Popularity: 1% [?]

Christmas Day is a big day for movies.  I know this because after many giant family get-togethers on Christmas day, we sometimes like to carry the fun on over into the evening by heading out to the local movie theater.  Surprisingly, it’s pretty crowded and seems like a lot of other people enjoy this tradition as well.

So if you’re planning on hitting the theater this holiday, here’s what you can expect to be opening this Christmas Day 2007:

• Alien vs. Predator: Requiem - The bestial baddies go disgusting-toe-to-disgusting-toe in this follow-up to the sci-fi smash Alien vs. Predator.
• The Great Debaters - Oscar winner Denzel Washington directs and stars in this drama set in the segregated South. Washington plays a debate coach who takes a Texas college team from obscurity to a showdown with Harvard’s renowned students.
• The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep - The story begins when Angus, a young Scottish boy, finds an enchanted egg. Taking it home, he soon finds himself face-to-face with an amazing creature: the mythical “water horse” of Scottish lore. Angus begins a journey of discovery, facing his greatest fears and risking his life to protect a secret that would give birth to a legend.

In addition to these wide releases, there are also a few Christmas Day limited release films include Persepolis (NYC), The Bucket List (NYC/LA), and Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust (NYC).

If none of the new releases strike your fancy, you’ve also got your choice of this week’s newly released films, which include: Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Charlie Wilson’s War, P.S. I Love You, and National Treasure: Book of Secrets.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Available nationwide throughout the U.S. today, the last movie release date before Christmas, and next week on Christmas Day, are a handful of films that would make great stocking stuffers.  The biggest release of them all is definitely The Simpsons Movie, which is sure to be on any Simpsons fan’s list.

Other releases before or on Christmas Day include:

• The Kingdom
• The Heartbreak Kid
• Stardust
• Eastern Promises
• Rob Zombie’s Halloween
• Rush Hour3
• Underdog
• The Last Legion
• Balls of Fury
• Blade Runner (5 Disc Ultimate Collectors Edition)

There are a few good ones in there, as well as a few stinkers.  Choose wisely.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” is arguably the best Christmas movie ever made, and tops the list of my favorite movies. While it didn’t enjoy much success at the box office upon its initial release in 1946, over the years it has grown to become a beloved holiday favorite and classic around the world.

A tribute to small-town values and the ordinary guy who does the right thing, Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” is a classic tale of redemption and second chances. Starring in the film is James Stewart as a man who’s come to the end of his rope one Christmas Eve, and Donna Reed as the high-school sweetheart who eventually became his wife. The supporting cast includes Lionel Barrymore, Beulah Bondi, Ward Bond, and Gloria Grahame.

This year, the classic film is being shown on the big screen in locations around the world, allowing people to once again see the film as it was meant to be seen. Showing in New York City at the IFC Center for a special one-week engagement beginning December 19 through December 25, the opening night screening of “It’s a Wonderful” life will be hosted by Donna Reed’s daughter, Mary Owen. A portion of the proceeds from the screening will benefit the Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts.

Across the pond in the United Kingdom, the film has benefitted from UK Film Council funding specifically established to support the broader release of films that audiences might not otherwise get the chance to see. Park Circus in Glasgow was awarded £24,839 to assist with a national media advertising campaign, and to increase the film’s release from 12 to 90 digital cinema screens.

I’ve see the movie dozens of times myself, and its just one of those films that gets better each time you see it. If you haven’t seen it, run to your nearest video store and rent it, or check to see if there are any special screenings in your area. Some of the TV stations like to run it this time of year as well, so you may want to also check out your local television listings to see when it is on.

Popularity: 1% [?]