Christmas = Movies?

Everyone is writing about Christmas movies, so I might as well share a few of my favorites that haven't been mentioned yet.

The one movie that my family watches every year is Polar Express. I remember the first time watching it—I debated in my mind the entire movie if it was live action or animated. By the time we watched the special features, I don't think I had decided. I also remember being fascinated by the technology that was used to create such an effect (this was long before my interest in film). I know that Leeper has complained about it before, but as hard as I try, I can't bring myself to say anything bad about it! When I go home next week, I'm pretty certain that we'll watch it together as a family again. It's just one of those traditions that I don't know we could break!

My other personal favorite Christmas movie is Elf. I never actually owned it until last year, which is why I'm probably more ecstatic about it than most people; I was rarely able to see the whole thing because it I would always see it at a friend's house where we never had time to finish. Nonetheless, you can't deny that it's one of those classic movies that will hold its reputation for a long time—maybe even as long as some of these other Christmas classics currently on the blogs!

Side note about Christmas movies....does anybody know why there always seems to be movies released on Christmas day? I have always found that strange, because it's the only time of the year when they release new movies that's not always a Friday. It's also interesting because it's a rare that "Christmas" is used rather than "Holiday". I remember seeing only one movie in the theaters on Christmas day, but it was the Nativity Story, so it didn't feel too weird. I just imagine Christmas day as the day you spend with your family, not ideal for visiting the theaters, but maybe I'm wrong?