Christmas evokes an irreplaceable feeling, amplified with presents, traditions and Christmas movies. Some Christmas movies, such as “Elf,” “Home Alone” and “A Christmas Carol,” have become so popular that they are considered classic movies. However, there is a common thread between these movies: they were all made at least 20 years ago. While new Christmas movies are being produced more, they rarely leave the same impression as vintage movies do. This only begs the question: could any modern Christmas movie become a Christmas classic?
A few recently released Christmas movies are “Dear Santa,” “Red One” and “A Royal Montana Christmas,” all of which could be considered original Christmas movies, but may not become classics. This is because these movies are more mature, especially with the rise of rom-com Christmas movies. The classics are typically family-friendly, and adult jokes are kept to a minimum and are more subtle when they appear.
Christmas movies are now also more likely to contradict the whole season of Christmas. Christmas is meant to be tranquil, as many spend the day with family and the night in a comfortable mood. The problem with some of these modern movies, like “Red One,” is that they are overall an action movie rather than anything else. Classic Christmas movies do not follow the theme of saving the world from magical annihilation with the help of a team with magic weapons. Instead, classics follow a more realistic plot, using emotions to drive it instead of suspense.
The use of emotion in movies, especially during Christmas, is what drives them to become great. All of the newer movies follow a formula that is fast-paced and hyper-specific, almost as if these studios are trying to cram every single possible Christmas scenario into a single movie, as well as changing the plot insanely fast.
Some may argue that these new movies are going to become Christmas classics just like the others, over time. So if the answer to the question of whether modern Christmas movies will become classics is yes, then how long will it be until these films become classics? Or better yet, should studios completely stop making Christmas movies in general? The answer to this is only if the movie pulls more emotion than action and focuses more on family than fighting.
Christmas is a time of year when families and friends can come together. Watching movies that bring the season of Christmas near. New Christmas movies are slowly removing the calm feeling of Christmas. There will always be the classics to look back on and watch over and over again, and they may never grow old. With more and more fast-paced Christmas movies being produced, the season may become tiring. Leaving the people with the option of watching old movies that everyone loves, or modern movies that turn this holiday upside down, all thanks to these greedy studios.
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