2023 – My Theatrical Movie Experiences Ranked

 

  Despite the growing success of online-streaming, I still savor my experiences in the theater, as those are the movie events I want to look back on. So, here’s my personal ranking of all the 2023 movies I saw in the theater this year, which means some other really good (and bad) films from 2023 won’t make the countdown. Again, these are ranked by my own personal feelings on them, they aren’t ranked by their objective quality, but simply on how each left their impression on me. There are 13 movies in total, and let’s just have some fun looking back at some of the films from 2023.

 

#13 “The Journey” 

Andrea Bocelli has been a musical presence in my family, ever sense I was in the cradle, so I had to support this picture, and by extent his winning collection of music. The premise is as simple as they get, with Andrea traveling on horseback across Europe for twenty-three days, and at each destination, he reunites with a special friend, they discuss their passions, their faith, and the overall experience of their lives … culminating into one of his songs. It was all very familiar to me, yet so peaceful, relaxing, and even touching in its own humble way. While it was a very peaceful outing, it wasn't really a movie, and for that, I just can't place this any higher on my list. 

#12 “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” 

When it comes to fictional characters in movies, Indiana Jones remains one of my most treasured, and while I would never expect a new film from decades after his prime to be on par with the original classics, I just can’t dismiss how happy it made me feel to have one last adventure with one of my all-time favorite characters. While this last outing is kind of dismal in its depiction of the iconic lead, and could have benefited from a tighter screenplay, as well as tighter run-time, solid performances all around, welcome new ideas, and director James Mangolds exceptional vision keep this entry in the realm of … not perfect, but still good enough, and a passive escape at the movies.

 

#11 “Jesus Revolution” 

Inspired by a true movement in the early 1970’s, we experience the journey of a young hippie, as he goes from drug attic, to converted Christian, and finally helps lead a bold new crusade called the Jesus Movement. The film walks a delicate tight rope of conveying a thoughtful message without being overly preachy, as well as feature human struggles without being too over dramatic, and while it’s not the most inspiring movie ever made, it’s still plenty good for the heart, and will easily appeal to anyone who’s been on their own path of religious conversion.

 

#10 “The Little Mermaid” 

While I didn’t ask for a remake of the animated Disney classic, this did mark one of the rare occasions that I surprisingly found myself happy to have a live-action version as an alternative. I dare even say there were select elements that were superior to the original, including a sweeter romance, and generally better developed human characters. Along with some welcome new songs (excluding one really dumb wrap number), and an exceptional star turn for Halle Bailey in the lead role (and her sensational singing voice too) … this remake may not have been necessary … but it’s honestly a welcome companion piece to the original.

 

#9 “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3” 

After nine years, writer and director James Gunn brings finality to his “Guardians of the Galaxy” series, resulting in their darkest, and most emotionally character driven volume yet … as well as packing all the zany comedy, gorgeous imagery, witty character charms, breathless action, and boundless creativity that have made these films such a welcome inclusion to Sci-Fi cinema. I don’t know if I’d call this the best of the series, but it certainly hit the landing as a send-off for these now iconic characters, and it’s great how three film adaptions of a once lesser-known comic-book source material turned out this strong.  

 

 #8 “Haunted Mansion” 

I’ve loved the Disney-Land Haunted Mansion ride my whole life, it’s probably my favorite, and by extent, I’ve always enjoyed the expanded universe of the rides setting … as such, I’m always open for a new movie or special based around the attraction. While this latest version was no “Pirates of the Caribbean”, I felt it put in the extra effort to be a good movie, balancing it’s fun, goofy and spooky nature with mature themes of facing loss, grief, and a lead performance that was honestly better than this film deserved. Needless to say, all the creatively fun haunts were there, the cast was great, and it may not be on the same high-bar of the attraction … but this was still a fun ride in its own right, and worth riding again when Halloween comes around.  

 

#7 “John Wick: Chapter 4” 

I've never called myself a hard-core John Wick fan, but I'm always thrilled to watch one of his movies in the theater. Impressively, at four movies in, this series continues to one-up itself … and I think they might have finally hit the peak with “John Wick: Chapter 4” … as it featured my favorite ensemble of supporting characters thus far, the most striking imagery, and set design … and of course, breathless action stunts that shattered my senses. If the series chooses to end here, I’d call it a perfect finale … if there’s more to come … they have a new high-bar to match.

