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Greatest Christmas films—according to us

Do not fear, bask in the holiday cheer with The Chimes’ favorite Christmas flicks.
Greatest Christmas films—according to us
Photo courtesy of Illustration by Nicole Landon
  1. Caleb Aguilera’s Pick: “Home Alone” — What is better than watching two men be  mentally, emotionally and physically attacked by an eight year old child for 103 minutes? Watching it on Christmas! “Home Alone” ranks among the holiday’s best films with a heartwarming message about forgiveness and family. Kevin McCallister steals your heart with a warm smile and crafty wit.
  2. Kyle Kohner’s Pick: “It’s a Wonderful Life— This film stands as arguably one of the best films of all time, period. Of course director Frank Capra is at his best but the film’s draw is actor James Stewart, whose distinguished talent pierces through the film’s blizzary holiday setting with effortless charm. With all this to say, the magical feeling synonymous with Christmas time would not be possible without the humanity brought to center stage by this timeless classic.
  3. Ashley Brimmage’s Pick: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation  — “Christmas Vacation” follows a young Chevy Chase as he attempts to tackle decorating for Christmas. You will feel less alone in the craziness of your family, as the “hap-hap-happiest Griswold Family Christmas” assures you sometimes, a couple glasses of egg-nog are necessary to get through the holidays. Prepare to have a remote in hand, as there are some scenes that my dad—to this day—fast-forwards to “preserve the holiday spirit.”
  4. Jessica Goddard’s pick: “White Christmas— Nothing says Christmas tradition like a movie that transports you to the golden age of Hollywood and treats you to the sound of original Christmas singers, like Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney. With famous performances from Vera Ellen and hilarious Danny Kaye, the film is vibrant, entertaining and complete with all the elements needed for that cozy holiday feeling: family, romance, surprise, giving and, of course, snow.
  5. Jana Eller’s pick: “A Christmas Story— In all its 80s flair, this classic follows the hilarious adventures of Ralphie as he tries to convince his parents and Santa to bring him a Red Ryder B.B. gun to defend his family against bandits. Spend some time this season embracing your inner child in a wild pursuit for the perfect Christmas gift against all odds. It will have you singing “Fa-ra-ra-ra” in no time.
  6. Rebecca Mitchell’s pick: “Elf— This movie is the epitome of Christmas joy as it shares the story of Buddy the Elf, a grown man, who travels to the United States to meet his father and ends up singing loud for all to hear. This holiday season take the time to laugh alongside the human version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and fall in love with his childlike wonder.
  7. Austin Green’s pick: “The Year Without A Santa Claus— Its main characters include Mrs. Claus, two elves on “a secret mission,” a boy named Ignatius, a baby reindeer who gets put in a dog pound and two goofy clowns who control the weather. Oh, and a sick, cranky, bowler-hat-wearing Santa. The film also contains the best song in Christmas movie history: a two-part broadway ballad sung by demigod brothers Snow Miser and Heat Miser.
  8. Christian Leonard’s pick: “The Nightmare Before Christmas” ― This film captivates audiences with music and visuals that are equal parts chilling and gleeful. It takes the viewer away from the traditional Christmas scene and shoves them into a world of terrors while somehow remaining full of energy and joy. Each line Danny Elfman sings vibrates with childlike wonder, casting a light of discovery upon the holiday that audiences have grown accustomed to.
  9. Vic Silva’s pick: “The Holiday — Bringing together an international cast is always a prime decision made by any director. If you find yourself looking for an endearingly witty romantic comedy that incorporates pangs of utter heartbreak, sporadic humor, sweet life lessons and, most importantly, memorable character dynamics, then you have come to the right film. Sit on down to enjoy a flick about your cliche Christmas, but a refreshing Christmas storyline nonetheless.
