The Chimes’ Christmas movie watchlist

The Chimes A&E staff decks your holiday watchlist with the most essential Christmas films.

Pierce Singgih, Kayla Santos, and Adam Pigott • December 15, 2018

Christmas films are beloved by many, including our own arts & entertainment staff. With winter break quickly approaching and Christmas around the corner, fill your Christmas watchlist with this joy-inducing array of films and television specials.

“RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER”

The animated classic is an absolute essential for the Christmas season. Adapted from the beloved Johnny Marks song, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” perfectly embodies Christmas spirit with its beautiful story of love and acceptance. Bolstered by a unique and endearing stop motion style, this film melts the hearts of any grinches or scrooges, reminding audiences that value and self-worth are found inside rather than out. – Pierce Singgih, Arts & Entertainment Editor

“ELF”

Released in 2003, Elf remains a Christmas favorite. When Buddy the Elf, played by Will Ferrell, realizes that he is human and that his real father resides in New York City, he leaves the North Pole in hopes of reuniting with his estranged father. From eating spaghetti with chocolate syrup to throwing snowballs at 50 miles an hour, Buddy must learn how to culturally adapt as he seeks to strengthen bonds with his father’s family. Elf will make you laugh out loud, sing along to “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” and maybe even shed a few tears. – Kayla Santos, Deputy Arts & Entertainment Editor

“THE POLAR EXPRESS”

A young boy has an adventure of a lifetime when he hops on a train to the North Pole in this 2004 animated adaptation of the classic children’s book. He has trouble believing in Santa Claus throughout the film, but eventually begins to believe, prompting him to see and hear many things that others may not. This film’s main message is that “believing is seeing,” not the other way around. Robert Zemeckis, the director of dramatic films like Forrest Gump and Flight, has definitely shown his versatility with the joyously poignant “The Polar Express.” Zemeckis reunites with Tom Hanks, who shows his own versatility by playing so many different roles in this film. The adventure sequences and the Christmas themes make it a movie enjoyable for all ages. – Adam Pigott, Staff Writer

“A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS”

Few films understand the spirit of Christmas like “A Charlie Brown Christmas” does. The animated classic puts audiences in Charlie Brown’s relatable blue shoes as he seeks to find the true meaning of Christmas. However, as Linus beautifully recites the nativity scene, Charlie rediscovers joy and happiness in his life. This film’s jazzy soundtrack, unashamed authenticity and timeless animation style will surely bring warmth and comfort to anyone experiencing the Christmas blues. – Singgih

“THE FAMILY STONE”

Family tensions arise during Christmas time at the Stone household when Everett Stone, portrayed by Dermot Mulroney, decides to bring his girlfriend Meredith Morton, portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker, home for the holidays. Unfortunately, the rest of the Stone family has difficulty welcoming her into the Christmas celebrations. However, through the ups and downs, the two parties find a way to put their differences aside and make the most of the Christmas season. “The Family Stone” excellently reminds us of the Christmas season’s capability of uniting even the most polar opposites together. – Santos

“HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS”

Director Ron Howard made an excellent choice recruiting the always-zany Jim Carrey to be the Grinch. Carrey’s portrayal of the Grinch is unparalleled and this film still holds up even 18 years after its initial release. In a live-action remake of the 1966 animated film, “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” perfectly blends comedy with a sprinkle of drama as the Grinch turns from a Christmas-hating monster into a joyful compassionate being. His turn is as becoming as it should be, as he ultimately realizes that his problems stem from within. This film reminds us the power of Christmas knows no bounds. – Pigott

“WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING”

Chicago Transit Authority token collector Lucy Moderatz, portrayed by Sandra Bullock, has the Christmas she never dreamed of when she saves her secret commuter crush, Peter Gallagher, from an oncoming train on Christmas Day. When information gets lost in translation at the hospital, the Gallaghers believe that Moderatz is the fianceé to now-comatose Peter. After spending a belated Christmas with the Gallaghers, she grows very fond of the family, even realizing that she is falling in love with Peter’s brother, Jack, portrayed by Bill Pullman. This film brings a romantic comedy twist to Christmas cinema, filling our hearts with both warmth and laughter. If you are looking for a ‘90s Christmas rom-com, look no further than “While You Were Sleeping.”– Santos

