The Movie Marmite Man's Movie Advent Calender! Part One

Any excuse to watch more films is always a good excuse- and with all the time off we get at this time of the year, Christmas is such a great time to watch as many films as possible! But just in case you aren’t sure which festive flicks are worth your time, I decided to make an advent calendar full of fun films all about Christmas (or they at least evoke what Christmas is all about). So join an internet film rental site, get to your local library, go to HMV or beg borrow and steal as many films as you can and lock yourself into your house (with ample food supplies of course) so that you can begin your festive movie marathon instead of working, going to carol concerts, seeing friends and visiting dull relatives! Because, after all, isn’t that the real spirit of Christmas? 

1^st December

Die Hard

Start December off with a bang- literally- with Bruce Willis killing German terrorists atop a massive skyscraper. Filled to the brim with Christmas references- snow, Santa, annoying relatives- you can sit back and laugh as good ol’ John McClane blasts his way through villains in bloody and hilarious ways. Who can forget Alan Rickman’s brilliant demise at the end? And then once the carnage is over, we hear ‘Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!’ play over the end credits! Awesome!

2^nd December

The Associate

Whoopi Goldberg plays a businesswoman whose partner steals all of her ideas and then gets her promotion- because he is a man. The only way she can succeed? By pretending to go into commerce with a white businessman! Hilarious and sometimes touching, this film is guaranteed to put a smile on your face- especially when Goldberg dresses up as her ‘associate’- and you won’t believe the results!

3^rd December

It’s A Wonderful Life

Possibly the most depressing film ever made, for those of you who haven’t seen it and want to watch something a bit more upsetting, then this is the film for you. Just make sure you don’t watch the final uplifting 5 minutes if you want to stay depressed for the rest of your life. But if you do want Christmas cheer, make sure you do watch the end, or there will be plenty of heads in the oven this year!

4^th December

The Back To The Future Trilogy

 
For some reason, I always feel Christmassy and/or happy when I watch these films. Can Marty McFly (Michael J Fox) save his own life when he is sent back in time? And what will happen when he goes into the future? Or into the old West? Possibly the best trilogy ever made!

5^th December

Any or all of the Wallace and Gromit films

Any of these will do, or if you must, you could watch all of them. They may not be set at Christmas, but they bring back the spirit of childhood and innocence!

6^th December

While You Were Sleeping

What happens when lonely tollbooth operator Lucy (Sandra Bullock) saves a man’s life, only to be thought to be his fiancée at the hospital? She gains a family, friends, and also a love interest. This rom-com has some genuinely funny moments- mainly involving the family she adopts (“These mashed potatoes are so creamy!”), and it really does encapsulate everything about Christmas: family, friends and love.

7^th December

Mary Poppins

Oh come on! This had to be here! Everyone loves Mary Poppins! This isn’t set at Christmas either, but who cares? What would Christmas be like without ‘A Spoonful of Sugar’?

8^th December

White Christmas (1954)

For those of you who love happy endings and cheesy musicals this is for you- but for everyone else: reach for your bucket, as this musical packs as much sap in as is humanly possible. With many memorable songs you can sing along to, including ‘White Christmas’ and something about counting your blessings instead of sheep (urgh!) everyone enjoys a happy ending in this film- even though it is about the Second World War.