 

#6 “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” 

Back when I was a little kid in the 90’s, the Nintendo 64 entertainment system was my absolute favorite video game system, and Mario was one of my biggest childhood hero’s. As far back as I can remember, I imagined seeing an animated CGI Super Mario movie on the big screen … now it’s finally here … and it matched my expectations perfectly. Despite being a grown adult now, the eight-year-old deep within me was having the time of his life. It looks great, it’s devoted to pleasing fans, the energy is high, the characters are charming, and even with a bare-bone plot, I feel it executed everything just the way a faithful and entertaining Mario movie should do ... Wahoo! 

 

#5 “Oppenheimer” 

Christopher Nolan leads us on another extraordinary tour de force in top-tier filmmaking, with brilliant editing, stunning visuals, and both the emotional weight and suspense that the historical event and people deserve. Ever sense I first learned of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the Manhattan Project way back in my school years, I found him a fascinating individual, and often pondered if it was brilliance, madness, or maybe even misguided ambition that led to the creation of the Atom Bomb, and this film effectively highlights a little bit of everything. At the center of it all is a strong cast delivering A-list performances, and Cillian Murphy’s portrayal in the title role could well be his magnum opus.

 

#4 “The Creator” 

A valiant effort at creating an original, non-IP related, Sci-Fi epic, with emotion rich action, an engaging future setting, imaginative marvels, and Gareth Edwards signature vision of something grand, immersive, and exciting on the big screen. While the final product wasn’t perfect, and probably won’t be labeled as any new classic, I still felt the ambition, creativity, and passion behind this film far more than the majority of big franchise films that tend to come and go. While I obviously still enjoy my franchise comfort-food, this is the kind of genera picture I’d like to see Hollywood aim for.      

 

#3 “Sound of Freedom” 

Jim Caviezel’s emotionally driven screen presence leads us through the inspiring true story of Tim Ballard, a man committed to rescuing abducted children from sex-trafficking, and by extent the movie asks for any support in the efforts to end sex-trafficking around the world. Based on the subject matter alone, this is one of the most emotionally potent movies I’ve experienced in recent years, and is hard to watch, but very impactful, informative without going too far in its execution, and very inspiring. Rarely dose a film leave me feeling so inspired to take action, and provide whatever support I can to a meaningful cause … and this film did it. While certainly not a pleasant experience at the movies … “Sound of Freedom” still felt the most meaningful and important to me.

#2 “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” 

All right, let’s do this recap one-more time … back in 2019, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” surpasses expectations, won the Academy Award for best animated picture, set a new high-mark for comic-book movies to aspire from, and it was absolutely my favorite movie going experience of that year … which raises even higher expectations with its sequel. Thankfully, this film managed a brave, bold, and ambitious leap even further into greatness, in which it’s a visual marvel, not just in spectacle, but also in transcending emotions, and presenting something distinctly unique from other animated films. The action and thrills are all there … but like all the best superhero movies, it remembers to put complex themes, character emotions, and that extra touch of a human journey to go along with the insane adventure, outlandish comedy, and all-out imagination on display. While I like the first a little more for its tight three-act structure, this is still a top-tier middle instalment of what could well be one of cinemas new great movie trilogies.  

 

#1 “Godzilla: Minus One” 

When it comes to the “franchise movies” I’ve seen in 2023, none surprised me more than this! I’ve loved Godzilla movies ever sense I was a little kid, I’ve enjoyed all the recent monster-verse films as easy comfort food … but after over thirty films, I feel the giant king of the monsters has never stood taller than in this movie. Actually … the more appropriate thing to say is that the human story anchoring Godzilla has never been stronger then in this movie. Focusing on themes of living with regret after enduring horrible consequences, rebuilding after a great loss, personal sacrifices, family ties, and the strength of the human spirit … it makes this a genuinely great film in its own right … and just happens to have a giant monster. While blockbuster-franchises have their place as great entertainment at the movies, it makes for a special event when one steps out of those barriers, and can stand as a great movie on its own … and this unassuming Godzilla film did just that. For all this and more, it comes in as my number one favorite movie going experience of 2023.               

Thanks for reading my countdown, and may the thrill of the theater continue on next year!

 

My Top 10 Cartoon Christmas Shorts

 

Way back when I was just a little kid, it always excited me to combine two things I loved into one offering, and for today’s topic it’s cartoon shorts with a decorative Christmas make-over. While I certainly had my fill of the half-hour specials in the vein of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, and “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, it was also an accomplishment for a special to leave an impression on my childhood within the span of only ten minutes. I’ve already done a countdown of my favorite shorts featuring all the classic Disney characters, so I felt I was due to countdown my other favorite Christmas shorts, including some from MGM, and others from Disney, but excluding Mickey or any of his famous co-stars.