“HOME ALONE”

Kevin McCallister, played by Macaulay Culkin, is left, well, home alone after his family leaves for a Christmas vacation to Paris. Kevin’s initial fun and games quickly dissipate as bumbling burglars Harry and Marv, portrayed by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, respectively, plan on robbing the perceivably vacant house. Watching how their plans fail as a result of Kevin’s clever and painful traps is what makes the film so adventurous and comedic. Watching how Kevin turns everyday items into these traps creates a sense of awe. The film also contains the message of the importance of family and reconciliation, making it not only funny, but also meaningful. This film has jokes, laughs and lessons for all age groups scattered throughout. – Pigott

“DIE HARD”

Yes, “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie. – Singgih

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About the Contributors

Pierce Singgih, Editor-in-Chief (Fall 2019)

Pierce Singgih is a senior journalism major who keeps postponing graduation. When he’s not writing or editing, he can be found watching a Noah Baumbach film or drinking coffee. [email protected] I transferred to Biola as a biology major in 2017. You read that right. I wanted to be a doctor. After a semester here, and a few semesters of biology at community college, I realized I had zero desire to pursue a career in medicine. With no direction and little experience writing, I took a leap of faith into journalism. Now, after two years in the program, a few internships and my time with the Chimes, I’ve fallen in love with storytelling. At its core, journalism is the voice of the community. Journalists provide a voice to the voiceless, standing up for those can’t stand up for themselves. I love representing a community and its people, bringing their voice to life in order to make real change. Last summer, I interned for the Los Angeles Daily News where I did just that. I submerged myself in the San Fernando Valley –– a Los Angeles community –– covering breaking news, crime, elections and homelessness, among other issues. I also contribute to Film School Rejects, an online entertainment publication where I’ve covered the Los Angeles Film Festival and have certified film reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Now, I’m excited to follow in the footsteps of Editors-in-Chief before me and lead the Chimes into a new era of journalistic excellence.

Kayla Santos, Arts & Entertainment Editor

Kayla Santos is a senior journalism major who loves gooey chocolate chip cookies, traveling to new places and playing volleyball at the beach. [email protected] Hi readers! I come to you from the city of San Jose, California, which is about one hour south of San Francisco (and has the best boba). I’ve always loved sports. I was always that girl that would rather be out playing basketball than going shopping or doing makeovers. I came into Biola as a kinesiology major with hopes of a career in sports medicine and sports training, but everything changed during the spring semester of my sophomore year. Though I still love athletics, I realized that there is something that I enjoy even more than that: storytelling. After two years as a kinesiology major, I decided to change my major to journalism. Although I joined the Chimes party a little bit later than most, I’m thrilled to be on staff once again for my senior year at Biola. I love all kinds of music: reggae, R&B, 80’s, alternative—you name it! You can count on me to constantly be on the lookout for artists and bands that are on tour. That being said, I am so excited to be editing for the Arts and Entertainment section of the Chimes this year. When I’m not on the search for the next concert, I love going to coffee and tea shops, finding cute places to snap photos and eating Korean barbeque.

Adam Pigott, Staff Writer

Adam Pigott is a journalism major set to graduate in the spring of 2021. He enjoys training in martial arts and exploring Los Angeles as well as Orange County in his free time. Hey there! I am a junior journalism major with an emphasis in broadcasting from the beautiful state of Hawaii. I grew up on the Big Island in a small town called Honokaa. I participated in a lot of production-based work in my later years of high school, and I fell in love with telling stories from that point on. My love of stories originally came from my love of movies. I knew that I wanted to tell stories, but for the longest time, I did not know of the best path to take in order to do that. That’s when broadcasting came along. I love telling stories, and Biola has given me the path to do that. Telling stories through a video camera allows viewers to truly experience the story. Viewers get to experience the emotions, pace and mood because it's taking place right on their screen. I love being a part of bringing viewers that experience. I want to expand my horizons by not just becoming a good broadcaster, but also being a good writer. I am blessed to be a part of The Chimes, and I look forward to displaying my work.