MONROE - Just as a popular song can rekindle memories of Christmases past, movies also are a way to commemorate the holidays.
Most people have a favorite Christmas song, something they find themselves singing or whistling or humming as they go through the final few days of work before leaving home Christmas Eve to spend time with their family. They might even find themselves humming the tune while they wrap presents.
Most people also have a popular Christmas movie; one they will sit down to watch if it's on television or buy or rent if they see it at the store.
Here are some popular Christmas movies that people might be shopping for this year:
• "Scrooge." The 1951 version starring Alastair Sim often is considered the best movie of the familiar Charles Dickens classic, "A Christmas Carol." Sim is exceptional in the role of London's meanest miser and is completely believable as a man changed by the three ghosts who visit him on Christmas Eve.
A 1984 version , starring George C. Scott, also is a popular movie due to Scott's portrayal of Scrooge and the fact that, because of his previous role in the movie "Patton," the viewer already is scared of George C. Scott.
• "It's a Wonderful Life." Yes, it's been on television hundreds of times but it's still a good movie about a man who realizes how much his life means to not just himself but to his friends and family. It shows how much one person's life affects so many others. There are some funny moments in the movie, as well as some touching ones, such as the end of the movie when Harry Bailey raises his glass to toast his brother, George, "the richest man in town."
• "A Christmas Story." A movie about a 9-year-old boy who wants a BB gun for Christmas. Along the way the little boy attends schools, gets in a fight with a bully and ultimately ... well, there's no reason to spoil the ending.
• "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Charlie Brown is worried that Christmas has become too commercial. To help him understand the true meaning of the holiday, he directs a Christmas play staged by his friends. Eventually, his friend Linus explains what Christmas is all about and Charlie's friends soon understand what Christmas is all about, too.
• "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." It's a familiar story about the little reindeer who is teased because of his shiny red nose who eventually helps Santa deliver toys on Christmas Eve, but it's still fun to watch.
- Brian Gray is a reporter for The Monroe Times. He can be reached at bgray@themonroetimes.com.
Most people have a favorite Christmas song, something they find themselves singing or whistling or humming as they go through the final few days of work before leaving home Christmas Eve to spend time with their family. They might even find themselves humming the tune while they wrap presents.
Most people also have a popular Christmas movie; one they will sit down to watch if it's on television or buy or rent if they see it at the store.
Here are some popular Christmas movies that people might be shopping for this year:
• "Scrooge." The 1951 version starring Alastair Sim often is considered the best movie of the familiar Charles Dickens classic, "A Christmas Carol." Sim is exceptional in the role of London's meanest miser and is completely believable as a man changed by the three ghosts who visit him on Christmas Eve.
A 1984 version , starring George C. Scott, also is a popular movie due to Scott's portrayal of Scrooge and the fact that, because of his previous role in the movie "Patton," the viewer already is scared of George C. Scott.
• "It's a Wonderful Life." Yes, it's been on television hundreds of times but it's still a good movie about a man who realizes how much his life means to not just himself but to his friends and family. It shows how much one person's life affects so many others. There are some funny moments in the movie, as well as some touching ones, such as the end of the movie when Harry Bailey raises his glass to toast his brother, George, "the richest man in town."
• "A Christmas Story." A movie about a 9-year-old boy who wants a BB gun for Christmas. Along the way the little boy attends schools, gets in a fight with a bully and ultimately ... well, there's no reason to spoil the ending.
• "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Charlie Brown is worried that Christmas has become too commercial. To help him understand the true meaning of the holiday, he directs a Christmas play staged by his friends. Eventually, his friend Linus explains what Christmas is all about and Charlie's friends soon understand what Christmas is all about, too.
• "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." It's a familiar story about the little reindeer who is teased because of his shiny red nose who eventually helps Santa deliver toys on Christmas Eve, but it's still fun to watch.
- Brian Gray is a reporter for The Monroe Times. He can be reached at bgray@themonroetimes.com.