By Vincent Ramos
Staff Writer
“Alvin and the Chipmunks”
“Alvin and the Chipmunks” is a live action movie based on the animated characters from the 60s.The movie follows three singing chipmunks on their way to stardom. They make it big but end up facing a dilemma by either giving up their career to live with their new, human dad, Dave or leave him behind and become superstars.
You may think that this isn’t a holiday movie, but it is. Even though the movie’s story isn’t revolved around Christmas, its aspects are still prevalent and have a significant impact on the plot. They first dropped on the scene when they released the iconic song “Christmas Don’t Be Late,” which is heavily featured in the movie.
I really like those live action hybrid movies where humans take care of cgi talking animals. This movie is one of the best in this subgenre. The only thing this movie has got is its humor but it works out because this movie is so damn funny. The plot is simple enough where you don’t have to pay a lot of attention to it, allowing you to focus on the idiot chipmunks and their shenanigans. Every joke or prank worked for me. If you’re not a fan of poop jokes or crude humor you wouldn’t agree. The movie doesn’t take itself too seriously and as a result there’s a good amount of adult jokes that kids wouldn’t really understand making it a good watch for the family.
Despite the jokes, there are serious, jolly moments with Dave and the chipmunks which sets a warm, familial tone giving a nostalgic feeling. This movie has prepped me for Christmas and made me excited for the holiday season.
“The Polar Express”
This is a movie that pretty much everyone has seen. A boy hops on a train to the North Pole to find out the truth if Santa is real or not. Despite mixed reviews, “The Polar Express” is one of the most popular Christmas movies and considered a classic with it only being 19 years old.
Although I do cherish this movie and all my memories tied to it, it’s a slow watch. For it being 100 minutes nothing really happens. What is intriguing about the movie isn’t the plot itself but it’s the themes and setting that make it great. The magic of Christmas is a prominent theme in the movie and is why it’s so special. The main contributor to this is the setting. The music, the locations they ride through and the inside of the train gives off a warm feeling of being a kid on Christmas Eve reaches through the screen. An easy way to put it is The “Polar Express” is like Christmas propaganda. This movie is amazing at getting you amped up for the holiday.
With each rewatch of the movie I get sadder. The movie doesn’t resonate with me as it did when I was a kid and I feel that’s the case with most fans of the movie. Nostalgia is the main reason why this movie is so great. “The Polar Express” brought me back to when times were easier and Christmas was the best day in the entire year. The movie is an embodiment of the magic of the holiday season and this is the quintessential movie to watch this month.