HiLite reporters Yameen Hameed and Mitch Ringenberg review the top 10 holiday movies ranked by Fandango.com

1. “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” – It’s a shame that no film adaptation has ever done this classic Dr. Seuss tale justice. The 2000 Ron Howard/Jim Carrey vehicle was overwrought and unfunny, completely failing to reach its potential. The 1966 TV cartoon is decent but compared to the classic story, it falls flat. Maybe in time Hollywood can do this great Christmas tale some justice, but until then the cartoon version will just have to suffice.

2. “Home Alone” – Oh, Macaulay Culkin, what happened? One minute you’ve hit box-office gold with this movie, and the next you’re in court for having some questionable slumber parties with Michael Jackson. Anyways, this movie was essentially a landmark in my childhood, but watching it now, as a (hopefully) more mature young adult, it’s hard to enjoy it in the same way. However, if the idea of watching two thieves getting outsmarted by a ten-year-old and subsequently maimed for an hour and a half sounds good to you, then by all means, enjoy.

3. “Elf” – As juvenile as some of the humor is, I can’t help but be entertained by “Elf.” I guess that has something to do with the casting of Will Ferrell. Yes, he plays the same characters in every movie, and yes, he’s got a one-note shtick, but who cares? That guy could film himself reading the phone book for two hours and it would probably be the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. It’s hard to deny this movie’s awesomeness.

4. “Miracle On 34th Street” – When it comes to ‘40s Christmas films, “Miracle on 34th Street” is still unique and worthwhile in its own right. A mall Santa Claus who claims to be the real deal is institutionalized until a younger lawyer defends him as the “real” Santa Claus. It may be typical Christmas heartwarming fare, but what else would you want in a holiday movie? Warning: Avoid the watered-down mess that is the 1994 remake.

5. “A Christmas Story” – Possibly the funniest holiday film ever made, “A Christmas Story” is one of the most popular and oft-quoted Christmas movies. Constant TV airings have lessened its impact, however, the fact remains that it’s a classic. It’s hard to imagine anyone who hasn’t seen this film at least six times, so there’s not much point in discussing plot details, but if you happen to be among those rare, unfortunate souls, immediate viewing is required.

6. “The Polar Express”- I love how ridiculous and over the top this movie is, but I find a lot of the “heartwarming” depth to be cheesy and trite. As for the visuals, I don’t like how the characters themselves look, but the angles of motion are well done.

7. “The Santa Clause”- I don’t understand why this movie is so well known and loved. The story is somewhat original, but it’s weighed down by mostly bad acting and unrealistic characters. Although the majority of the humor is meant for kids, there are a lot of jokes kids wouldn’t understand but adults wouldn’t find funny.

8. “It’s a Wonderful Life”– If you were expecting me to use the word “wonderful,” be disappointed. But still, this is a great classic and one of those movies everyone must see. The acting is above average and the story has some nice lessons that can be easily learned due to the realistic characters.

9. “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”– A nice, lighthearted comedy without much else to it. It’s definitely fun to watch and see how some jokes recur, but it doesn’t make a lasting impression as a comedy movie I would necessarily recommend.

 10. “Tim Burton’s the Night Before Christmas” – The originality in this film is remarkable. Just the concept of holiday worlds alone is great, but a lot of Halloween town’s interpretations of Christmas really stick out to me, like the musicians playing “Jingle Bells” in a minor key. The sound track and visuals also make this a movie to remember.

The top new release holiday albums as ranked by Billboard music

1. My Christmas- Andrea Bocell

2. Peace on Earth- Casting Crows

3.The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection- Taylor Swift

4. Noel- Josh Groban

5. Andrea Bocelli- My Christmas 

6. Christmas: 25th Anniversary- Mannheim Steamroller

7. Gold And Green- Sugarland

8. Christmas From the Heart- David Archuleta

9.Making Merry- Various Artists

10. Let It Snow!- Michael Buble