IN MY LIFE- MORE CHRISTMAS FAVORITES- MOVIES & ALBUMS

I listed my favorite Christmas songs recently. Now it's time for my top 6 favorite Christmas movies and albums of all-time...

 Christmas Movies- (in no particular order)

* Bad Santa-

I know, it's naughty, but funny. Forget bad Santa 2, the sequel which came out last year. It's really a bad movie and nowhere as funny as the original. Not for kids.
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The Polar Express-

OK, maybe it's a kid's movie, but you gotta be in wonder of the many special effects. it's a movie with heart, and a great soundtrack. Plus Tom hanks is one of my favorite actors.

The colors, the imagination, the detail...amazing. Director Robert Zemekias is a great, underrated director, having done the Back To The Future trilogy, Forrest Gump and Castaway, among others.

* Jack Frost-

A movie most critics hated, starring Michael Keaton during his early heyday. Maybe the premise is stupid- a dead father who returns to his family as a snowman, but it is what it is- you wither love it or hate it.

* Miracle on 34th Street-

Love the old time feel of this movie. Edmund Gwenn is Santa Claus. Also starring a very young Natalie Wood and the beautiful Maureen O'Hara.It's funny and whimsical, like Christmas movies should be.

* A Christmas Carol-

The Alistar Sim version of the Dicken's classic novel. Most of the other versions may be more technically advanced ( Speaking of Zemekias, he made an animated version of "A Christmas Carol" and it was awful) with their special effects, but this 1951 black and white version is the best. This is a story that needs to be seen in black and white.

Honorable mention: Elf, A Christmas Story, National lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Christmas Albums-(in no particular order)

* December by the Moody Blues-

Different than most Christmas albums, full of sweet original songs and classics, like "White Christmas" and "Happy Christmas (War is Over)". Relaxing and laid-back.

* John Denver Christmas by John Denver-

A nice mix of traditional ("Silver Bells"), religious ("What Child Is This?") and original ("Aspenglow" and "Christmas For Cowboys"). I love all the songs but the terrible "Please daddy, Don't Get Drunk This Christmas"- what wa she thinking?

* Because it's Christmas by Barry Manilow-

Original songs mixed with traditional. I love how all the songs melt and blend into each other, with orchestration in-between tunes. Much better than his next two Christmas albums.You can get a combo of all three Manilow Christmas cds in one , called "The Classic Christmas Album".

* Christmas by Michael Buble-

Returns to Billboard's top ten every Christmas season and for good reason- it's easily this generation's best traditional Christmas album. Josh Groben's "Noel" is a top-seller too every year, but Buble's has a little something for everyone.

Honorable mention: James Taylor at Christmas,Jackson 5 Christmas, You Just Gotta Love Christmas by Peter Cetera