Everyone has their favorite holiday movie. Some choose the traditional classics, such as It's a Wonderful Life, but my holiday favorite is Home Alone.
We watch it every holiday season and it still fits the festive bill, seeing eight-year-old Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) throwing a temper tantrum on the eve of a holiday family vacation trip to Europe. Exiled to his room, Kevin wishes that his family would disappear. He awakens to learn his wish came true finding himself home alone. Kevin quickly learns to defend himself across two bumbling burglars. The ending is heartwarming and touching! I give it three out of four gingerbread cookies! - Derek Zemrak
My favorite Christmas Holiday film is It's a Wonderful Life. Like Home Alone, it has the elements of "feel good" movie. In addition, it is a fable that has a moral luster which director Frank Cappa effectively captures through the film's protagonist, George Bailey, played by James Stewart.
Undoubtedly, It's a Wonderful Life imparts the wisdom that all of us could make an immeasurable difference in this world regardless of fame, money and power. Hence, one of the best sanguine lines in the cinematic history is borne: "What would this world be like if I had never been born?" On a personal note, this wisdom serves as my catharsis on a day-to-day basis.
I highly recommend this movie. Not only does it strike a sentimental chord in all of us, but it leaves us begging the crux of the question of our own existence. I give it four out of four gingerbread cookies for a holiday movie favorite. - Beau Behan
(Derek Zemrak is a filmmaker and the president of the California Independent Film Festival Association (CAIFFA); Beau Behan is a member of the CAIFFA Board and director of the Lamorinda Theatres.)
We watch it every holiday season and it still fits the festive bill, seeing eight-year-old Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) throwing a temper tantrum on the eve of a holiday family vacation trip to Europe. Exiled to his room, Kevin wishes that his family would disappear. He awakens to learn his wish came true finding himself home alone. Kevin quickly learns to defend himself across two bumbling burglars. The ending is heartwarming and touching! I give it three out of four gingerbread cookies! - Derek Zemrak
My favorite Christmas Holiday film is It's a Wonderful Life. Like Home Alone, it has the elements of "feel good" movie. In addition, it is a fable that has a moral luster which director Frank Cappa effectively captures through the film's protagonist, George Bailey, played by James Stewart.
Undoubtedly, It's a Wonderful Life imparts the wisdom that all of us could make an immeasurable difference in this world regardless of fame, money and power. Hence, one of the best sanguine lines in the cinematic history is borne: "What would this world be like if I had never been born?" On a personal note, this wisdom serves as my catharsis on a day-to-day basis.
I highly recommend this movie. Not only does it strike a sentimental chord in all of us, but it leaves us begging the crux of the question of our own existence. I give it four out of four gingerbread cookies for a holiday movie favorite. - Beau Behan
(Derek Zemrak is a filmmaker and the president of the California Independent Film Festival Association (CAIFFA); Beau Behan is a member of the CAIFFA Board and director of the Lamorinda Theatres.)
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA