With the holidays right around the corner, most of us look forward to our favorite films on DVD to get us into the holiday spirit.  I don’t know about you, but I think I’ve seen “A Christmas Story” at least 200 times and while I love the film (its true – I do), sometimes I like to tread off the beaten path and watch something a little different. 

That said, over the weekend I pulled out my worn but much loved copy of “Emmett Otters Jug Band Christmas” and began to think about all the other films I watch beginning this time of year that I completely forget about at any other time.  I realized my own typical holiday film fare is probably not the norm, so here are 5 of my favorite holiday films (all available on DVD) you may have overlooked in season’s past in the rush to score some festive holiday film:

• Christmas Vacation (1989): Starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo and a young Juliette Lewis.
• Christmas with the Kranks (2004): Starring Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis and Dan Aykroyd
• Home for the Holidays (1995): Starring Holly Hunter, Robert Downey Jr. and Dylan McDermott
• The Apartment (1960): Starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine and Fred MacMurray
• Bad Santa (2003 – note: absolutely not for kids): Starring Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, Lauren Graham, Bernie Mac and John Ritter

Popularity: 1% [?]

Did you catch any films over the weekend?  I saw “Fred Claus” and thought it was pretty good, but you should know that my opinion probably shouldn’t determine whether you should see it or not since I’m a bit biased when it comes to Vince Vaughn films.  It’s true - and I’m not one bit ashamed to admit that I’d watch him shovel dirt if it meant I could see him in a pair of good fitting Levi’s.   

It looks like “The Bee Movie” is still flying high since it came in at number 1 at the box  office over the weekend ($26 million), followed by “American Gangster” ($24.32 million) and “Fred Claus” ($12.23 million). Falling off the box office bonanza were “Gone Baby Gone,” “Michael Clayton” and “Why Did I Get Married?”

Rounding out the Top 10 for the weekend:

• Lions for Lambs ($6.71 million)
• Dan in Real Life ($5.87 million)
• Saw IV ($5.01 million)
• The Game Plan ($2.41 million)
• P2 ($2.2 million)
• 30 Days of Night ($2.1 million)
• Martian Child ($1.75 million)

Popularity: 1% [?]