 

#10 “Prep and Landing – Operation: Secret Santa” (2010) 

Most of the shorts on my list are specials I watched when I was a little kid, but I figured, why not start my countdown with one of the more current generation shorts. “Operation: Secret Santa” is part of Disney’s “Prep and Landing” series. For this adventure, two of Santa’s Elves seek a gift belonging to Mrs. Claus, and they face many fun obstacles along the way to obtain it. While this short is nothing demanding, it's still an enjoyable watch all the same. There’s plenty ingenuity and energy to the short to make for a fun watch, and I generally prefer it over the half-hour specials of the “Prep and Landing” series.

 

#9 “Once Upon a Wintertime” (from Disney’s “Melody Time” - 1948) 

In this silent musical short, two romantic young lovers go out sleigh riding on a beautiful December day. Their company soon involves various woodland animals, including two rabbits that are likewise in love. The males try to show-off while skiing, only to upset their respected dates. What follows is a near-tragedy on the ice, and a timely rescue ensues. While the characters are consistently silent, they still convey enough through the animation, and I love the overall design of this short. The colors pop, and it almost resembles one of those Christmas Hallmark cards, that is if one were to come alive in animated form. More than anything, I just love the simplicity of the premise. It’s just a little venture into the frosty country side, and it’s an experience full of action and romance. The title song at the center of this short is nothing great, but it does its job carrying the tone and feel of the short.

 

#8 MGM’s “Alias St. Nick” (1935) 

It’s Christmas Eve, and a family of mice are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus … that is with the exception of one loud mouthed boy, who just doesn’t believe. Meanwhile, a nasty cat is outside, and itching to make a meal out of this mouse family. Thus, he discuses himself as Saint Nicholas, and gains access to the home by bringing the kids gifts. The one doubtful child naturally can see through the charade, and leads his siblings in a revolt against the invader, with their means of combat naturally being all their new toys. It’s all around a fun and cute little short, with kids using their plays toys as a means to fight-off a villain. 

 

#7 Disney’s Silly Symphony: “The Night Before Christmas” (1933) 

Following after the 1932 short “Santa's Workshop”, Disney followed-up with “The Night Before Christmas” in 1933, and it’s my preferred choice of the two. In this short, Santa doesn’t just leave toys for kids … he makes a party out of it, with all the toys coming to life, dancing to music, and decorating the house for the kids. It’s funny to think that during Santa’s busy work schedule, he has time for these mini parties in each house … but it makes for a delightful little watch. The animation is detailed, the music is upbeat, and even the backgrounds are memorable highlights … the moon with the smiling face always lingered in the back of my mind. 

 

#6 “The Nutcracker Suite” and “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” (from Disney’s “Fantasia” – 1940, and Disney’s “Fantasia 2000” - 1999)

Even if you’ve never seen the ballet, you’re probably still familiar with the music from “The Nutcracker”, as that too has become a staple of the holiday season. As for the music, I was initially introduced to these famous medleys through Disney’s 1940 animated classic “Fantasia”. While the sequence of “The Nutcracker Suite” doesn’t feature any of the principal characters, it still captures the same spirit of the Ballet, as it features fantastical creatures and elements that dance and move with the same grace and spirit as Ballet dancers. The final scene with the fairies skating on the ice always got me in the winter, holiday mood, despite the lack of any Nutcracker on screen. Every now and then around Christmas, I like to watch this segment, along with “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” sequence from the 1999 sequel “Fantasia 2000”. While the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale of “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” is a completely different entity all together, it still has a similar look and feel to “The Nutcracker”, and just has that same magic touch. Back-to-back, they make for a perfect holiday package, and neither even had to mention Christmas.

 

#5 Fleischer’s “Rudolph the Red-Nosed-Reindeer” (1948) 

While Rudolph’s modern-day popularity ignited with the classic 1964 Rankin/Bass TV special, I just can’t dismiss the original 1948 short that first made Rudolph one of the season’s most marketable characters. For an eight-minute short, it delivers the straightforward story of Rudolph in a tight and effective package. The iconography on display can still impact young viewers to this day, and it’s just a warm little classic on its own. If anything else … it made for a funny segment to spoof on 2010 “RiffTrax Live: Christmas Special”.    