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About the Contributors
Kyle Kohner, Copy Editor & Office Manager
Amid his final year with the Chimes, Kyle is a four-year vet of the publication. Before this year, Kyle began his tenure like most at the Chimes—as a freelancer and an apprentice. He’s also held positions as the online editor and the A&E staff writer in the past. He also demands that you all go watch the movie “Hereditary.” Hello there! My name is Kyle Kohner, born and raised in San Bernardino, California. I am a senior journalism student at Biola University and a self-proclaimed film buff and music addict. A movie and music critic by trade, I am a firm believer that watching film and listening to music go hand-in-hand. Because the two mediums make the world go round and humanity sane, I see it is as my job and passion to discern the good from the bad within the differing yet kindred realms of entertainment. Aside from passion for the arts, it is probably worth noting that I am the Chimes’ office manager and copy editor. I, alongside Victoria try to make sure that the content produced by this publication are without flaws. If you see an article containing the wrong usage of “they’re” or “Its,” it’s probably my fault. Outside of the Chimes, I can be seen—you guessed it—listening to music and watching movies. But I also have a deep passion for street photography.
Jana Eller, Office Manager
As a senior intercultural studies major, Jana Eller loves stories, serving people and having lots of adventures. She can never pass up a good boba run and has a slight obsession with cows. [email protected] I came into college as an intercultural studies major with a faint interest in writing and journalism. After freelancing my first story, I fell in love and began building my way up through the ranks, holding multiple editorial positions along the way. After working on staff for three years, I am thrilled to now take a backseat role supporting and serving this year’s staff as an office manager, including bringing food, cleaning the office and taking care of the small logistics behind the scenes. I am excited to see how the Chimes grows in new directions this year and continues blessing the Biola community.
Austin Green
Austin Green, Managing Editor
Austin Green is a junior journalism major who was first among his friends to predict that LeBron James would sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. When not focused on school or work, he enjoys watching sports, going to the beach or coffee shops, and hanging out with the guys on his dorm floor. [email protected] I laughed the first time I heard a former editor-in-chief use the line “once you join the Chimes, you never really leave.” Now in my third year here, it turns out the joke’s on me. After two years in the sports section, including last year as sports editor, I’m thrilled to be serving this year as managing editor to help build upon the legacy of such a great publication. My aspirations remain in sports journalism, but experience has deepened my love for dedicated local news reporting and its importance in communities. Much of my appreciation for that type of journalism came through working as a digital production intern for NBC Los Angeles last summer. There I helped cover stories such as the Trader Joe’s hostage crisis, the Cranston and Holy wildfires, and the Lakers’ overhaul of their iconic uniforms. I am so excited to help build this next chapter of the Chimes as we become a web-first publication with a deeper, dedicated focus on the communities in and around campus. I also contribute a print sports column, “Everything Eagles,” which provides a deeper look into Biola Athletics.
Christian Leonard
Christian Leonard, Editor-in-Chief
Christian Leonard is a junior journalism major whose affinity for chickens is really getting out of hand. He can often be found singing in the office, wrapped around a book, or arguing for the classification of cereal as a soup. [email protected] I came to Biola a nervous freshman, not really sure what I wanted to do during my time at university. Years of prayer and waiting seemed fruitless, until an academic counselor recommended I contact the Chimes, since I had shown a modest interest in journalism. I figured it was worth a shot, so I got in touch with the news editors. After a brief chat, I left, figuring I would write for them the following semester. I was assigned my first story a few days later. The following semester, I became a news apprentice, stepping into a full editorship my sophomore year. Through the experience, I gained a greater appreciation for the bustling community that is Biola—its students, its administration, and its culture—and a deeper desire to serve it through storytelling. As my time as news editor drew to a close, I was encouraged to apply for the editor-in-chief position, a prospect which both intimidated and thrilled me. Yet I ultimately saw it as a way to better support the publication through which God showed me His desire for my life. Now, as I oversee the Chimes, I am committed to upholding myself and the newspaper to standard of excellence, and to helping train the next generation of student journalists.
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