favourite christmas movies

Tim Burtons foray into the Batman franchise is a crisp, darkly comic classic with a striking turn from Michelle Pfeiffer as a slinky Catwoman. Christopher Walken and Danny DeVito are chief villains for Michael Keatons caped crusader, while Gotham just wants to have a normal Christmas. Some hope.

Isnt there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about? wails Charlie Brown in this anti consumerist cartoon that sees the anxious kid nursing an ailing little Christmas tree and learning the value of co operation. Unlike many festive favourites, this actually features the biblical passage about the birth of Christ. Short but very sweet.

Small time crook Robert Downey Jr hits Hollywood in this witty crime comedy featuring a memorable turn from Val Kilmer as a private investigator hired to give the wannabe actor background for a role. There are as many complications as belly laughs, while Michelle Monaghan puts in a break out turn in a y Santa costume.

Raymond Briggss book came to life once a year throughout many childhoods, as the animated film was shown on British TV with religious precision. Nominated for an Oscar, the short film tells of a boy whose snowman magically becomes real but not forever. Add the haunting song Walking In The Air and you have a true Christmas classic.

Christmas is a time of both joy and fear for Edward (Johnny Depp) after he and his new host family are ostracised from the community. Its a typically bittersweet story from Tim Burton which, with Danny Elfmans score, has a magical festive feel just picture Winona Ryder dancing around that ice sculpture.

Home Alone is such a perfect kids fantasy, its a wonder nobody thought of it before. Parents go on holiday, forget a kid, he can eat ice cream and watch movies as much as he likes, before getting the chance to invent some booby traps to catch burglars. Four sequels followed.

Fancy something festive but naughty, cute but deadly? This 1980s Christmas classic can oblige. Gizmo the mogwai looks like the kind of harmless pet youd give your kid for Christmas but you dont want to get him breeding. Tremendous fun.

You wanna see some magic? Here, lets watch you disappear. Billy Bob Thorntons drunk, grouchy, thieving store Santa is the perfect antidote to saccharine Christmas movies, while sneaking in a bit of heart behind the humour and crime comedy thrills.

A gift to Christmas TV programmers, this festive comedy makes full use of Will Ferrells man child charm by casting him as a naive human raised by elves and thrown into a cynical modern day New York. Highlights include a duet of Baby, Its Cold Outside with an unwitting Zooey Deschanel as she sings in the shower.

A moving tribute to the power of the individual, Frank Capras snowy festive classic is a true delight, as entertaining as it is message driven. James Stewart puts in the performance of a lifetime as a potential suicide whos given a chance to look at life with fresh eyes. Merry Christmas George.