wait for the Noche Buena to be served, then by golly, watch these movies and let the Christmas Spirit sink in to you.

12. Batman Returns – If you love Cats and Happy Feet then this movie is definitely for you this Christmas. An action-packed, superhero movie that lashes out villains and purring femme fatale. Batman returns is probably the best Batman installment ever made, with a star studded cast and excellent performances from Michael keaton as the caped crusader, Danny De Vito as Penguin, Christopher Walken as Max Schreck and Michelle Pfeiffer as the cunning and seductve Cat Woman. You’ll love this movie, at the same time ending the movie with a feeling of heroism during Christmas. Now now don’t do your back-handsprings on your living room without your gymnastics instructor present haha. BTW, you can also watch Die Hard 1 if you want a testosterone packed action Christmas movie other than this. Its actually my 13th movie for this list but the song only asks for 12 LOL

11. I’ll Be home for Christmas - This is probably the most exhausting teen movie I’ve ever seen. Its about a HS student on an academy of some sort who never went home for Christmas ever since his mother died. His Father bribed him to have a Porsche (porsh, por-sha) only on the condition that he comes home on Christmas. Bullied by jocks and set up the night before his trip back home, he found himself the next morning in the middle of the desert, wearing a stupid Santa Claus suit and the Santa Hat glued to his head. He struggles to come home, state by state, mile by mile encountering strangers along the way with no money and tons of realizations and new-found friends as his gifts on Christmas. Starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas and the then young and fresh Jessica Biel.

10. Jingle All The Way - For the daddykins out there who have trouble finding a gift for their children. I mean “literally” troubled finding a gift haha. This Christmas movie which starred Arnold Z (its better to spell his surname this way) and Sinbad is all about a very hot and in demand toy called “Turbo Man” which his son desperately wants as a gift for Christmas. Traveling city by city just to get the said toy, he found himself in a lot of trouble in the proceess just to get a hand on that elusive action figure. This movie has a very good soundtrack and a very Christmas feel which you and your son will surely love.

9. Santa Clause 1 and 2 – Spoofing the traditional Santa Claus movies, Tim Allen stars in this Trilogy of being the next Santa Claus after he accidentally startled the real Santa in his roof who plummeted to the ground, dying instantly or should I say, melting instantly on the spot. With no Santa Claus that night, Tim Allen unconsciously subjected himself to the “Santa Clause” (part of the Contract) which stated that whoever wears the real santa’s suit will replace the former. I love this movie. I recommend this to all the kids out there who believes that Santa do exist. BTW forget the third installment, its a drag and it sucks.

8. Santa Claus the Movie – Taking our number 8 spot is Santa Claus the (real) movie directed by Superman Director Alexander Salkind. If you want your child to watch a classic movie about the mystery of Santa Claus and what makes reindeers fly, then I will definitely recommend you this one. This is so magical that you start believing in Santa Claus yourself. I remember this movie very well because this is the first ever movie that I saw in a real movie theater at the age of seven together with my mom, my cousins and my siblings. Watching this movie brings back so many memories of my childhood in all its simplicity and contentment. And even now, I can still vividly remmber and feel my happiness at that time watching this movie. Its such a great film indeed.

7. Surviving Christmas – On our seventh spot is Ben Affleck and Cristina Applegate’s hilarious family-oriented Christmas comedy called Surviving Christmas. Drew Latham (Affleck) is an executive leading an empty, shallow life with only wealth on his side. Facing another lonely Christmas ahead, Drew wants to revisit his old childhood home and possibly relive some old holiday memories. But when he arrives, he finds that the house he was raised in is no longer the home he grew up in. Inhabited by another family, Drew offers a nice financial reward that has the family ringing. But is Drew’s generous cash offer only the beginning of an annoying visitor whose a little too overeager to celebrate, This movies is not ad as it seems. It is actually filled with moral lessons in life that you begin to relate it on your own, leaving yourself at the end of the movie with questions about your current relationship with your family. Definitely a humor and a tearjerker rolled into one.

6. You’ve Got Mail – Now for those of you who are so engrossed with the Internet maybe this movie is for you this Christmas. This movie was released during the height of the email boom in the cycberspace and it was a blockbuster hit on the cinemas. Though the movie is not totally about Christmas but the Christmas scenario really lit up the scenes. Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) is a bookstore mogul while Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) is the inherited owner of a little four-manned children’s bookstore in New York. The plot revolves on how the Giant bookstore of Joe Fox put the store of Kathleen Kelly out of business, unknown to them that their online friends are the same people whom they despise in the real world. Watch this and you’ll definitely fall in love online hehe

5. Serendipity – Who can forget this beautiful movie about destiny. Though it could be unrealistic at time yet it could happen to anyone, especially to people who believes in destiny. The plot is about two strangers who met at blomingdales (in NY) to buy a pair of Gloves. One thing led to another and few hours later they found themselves attracted to each other. Tha Catch is, if they are really destined for each other, fate will lead them to each others arms no matter what. Few years passed and they found themselves in a wild goose chase to find each other before they themselves tie the knot. Without any address or telephone number, the two embarked in what is said to be a serendipity. Para ito sa mga emo, matatandang binata at dalaga na wala pang lababo ngayong pasko at naghihintay ng destiny hehe

4. The Fourth Wise Man – This movie was made for TV yet when I watched it on HBO it definitely made an impact on me. This was based on a novel of the same title. I think I have blogged about this movie in my previous entires. Just so you know, it is a story of hope and search for the Baby Jesus. It was said that there was a fourth wiseman who took a journey to follow the three other wisemen but everytime he arrives on the place, the Lord has already left. A wonderful heartwarming and spiritually filled movie you dont want to miss.

3. Home Alone 1 and 2 – Who among us didnt see this movie? it is now considered as a classic comedy about a young boy who was left alone in his house (twice–well the other one is sorta) during Christmas and had no choice but to defend his house and himself against the two burglars who robs every houses and toy stores. I have seen this a million times and I never fail to watch it during Christmas season. Ito ang pelikula na di nakakasawa. BTW, forget about the third and Fourth home alone installment… they are not that good.

2. While You Were Sleeping - Second spot for my Top 12 Christmas movies of all time is starred by my favorite actress Sandra Bullock. This movie was credited as the one which catapulted her to stardom. While you were sleeping is a romantic comedy about a Train Booth clerk who had a major crush on the station’s regular commuter and rescued him from the track when he was attacked by snatchers. One thing led to another and she was misconstrued as the victim’s fiancee who fell into a long coma during the Christmas season. In the Process she fell in love with the brother and everything intertwined unexpectedly. I love Sandra Bullock here. Her comedic timing never fails to make me laugh.

1. The Nativity Story - and Last but not the least, the first ever movie that held its premier in the Vatican and was shown to Pope Benedict XVI. The movie is the story of Mary and Josephs struggle while waiting for the birth of Jesus. This movie is I think the most accurate of all the Nativity stories ever translated into film. Even the facial features of the star who portrayed Mary resembled that of mid-eastern descent. This film shows the “human” side of Mary and Joseph and how they were able to handle a great responsibility of bringing forth to earth the son of God.

On Christmas eve, December 24, 2008, OTWOMD will show the entire movie here in a limited 24 hour showing. Watch out for it on the 24th.