As Christmas days blanket the world in a festive layer, we come alive with the heartwarming magic of cinema.

Christmas movies offer a sleigh ride into our childhood or oldest years. Here, in Astralon, we decided to remember some of our favorites, and influence each other to spend time with a cup of hot chocolate and nostalgic feelings. 

Anna suggests
Edward Scissorhands (1990)

The Christmas period is synonymous with joy, gifts, love and light. I don’t want to take you out of this magic, but the melancholy of Christmas is something that we’ve all experienced… sometimes, some nights maybe! So the movie I propose for a warm, cozy Xmas night is “Edward Scissorhands”. Actually, the end of the movie takes place at Christmas, and the whole movie is dominated by a melancholy that (maybe) suits this period.

One of the few authentic fairy tales that came out of Hollywood, with a symbolic approach and autobiographical character, Tim Burton’s movie has its aesthetic and has remained as a landmark for Hollywood production.

The film tells the story of an artificial man named Edward, who has scissors instead of hands. Being mostly alone in the world, after the death of his creator, with the help of a family he tries to be integrated into a small society and finally learn even more what love means.

Fun fact about the figure; is inspired by a teenage drawing of the director, while Burton’s recycled objects were used to create the costume.

A hymn to diversity, with excellent performances by Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder, which is impossible not to “touch” you. So, if you want to travel to a magical fantasy universe, become children again for a while, and fall in love this Christmas…We found a movie for you!

Enjoy ?

Plus one! Die Hard (1988)

Ares suggests
Scrooged (1988)

Okay, it’s not the greatest movie in which Bill Murray plays, but still, it’s a movie that he is starring in, and that’s a bit of a thing. I remember vividly when I was a small boy, more or less 10 years old, how much I was scared of some of the movie’s scenes, though 1988’s “Scrooged” is a modern adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol”. And I mean scared to shit, man! Over the years, I watched it again a few times and I still feel that it is one of my favorite Christmas movies.

The ghosts that visit the cynic and cruel television executive, named Frank Cross, are hilarious while most of the main characters that appear offer their unique touch next to Bill Murray’s enjoyable moments. “Scrooged”, directed by Richard Donner, is another timeless story of self-discovery during the holiday season, it’s dark and light-hearted at the same time, and for sure an ‘80s classic that reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas.

Plus one! The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Eleftheria suggests
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

In the enchanting world of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry open for the first time for us, adorned with festive decorations, as the holiday season unfolds, introducing us to its extraordinary world.

The -famous- plot is Harry Potter, who discovers on his eleventh birthday that he is, in fact, a wizard and is invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. With his new friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry meets magical creatures, faces the challenges of learning spells, and uncovers the dark secrets of the wizarding world and his family.

And it’s all about Christmas, as the Great Hall sparkles with towering Christmas trees, and the air is filled with the joyous melodies of caroling ghosts. Harry, Ron, and Hermione find warmth in the magical embrace of the season. The Yule Ball, the festive feast, and the enchanted snow that falls within the castle walls create a captivating atmosphere, making Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone a charming Christmas movie that weaves the spirit of the holidays.

So, grab your blanket, be comfortable on your sofa, and push ‘’play’’!

Plus one! The Grinch (2018)

Chryssa suggests
The Snowman (1982)

The Snowman is a short animation movie based on the homonymous book of Raymond Briggs and directed by Dianne Jackson. It is a heartwarming story that takes viewers back to their childhood and transports them to a world of pure Christmas magic through its nostalgic imagery and captivating music.

During this almost half-hour film, you embark on a magical journey to a quaint English village blanketed in snow at Christmas time. There, you will meet a courageous young boy who creates a snowman, and together they embark on a whimsical adventure. As you admire the simple decorations and cozy up by the fire with the boy’s family, you are swept away by the boundless possibilities of imagination.

The film’s music is composed by Howard David Blake and culminates in the ethereal song “Walking in the Air,” which will undoubtedly stay with you long after the movie ends.

In later years, a version was released with David Bowie introducing the film as a boy wearing a snowman’s scarf. Was he the one who floated in the most peculiar way?!

You can see the short animation on YouTube (with Bowie’s intro)
and sing the song:
♫ We’re walking in the air
We’re floating in the moonlit sky
The people far below are sleeping as we fly ♬

PS: Thank you, Mrs. Katerina Legaki, for introducing me to this magical animation.

Plus one! Little Women (1994)