 

#4 MGM’s “A Pup’s Christmas” (1936) 

It’s Christmas morning, and as a family open-up gifts, two curious puppies go exploring, and find themselves going from one goofy encounter to another, culminating in a battle with a rogue toy-tank, who really should have been taken off the market. Both the premise and appeal of this episode couldn’t be more simple, as it’s just these cute pup’s going on a mini-adventure amidst all these Christmas decorations and toys. It’s cute, lovable, and for me and my little sister, it was a real joy to watch at a young age.   

 

#3 Tom and Jerry: “Twas’ the Night Before Christmas” (1941) 

I was only a passive fan of the famous Cat and Mouse duo when I was a kid, but looking back as an adult, I’ve come to admire Tom and Jerry as cartoon icons in their own right. Among the limited shorts of theirs that I regularly watched as a kid, it was their 1941 Christmas short that I loved the most, which just happened to only be their third short ever released. While the cartoon slap-stick is fairly simple compared to their later outings, this one makes-up for it with a warm holiday atmosphere, gorgeous backgrounds, and a very touching ending, in which Tom rescues Jerry from a snow storm. There’s something touching about enemies looking out for one another, and along with the quality animation on display, this was a winning sign that MGM’s cat and mouse duo were sticking around for the long-run.

 

#2 MGM’s “Peace on Earth” (1939) 

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, we see animals have taken over the globe, after human kind destroyed itself during a savage war. It’s Christmas Eve, and Grandpa Squirrel teaches his kids about humans, and through his tale, we see a dark and horrific depiction of how “Man” lost fighting each other. How’s that for a set-up, not too often a children’s short begins with … “Merry Christmas! Mankind Didn’t Make It!” I was about five years old when I first saw this short, and it terrified me, but also left a memorable impression. While the message is direct, it still effectively gets it’s point across that, if we’re not careful, we’ll doom ourselves. The imagery in this short is unforgettable, disturbing, but also quite beautiful in its presentation. This short was nominated at the Academy Awards, but lost to Disney’s “The Ugly Duckling”. Personally, I feel this short deserves more attention, and I highly encourage anyone to look it up this Christmas season. 

 

Before I reveal my Number one Favorite Christmas short, here are some quick Honorable Mentions … 

“One Ham’s Family” (1943)

“Santa's Workshop” (1932)

 

“The Captain’s Christmas” (1938)

 

“Cookie Carnival” (1935)

 

“Christmas Comes But Once a Year” (1936)

 

#1 Disney’s “The Little Match Girl” (2006) 

In this seven-minute short adapted from the Hans Christian Anderson novel of the same name, a homeless little girl sets out into the cold winter streets to make money selling matches, but unfortunately, no one is buying. With the weather baring down hard, she seeks warmth from the vary matches she was trying to sell, and begins to imagine herself sharing a Christmas day with her late grandmother. I won’t spoil the ending, but’s it’s among one of the most powerful moments I’ve ever experienced in the realms of animation. Once again, this is a short that’s not directly aimed at Christmas, but it’s set during the holiday season, and its simply Disney at its finest. 

It’s got great animation, and lots of heartfelt drama, as it mainly focuses on the fragile nature of human life. It's a truly heartwarming story that highlights the importance of hope, dreams, and helping the innocent. I watch this short every year, and I never have a dry eye at the end ... it’s just that moving. This short was also nominated at the Academy Awards for Best Short film, but lost to “The Danish Poet”. “The Little Match Girl” in general has always been one of my favorite Christmas stories. It’s a tail that my own late grandparents read to me all the time as a kid, and I always felt it deserved its own holiday special. Thankfully, in the absence of a motion picture, we have this terrific little Disney short that ranks among the finest the studio has ever produced, and it’s personally my favorite Christmas short.

Thanks for reading my countdown … and continue to enjoy the specials you love!

Have a Merry Christmas! 

 

 

Miracle on 34th Street (1947) (Movie Review)

 

  A common staple in Christmas specials is an element of fantasy or magic, with stories or settings that embraces a sense of wonder and imagination. While I certainly enjoy the more fantastical elements associated with the season, I also feel that the sign of a truly great Christmas movie is one that has no magical elements at all, and yet … still feels like a magical experience. In this regard, the 1947 classic “Miracle on 34^th Street” stands out as one of the all-time best, as there’s no magical elements in the film at all, but the experience still feels very wonderous and enchanting all the same. Like a fine wine, it’s one of those old pictures that just seems to get better with age. For me, I actually find myself forgetting I love this movie … until I sit-down and watch it again for the holiday season, and I’m like … “Oh Yeah, this movie is still great.” There’s definitely a reason it continues to appear on lists of the best Christmas movies. While I might have one or two reservations with this film, I still feel it holds-up as a classic. By extent, it has a place among my Christmas favorites too, and is well worth revisiting and discussing.

