Merry Christmas Everybody! This is the final day of my 12-day special feature article, The 12 Films of Christmas. I've been counting down the 12 best Christmas films and TV specials. Today is Christmas and the last day of the article! Enjoy...

The 12 Films of Christmas

12: Elf (2003)
11. A Christmas Story (1983)
10. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
9. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
8. Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)
7. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
6. The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)
5. Santa Claus is Coming to Town (1970)
4. It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
3. A Christmas Carol (1984)
2. Miracle on 34 th Street (1947)

1. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

I love Muppets. The Muppet Show is one of my favorite TV shows, and I love every Muppet movie ever made; except for Muppets in Space, they're all practically perfect. When you combine something as awesome as Muppets with Christmas, how could you go wrong? Yes, my favorite Christmas movie of all time is The Muppet Christmas Carol (I bet you didn't see that one coming). I know it sounds like a bit of a strange choice, given the number of classics on this list, but for me, no other movie so spectacularly celebrates and extols the virtues of Christmas.

The Muppet Christmas Carol was the first muppet film made after the death of Jim Henson. Naturally, it seemed as though the muppets had no chance of continuing without Henson, and one of the greatest revelations about the film is that it really is just as good as 'classic' muppets. His son, Brian Henson, took the reigns from his dad to direct the film. Watching Carol, you can imagine Jim Henson looking down from heaven and smiling at what his son and friends achieved without him.

The film is a very accurate adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic; this already sets it up to be a terrific Christmas film, simply because of how strong the Dickens story. But the muppets put their own special stamp on it, and that's what makes the film so good. The film is narrated by Gonzo the Great, who says he is Charles Dickens. Rizzo the Rat accompanies Gonzo (as he does in the later film Muppet Treasure Island and Muppets From Space), and the two serve as the comic relief. Sometimes, their antics can go a little over the top, but overall I enjoy them and without the duo, kids would have a hard time being entertained. Other muppets take the roles of main characters, with Kermit as Bob Cratchit, Mrs. Piggy as Mrs. Cratchit, Dr. Benson Honeydew and Beaker as collectors for the poor, Fozzy Bear as Fozziwig, Sam the Eagle as a schoolmaster, and Statler and Waldorf as Jacob and Robert Marley.

But for the first time in a muppet movie, a human plays the main character. Michael Caine is Scrooge, and he is absolutely phenomenal in the role. Surprisingly, he's actually one of the angrier and more violent Scrooge's; in the early scenes, he does more than simply tell people to go away. He actually kicks one caroling muppet out into the snow. Caine also illustrates Scrooge's transformation very well; there's a moment, when he's with the Ghost of Christmas Present during a musical number, where he stands away from the dancing group with a scowl on his face. Slowly, though, he begins to join in and becomes jollier. It's subtle but well done. Now, not all actors are great at interacting with puppets, but Caine makes you forget that he's the lone human among the muppets. That's the sign of a great performance. George C. Scott probably gives the most nuanced, deepest Scrooge portrayal, but when I think of Scrooge, my mind always jumps to Caine.

What makes The Muppet Christmas Carol my favorite Christmas film, though, is the music. Like any Muppet film, the movie is a musical and features some of the best songs in the history of Muppets. The songs always move the plot along while simultaneously summing up what makes Christmas so special. I can't even describe with words how well the songs epitomize Christmas.

The first song number, Scrooge, is a dark, creative introduction to the character. One More Sleep 'Til Christmas, sung by Kermit on his way home from the office, perfectly represents the excitement and joy of Christmas Eve. Marley and Marley, sung by Statler and Waldorf as the Marley 'brothers,' manages to put the entire Marley scene from the book into musical form. When Love is Gone is a song sung by Scrooge's sweetheart, Belle, in the past when she breaks up with him. It's a beautiful song, but was cut in theaters because it was too 'sad.' No widescreen version of the film with this song included exist on DVD, which is too bad, because the film works better with it in.

It Feels Like Christmas is the best scene in the film; the Ghost of Christmas Present takes Scrooge into the center of the town and tells him, in musical form, what Christmas really means. The main lesson is that Wherever you find love, it feels like Christmas. This is a great song, and an equally great scene, and is what makes the movie my favorite Christmas film. Bless us All is a very nice song sung by Tiny Tim and his family, and expertly captures the essence of a Christmas dinner with family. Michael Caine sings the last song, Thankful Heart, which is the musical number where Scrooge goes through the city making amends. It's different than most of the redemption scenes in Christmas Carol adaptations, but very powerful and touching.

In fact, touching is the word I'd use to describe the whole movie. No other Carol adaptation is as touching or moving as the muppets version. The combination of great music, a faithful re-telling of the Dickens story, and excellent use of Muppets characters gives it that emotional weight, and because of this, it is my favorite Christmas movie. No other holiday film is such a tradition for me, and is one of the few that I can watch multiple times during the holiday season.

Thank you all for reading this 12-day article. I want to wish everybody a very Merry Christmas. Whether you're staying at home or travelling, be safe and have a good time with friends and family!

Before 2008 ends, there should be a few more film reviews, and with any luck, my Top Ten List should be posted on the last day of the year, December 31 st, or perhaps the next day. Make sure to look out for it!