Holiday Movie Reviews
“The Holiday” – by Angelina Oliva
“The Holiday” follows both Amanda and Iris, played by Cameron Diaz, and Kate Winslet respectively. They decide to leave their chaotic lives and switch homes. Amanda finds herself in a quiet English village which is a drastic change from her bustling life in Hollywood.
She meets Iris’ brother Graham, played by Jude Law. He and his two daughters help Amanda find peace in the mundane moments of life. On the other hand, Iris lives in Amanda’s Hollywood mansion. She finds a companionship with Miles, played by Jack Black. His presence brings her a sense of playful joy that she wanted to find. Black’s comedic genius combined with his heartfelt portrayal of his character makes the film even more wholesome.
Iris also befriends a neighbor named Arthur, played by “The Godfather” actor Eli Wallach. His character is facing a decision of whether he should or should not receive an award for his work on old films. Iris’ friendship helps him gain the strength to walk up the aisle of the award ceremony. Amanda and Iris’ lives are brought together in symphony. The talented cast of actors and vibrant music score make this heartfelt film a favorite in many households.
“Violent Night” by Fritz Freimann
Starring David Harbour as Santa Claus, “Violent Night” wants to be the holiday action comedy you watch for years to come. Harbour gives a decent performance, but it never really feels like he is Santa. I do like the characterization of Santa Clause, it’s a unique take. He was the most feared viking before he became Santa and uses that experience to fight off waves of enemies.
The rest of the cast is funny. The dialogue is quick and smart. There’s a lot of good visual gags. There’s a scene that riffs “Home Alone” in a brutal way. There’s some slapstick humor that gives, “Looney Tunes” and “Evil Dead” vibes, I always love it when a movie includes stuff like that.
“Violent Night” features the same stunt coordinator from the John Wick movies. You can feel the weight of every attack and every fight scene was fun. There’s tons of blood and the sound design enhances every impact. There are a couple one one-take fights, similar to John Wick, they go so hard.
Overall, “Violent Night” is the right kind of film if you’re tired of the same movies from every year and want something with some weight behind it. “Violent Night” isn’t the most original movie. It takes similar story beats from “Die Hard” and verbally references “Home Alone” before doing their take on it. But it’s still a very fun and bloody movie if you’re in the mood for that during the holidays. It has the potential to be a real modern-day holiday action classic.
“The Nightmare Before Christmas” by Blanca Carrasco
This movie transcended me into a different reality when I was younger and continues to do so. I resonate so much with Sally and she has always been one of my favorite Tim Burton characters. The soundtrack is an absolute chef’s kiss and “Sally’s Song” is a a masterpiece. Catherine O’Hara evokes great emotion with her almost eerie voice, it is perfect for Sally’s character.
The movie is the epitome of the transition pressure from Halloween to Christmas. As Jack navigates a different holiday, I almost feel like the plot of the movie describes how engulfed one feels once Christmas creeps up. All the characters in the movie are so killer and scary that to this day I still find myself being creeped out by them. Especially the scene where roaches spew out of Oogie Boogie’s mouth. This movie is just one of the best Halloween movies ever!
“How The Grinch Stole Christmas” by Alexa Tapia
Dr. Suess’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is a Christmas movie classic that younger generations have grown up on and hold dear to their hearts. The movie follows the Grinch, who is a snarky and rather rude and miserable character. He lives far away from the townspeople of “Whoville”, who he despises. The people of Whoville are the polar opposite of Grinch. They are the epitome of Christmas spirit, while Grinch could be considered a scrooge. Grinch had a sort of, “If I can’t be happy, then no one can” mentality. So much so that he derived a plan to “steal” the Christmas fun and spirit from the people of Whoville. However, his plans had changed after he learned the true meaning of Christmas. Grinch returned everything stolen because he had learned that Christmas is about love, happiness, and connection to those around. The theme of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is a beautiful life lesson for everyone to embrace love and togetherness during the holiday season.
“The Flight Before Christmas” by Shugey Loza
“The Flight Before Christmas” is the type of cheese that just warms your heart. When a messy breakup before Christmas jades Stephanie Mitchelles’ heart, she books a flight across the country at the last minute to see her family. Little did she know, she’d be stranded in Montana on Christmas Eve with a handsome stranger, Michael Nolan, who is preparing to propose to his girlfriend. This is the classic enemies to lovers story that everyone needs over the holidays. Two city dwellers getting stranded in a small town where they have no choice but to take some time and reevaluate their lives I sn’t that everyone’s dream? This film will have you rolling your eyes, but kicking your feet and giggling.
