The Citizen Review " A man goes to the movies. A critic must be honest enough to admit that he is that man." -Robert Warshow

1. It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

It's the quintessential Christmas classic. It's got it all: great actors, great story, flashbacks, black and white, what more could you ask for? Plus the last scene is just too adorable to ignore.

2. The Polar Express (2004)

It's a poignant, heart wrenching imagination of the classic children's story that hits all the right notes. It goes so much deeper than the story, which is good considering it was under 100 pages. It asks the classic question: "Do we really believe in Santa Clause?" and it shows how important it is to keep your inner child.

3. Millions (2004)

Although it's not considered a 'Christmas move' per se, but it's hard to ignore that last act in the film, bustling Christmas spirit. It's a filmy by Danny Boyle (the king of Slumdog Millionaire) and unfortunately this movie went under the radar. The heart of the film is the heart of Alex Etel. His performance is heartbreaking, poignant and perfectly on cue.

4. Elf (2003)

By far the funniest Christmas movie out there, with outlandish acts, and truly great moments. The scene where a very blond Zooey Deschanel and the uncanny elf Will Ferrel duet to "Baby It's Cold Outside", it's funny and romantic. The film may seem boisterous, but it has a surprising heart and a good spirit.

5. The Family Stone (2005)

This one wins the award for saddest ending and best cast. It has the whole gang: Sarah Jessica Parker, Diane Keaton, Clair Danes, Rachel McAdams, Dermot Mulroney. It's about a modern family and how they embrace a new member to the family, and how she reacts to their eccentricities. There are some truly great scenes that make this new holiday classic worth watching.

Merry Christmas!

The Citizen Review

Elf is not your average 'holiday' movie. At the surface, it may seem obnoxious or silly and full of laughs but it's so much better. It has created one of the quirkiest, most homey versions of Christmas and the North Pole the movies has ever seen. It totally goes unapologetically showing us Will Ferrel in a felt elf costume for two hours, having Bob Newhart as his 'papa-elf' and the North Pole looking like the inside of a snowglobe. It's funny, yes, but it also taps into the audiences deepest, most tender Christmas spirit. At the center of the film is a great big heart.

Half of the thanks is due to the stellar cast. First of all there is Bob Newhart, the sarcastic, monotoned Papa Elf. Then there is the cast of characters he meets back in the Big Apple. James Caan plays the head of a children's book publisher who couldn't have less 'Christmas spirit', he's also Buddy's dad.; there's his coworker Jovie played by Zooey Deschanel in one of her first mainstream roles (oh yeah, he also lands a job in a large department store);

And of course the other half of the thanks is due to the writing, because there truly are some hilarious scenes that don't stop being funny after the fifth time watching it. For many, Elf has become another holiday classic, sharing the shelf with A Christmas Story, It's a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street. And with its fun cast, bustling gags and outrageous performance by Will Ferrel, it's hard for me not to say the space is well-deserved.

Elf is one of those cute, jolly little films that come just around Christmas time. The kids say they want to see Santa on screen, and the parents take them because, it's Christmas! I'm not trying to make this movie sound like a "cookie-cutter" film, because it's not a bad film, but it is jut an okay film. And, really, that's all it's trying to be.

This story, takes place in the North Pole, where Buddy the Elf is the only human at Santa's workshop, resembling ones from the classic animated "Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer" and "Frosty the Snowman. He knows he's different, but he's not sure why. One day, Papa Elf tells him the truth about himself and Santa sends him to New York City to find his real family.

He goes, and indeed finds his family, runs into some funny instances with them, it is a comedy, and there's also a romantic interest played by Zooey Deschanel, in one of her not-so-good performences. The movie isn't bad, there are some hilarious moments from Will Ferrel, without whom, the film would not even slightly work, and it ends nicely. It has become a classic to some, but for me, it was a slightly memorable, cute film, starring Will Ferrel, the only reason this film was memorable.