Top 10 movies for the holidays

There seems to be a lot of buzz about this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). Some of the brightest stars, certified Box Office Kings and Queens, award-winning actors and actresses, MMFF regulars and the biggest local producers have entries to this year’s festival.

Everybody’s top choice for the top grosser is Enteng ng Ina Mo, which combines the comedic and box-office prowess of showbiz royalties Vic Sotto and Ai-Ai de las Alas. Fans of Bong Revilla will surely troop to Panday, which has been a consistent box-office attraction and may just make it to the top grosser slot with the powers of Panday’s sword. Segunda Mano, which stars Kris Aquino, Dingdong Dantes and Angelica Panganiban, has just gotten an A Rating from the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB). Kris has long established her box-office supremacy with horror films that even got her The Horror Queen title. Friends swear that the movie is riveting with its last 20 minutes grabbing you by the throat.

Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story also got an A from the CEB. This stars comebacking George Estregan and Carla Abellana. The movie is in the middle of a controversy involving award-winning director Tikoy Aguiluz who is demanding that his name be removed from the credits. Here’s praying that the Christmas spirit will lead all parties involved to an amicable solution. Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow stars Maricel Soriano and Gabby Concepcion, among many other bright stars. This should provide the dramatic flavor in the festival. I can’t imagine an MMFF without Shake, Rattle & Roll, which is now on its 13th outing.

And last but not the least is My Househusband: Ikaw Na, which stars Judy Ann Santos, Ryan Agoncillo and Eugene Domingo. I have spoken to the three stars of My Househusband: Ikaw Na and its director Joey Reyes and my gut tells me that this movie may just pull off the most pleasant surprises of the festival.

Tomorrow, the Parade of the Stars will happen and it has always been a huge treat to movie fans. How can I forget being behind the float of Ate Guy everytime she had an entry to the MMFF? And starting Dec. 25, let’s watch all the movies and be part of the cinematic fiesta. 

On the other hand, here is a list of Christmas movies that people don’t get tired of watching over and over every time it’s Christmas.

1. Home Alone. This is one of the funniest and most entertaining Christmas movies ever made. An eight-year-old kid is left alone in the house by his family in the middle of a rush to go to the airport for their Christmas vacation. And what’s more is that he defends his house from burglars. Home Alone shot the unknown Macaulay Culkin to fame.

2. A Christmas Carol. An adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel, A Christmas Carol, the movie features comedian Jim Carrey who plays Scrooge. Scrooge hates Christmas and the thought of it makes him cringe. He thrives on greed but on Christmas Day, he realizes greed is not good. Scrooge comes out a better man, sharing his material riches and reconnects with his family.

3. It’s A Wonderful Life. This black and white film classic starring James Stewart has been a benchmark for Christmas movies. A real tearjerker, it is a story of hope, goodwill and a masterpiece on the real meaning of Christmas. James in his role becomes suicidal after losing business. Shamed and nothing to look forward to, he tries to end his life but a guardian angel shows him the way — what would the world be without him. It is directed by Frank Capra.

4. The Polar Express. Tom Hanks plays the driver of Polar Express, a train that is on its way to the North Pole bearing children to see Santa Claus. On board the train, the kids are treated to some kind of an adventure. One of the passengers, a young boy who has doubted the existence of Santa, discovers the many wonders of life for those who believe.

5. White Christmas. This is a feel-good musical with songs written by the legendary Irving Berlin and sung by Bing Crosby.

6. Elf. Starred in by Will Ferrell, Elf is the story of a young boy who stowed away in Santa’s sack and grew up in the North Pole. Raised by elves, he was the odd man among the elves with his towering height. Then he is sent to the United States to find out his real family. He finds his real dad and tries to learn about city life with a series of misadventures.

7. Santa Claus: The Movie. An elf played by Doodley Moore tries to impress his boss Santa about a toy-making machine. But the machine just won’t work. So goes on a trip to the North Pole but falls in the hand of an evil toy manufacturer. But as good always triumphs the bad, children all over the world are given all the toys they requested in time for Christmas.

8. Miracle on 34th Street. Is there really a Santa Claus? Kris Kringle, the Santa look-alike, is hired to replace a department store Santa Claus. Kris Kringle goes around town, telling everyone that he is Santa. A young lawyer goes to court to prove that the department store Santa is the real one.

9. The Santa Clause. Tim Allen, a divorced dad, hears someone stomping on his roof. He puts the intruder to the ground then takes on the role of the jolly gift-giver. He tries to balance life as a daddy and his Santa Claus duties.

10. The Nightmare Before Christmas. The pumpkin king of Halloween town (filled with bats, ghouls, goblins and other crazy creatures) is bored doing the same things every year for Halloween. He stumbles on a Christmas tree-shaped door that opens to Christmas town. He becomes obsessed with Christmas but can’t seem to get it right. This is a Tim Burton classic.