Christmas is my favorite time of the year; I love everything about it. Decorating the tree, spending time with family, watching snow fall, presents, and all the traditions each family has. Christmas has inspired countless filmmakers to create movies about the holiday season, and some of my favorite films are Christmas movies. To celebrate the season, I've compiled a list of my favorite 12 Christmas movies or specials, and there will be a review of one of them every day, a countdown from 12 to 1. Check back every day until Christmas for a new Christmas review!

The 12 Films of Christmas

12: Elf (2003)

11. A Christmas Story (1983)

A lot of people would call this their favorite Christmas film, or at least one of their favorites, and while I like it a lot, I wouldn't go that far. I don't really have any criticisms for this film, but I can't list it above any of the other films on this list for the simple reason that it doesn't celebrate the spirit of Christmas as much as commentating on or satirizing the commercial aspects of the season.

That being said, this is a very endearing movie that is a classic for many good reasons. The movie takes place in the late 1940's where 9-year-old Ralph "Ralphie" Parker wants only one thing for Christmas - "an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock, and this thing which tells time." It's all that's on his mind, though his parents, teacher, and even the mall store Santa tell him "you'll shoot your eye out!"

Everyone can relate to the stories in the movie; all kids have had their heart set on one special gift, and Ralhpie's quest to get it for Christmas is as familiar as it is funny. The movie is very episodic, so in between attempts to convince someone to buy him the BB gun, Ralphie sees a kid get his tongue stuck to a frozen pole, deals with bullies, and says a very rude swear word. Throughout, his antics are narrated by an adult (author of the book the film is based on, Jean Shepherd) who is full of hyperbole and simply emanates childhood innocence.

This movie has more classic moments than I can write about here; it isn't really a "plot" as much as a series of episodes tied around the Christmas season, and all of them are fun to watch. Like I hinted at above, this isn't as much a film about Christmas as it is a film about family, and that leads the situations the characters are involved in to have some added poignancy and, in many cases, familiarity. Can't everyone relate to Ralphie's father? The angry but sometime jolly guy delivers some of the best moments of the film (including the infamous "leg-lamp" storyline). While he's often an arrogant jerk, the father does come through in the end...in a sense (think Chinese waiters singing Christmas carols). Scenes with Ralphie's mom trying to get his brother to eat also ring a bell. Acting wise, the film has some very memorable performences; apart from Darren McGavin's aforementioned role of the father, and Jean Shepherd's memorable narration, Peter Billingsley turns in one of cinema's best child performences as Ralphie.

A Christmas Carol is a classic, a movie that has truly become part of the public consciousness. It's full of iconic scenes and is the film that director Bob Clark will be forever remembered for. If you've never seen it, then you're in the minority, and in that case, tune into TNT on Christmas Day because they show the film for 24 hours straight! If that doesn't label this film as a classic, then I don't know what does.

And remember...don't shoot your eye out!