Four must-see Christmas movies

Four must-see Christmas movies

Here at McLarty Daniel Chevrolet of Springdale, if there’s anything we love more than going to the movies, it’s gotta be Christmas! Put them together, and you’ve got a match made in sugarplum heaven. December is the perfect time to pop some popcorn, put on a great Christmas movie and settle in with the ones you love for some holiday cheer on the small screen. Seen below, check out four of our favorite holiday films. Any one of them is a great experience that will help get you into the Christmas spirit. And if you need a beautiful new Chevrolet to get you to the drive-in next year, stop in today at McLarty Daniel Chevrolet of Springdale for a test drive, or check our full selection at our website right now.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1992)

Halloween is second only to Christmas on our holiday hierarchy, so we find a lot to love in this stop-motion Christmas-Halloween crossover tale about hero Jack Skellington, the King of Halloween Town, as and his spooky friends works to save Christmas and foil a plot to kidnap Santa Claus by a few of the dastardly villains. Conceived and produced by the legendary Tim Burton (though not, as many mistakenly believe, directed by Burton, who handed off those duties to Henry Selick), the result is a lush and beautiful vision of holidays colliding, with plenty to delight adults and kids alike.

Die Hard (1988)

Though it was originally released in balmy July and doesn’t focus exclusively on Christmas, we’re firmly in the camp of those who believe director John McTiernan’s “Die Hard” is a “Christmas movie.” It’s a Christmas visit with his family, after all, that brings hard-boiled New York cop John McLane (iconically portrayed by Bruce Willis) to L.A., and a corporate Christmas party that gets taken over by a gang of thieves led by the villainous Hans (the late Alan Rickman, in another great performance). The movie that launched an entire genre of “trapped hero” flicks, not to mention the billion dollar “Die Hard” franchise, this action-packed story of a lone savior taking on ruthless mercenaries is one of the best movies of the 1980s, not to mention a great Christmas movie with real heart. That’s our take, and we’re sticking to it.

The Polar Express (2004)

Back in 2004, director Robert Zemeckis and star Tom Hanks took one of the most beautiful children’s books of all time and turned it into a delight for the senses: “The Polar Express.” A computer-animated film that’s bound to restore even the most small-hearted Grinch’s Christmas spirit, it’s the tale of a boy whose faith in Santa is shaken until a mysterious train bound for the North Pole magically makes a stop in the street in front of his house on Christmas Eve. Building hugely on the bare-bones story of the book, the film goes from there to high adventure, with beautiful sights to behold. Though the now-15 year old motion-capture animation isn’t quite up to 2019 standards, the story is still very magical and Hanks’ performance as several crucial characters shows why he has plenty of Oscars to kick around.

Elf (2003)

Comedian and actor Will Ferrell is a national treasure, and a huge part of the proof of that is on display in 2003’s “Elf,” which took the story of an unlikely hero and turned it into an instant classic that will probably be a holiday favorite as long as films exist. It’s the story of Buddy, who was taken in as an orphan by one of Santa’s elf toymakers at the North Pole and raised to adulthood never knowing his background. Once he reaches adulthood, his adoptive father tells him the truth and at that point, Buddy sets off to New York City in search of his birthparents, setting up both a hilarious holiday comedy and one of the best fish-out-of-water tales in cinema history. More than just a one-trick gimmick film, “Elf” is a flick with real, true heart that’s about finding the joy of where you are. That makes it one of the must-sees around here every Christmas season.

Home is where the heart is, and at Christmastime, one of the best things you can do with your family is watch a great holiday film. Any of the four films seen above will help you spend a few hours with someone you love as you wait for Santa’s sleigh. And if you need a hot new sleigh of your own, stop in today at McLarty Daniel Chevrolet and check out our big selection of beautiful new Chevrolet cars, trucks and SUVs. Or you can shop us online at our website right now.

Merry Christmas to you and yours from all of us here at McLarty Daniel Chevrolet of Springdale!