  We open on Macy’s Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade, and everyone is in the spirit for a new holiday season. However, before the parade can get going, the leading Santa is caught drinking, and removed from the event. At the last minute, the parades manager Mrs. Walker singles out a kind old gentleman from the crowd to stand-in for the jolly one, and by extent take a position as the Macy’s department store Santa Claus. Not only is the guy a picture-perfect Kris Kringle, but his warmth, and persona is simply brimming with the spirit of the holiday. Things get interesting when this kind old man reveals himself to be the genuine article … the real Santa Claus. While he has no real magical capabilities to back-up his claim, he still insists that the people of New York just need to have faith in him. This comes much to the irritation of Mrs. Walker, who only believes in practical things, and views fantasies as harmful. Caught in the middle is Mrs. Walkers young daughter Susan, who wants to see things her mother’s way, but is also very open to the kind words and thoughtful ideas that Kris Kringle provides to her. However, the longer Kris claims to be Santa, the more he turns some worried heads, resulting in him being put on trial, to determine once and for all if he really is Santa Claus.

  As a quick side note, when this movie was first released in the United Kingdom, it was originally called “The Big Heart” … kind of ironic as the films story was written by a man named Valentine … Valentine Davies to be precise. He came-up with the original story for the film, and would later write a short novelization of “Miracle on 34^th Street”, which was likewise a best-seller that same year. 

Back when I was a little kid, I was first introduced to the story through the 1994 remake, staring Richard Attenborough, which I had a great deal of fondness for. As such, it took me a while to finally sit-down and watch the original classic. Needless to say, this film quickly won me over, and has its place among my annual Christmas re-watches. The film is honestly quiet engaging for such an old 1940’s picture. Director and screen writer George Seaton knew just the right tone, with a fine balance of both hummer and drama, without going too far on either front. It’s hard to put into words, but there really is this infectious charm to the film. This was also one of the very first Black and White movies to be colorized, and for me, it only adds to the appeal of the film. I usually prefer when original Black and White movies are left alone … in fact, many old movies look better without color. However, “Miracle on 34^th Street” is an exception, as it’s so decorative, that the color really makes the visual design pop with all these greens, reds, golds, and brightly colored outfits. Honestly, this film looks like it was meant to be shot in color, and they just didn’t have the money for it back then … but that’s just me speculating. Most DVD releases have both colored and Black and White versions attached, so you can have your pick, and for my liking, I always go with the colored version.   

  Aside from the technical details … the main appeal to this film without question is it’s cast of characters. Maureen O’ Hara stars as Doris Walker, and she finds that perfect balance as a mother closed-off to the world of imagination and fantasies, but she isn’t a dry stick in the mud either, and still shows signs of being hopefully optimistic. I also grew-up with many of John Wayne's classic movies, and Maureen O’ Hara was always my favorite reoccurring actress to appear in his films … my sister was even named after her character from “The Quiet Man”. She was also very memorable in the role of Esmerelda from the 1939 version of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”. As such, I loved seeing such a familiar actress to me in this film. Maureen O’ Hara was actually reluctant to the role at first, mainly because she had just moved back home to Ireland post World War 2, but was quickly won-over to the film once she read the script. Acting opposite her is John Payne as Mr. Gailey, who’s a subtle love interest, and later a representative to Kris Kringle when he eventually goes on trial.   

  All the supporting actors in this film have their own screen appeal, including Gene Lockhart as Judge Harper, who’s legally bound to rule a verdict on Kris Kringle, and all while subtly showing signs that he’s rooting for him. Porter Hall plays the antagonistic Mr. Sawyer, who views Kris Kringle as a crazy loon, and while he’s a nasty worm, he isn’t a one-note mustache-twirling crook either. This is a guy who certainly comes off as slimy, but also deludes himself into believing he’s doing the community a favor. In comparison, the 1994 remake has stock, one-note bad guys, who wear all their tropes on their sleeves, and it just never worked for me.  

