Sappy or Cynical? What’s Your Preference in Christmas Movies?

Even though I’ve never been a huge fan of Christmas, I used to love to break out the hankerchiefs and watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” every year on New Year’s Eve.

And I admit to sobbing while watching “Scrooge,” starring Alister Sim–the absolute best version of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”–back in the day. This version is great because it shows how Scrooge got to be so messed up. He was abandoned by his parents, left to spend Christmas alone at his boarding school.

I even liked the remake with George C. Scott as Scrooge. These movies would only be shown on TV once during the Christmas/New Year’s season, and I kind of looked forward to seeing them again each Christmas season.

Then at some point, maybe during the 1980s, the copyrights ran out on some of those great old holiday movies, and the TV stations started showing them about 25 times a week beginning around Thanksgiving. Now I simply can’t get through “It’s A Wonderful Life” anymore. It’s been totally ruined for me. I even got a bit sick of “Scrooge,” when I couldn’t turn on the TV without seeing it.

My taste now runs more toward black comedies like Bad Santa, which IMHO has to be the best Christmas movie ever. There are also some Christmas-themed horror movies–those can be fun if you’re in the right mood.

For anyone who happens to stop by tonight, would you please tell us what your favorite sappy or cynical Christmas movies is? I promise I won’t laugh at you if you like the sentimental ones. I totally understand. I can still be sucked in. Here are a few clips just to get you started. First the Sappy: a clip from Scrooge with Alistair Sim,

and one from We’re No Angels with Humphrey Bogart and pals as escaped convicts.

And now some cynical ones: Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa,

and Dennis Leary as a burglar who ends up having to play marriage counselor for a squabbling couple at Christmas time.

And here’s a bonus Christmas horror movie–just a mild one.

Now, what are your favorites?