  Of course, I can’t forget the young Natalie Wood in her breakout role as little Susan. She has amazing chemistry with all her co-stars, and naturally is quite lovable, without ever being too cute in her delivery. The first time I ever saw Natalie Wood was in John Wayne’s 1956 Western classic “The Searchers”, then I really took note of her in the 1961 musical “West Side Story”, and finally, I became a big fan of the actress when I saw her comedic chops on display in the 1965 comedy “The Great Race”. It took me a while to discover she was one of the most cherished child-stars of the late 40’s, and her role in “Miracle on 34th Street” was definitely a high-mark for her.

  At last, rounding-up this incredible cast is Edmund Gwen in the role of Kris Kringle. This is easily one of the all-time great portrayals of Santa, and rightfully won him the Academy Award for best supporting actor. This is the movie that presented Santa on the human spectrum, and it’s Edmund Gwenn’s performance that makes the character feel so convincing as a normal man creating this illusion of being so much more. I also love that this Santa is something of a schemer, one who sets-up ideas and motions, and then watches everything fall into place. He knows he can’t perform real miracles, but his gears are constantly turning, and he’s always thinking of ways to pull-off what seem like impossible feats for one man. Being a warm screen presence would have been fine enough, but it really is the subtle details in Gwen’s performance, that of a quiet mastermind, which makes this Santa feel so unique among all the others I’ve ever seen on film.

  Once we segue into the films third act, the movie becomes a courtroom drama, but it still maintains its signature charm that can appeal to younger viewers. There’s a very cute moment when the prosecutor’s son is called to the witness stand, and a moment where we visually see what the manager of Macy’s Toys thinks when asked about Kris being Santa … which is kind of cheesy, but delightful all the same. At the end, the court house receives several hundred letters addressed to Santa Claus (they were part of the postal services dead letter collection), all now meant for Kris. Thus, the argument is made that the Post Office, a branch of the U.S. federal government has acknowledged Kris as the one and only Santa. This admittedly brings me to one of my reservations with the film, as I feel the final verdict is more cleaver in legally proving a case, but doesn’t really tie-in with the moral of the film. The overarching theme is about keeping one’s faith and beliefs alive in a practical world, and while the letter argument is fine, I just never felt like it complimented the message.

 This is where I want to put a spot-light on the 1994 remake, because while it’s overall not as good a movie, I do feel the final verdict more suitably compliments the films message. 

In the remake, the judge gives a passionate speech about the collective faith of people who believe in something greater than themselves, like the belief in God, which is based solely on faith alone without any real facts. He then determines that be a similar example, there is a Santa, and that he exists within a man named Kris Kringle. Back in the original, the judge is very quick to dismiss the case without any speech, and it just never felt as satisfying by comparison. Thankfully, when the original dose convey it's moral, it comes from Mrs. Walker, highlighting that this was her story, and now she's ready to live in a practical world, while still keeping hope and faith alive. That's all very good, and we get a traditional happy ending with everyone coming together in a new house as a family at the end, and it's hinted that it was all Kris Kringl's doing. Once again, I must confess, I don't like where the film chose to close-out, with Mr. Gailey commenting "Maybe I didn't do such a good thing after all." ... that always felt kind of off-putting to me.

  Putting aside those little hang-ups, I still love this movie all-around, and there’s no denying that “Miracle on 34^th Street” has its well-deserved place among all the classic holiday offerings. In 2005, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant”. Along with Edmund Gwenn wining the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, Valentine Davies won the Academy Award for Best Original Story, and George Seaton won the Academy Award for Best Screenplay. 

The film was even nominated for Best Picture, but lost to the 1947 Drama “Gentleman’s Agreement”, staring Gregory Peck. I personally would have rather seen “Miracle on 34^th Street” win Best Picture, but it was still a cool rarity for a family Christmas movie to even be nominated … although, I should probably note that “The Bishops Wife” was also nominated that same year, and that too is a holiday staple. In the end, if your someone who loves watching Christmas movies during the holiday season, I’d say the original “Miracle on 34^th Street” is required viewing. It’s able to convey a thoughtful message without being overly sentimental, it’s visually appealing, and the cast is extraordinary. More to the point, like I said in the opening, it really is one of those rare Christmas offerings that leaves you feeling like you experienced something magical, without any real fantastical elements on display.     

Thanks for reading my review of the 1947 Christmas classic “Miracle on 34^th Street” … and continue to enjoy the holiday specials and movies you Love!