During English class we usually read poems, novels, and short stories, but that doesn’t mean that English teachers never enjoy a good movie. Here are some of their holiday favorites.

Kim Baker

Q: What is your favorite holiday movie? 

A:  Santa Claus is Coming to Town/Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer/The Year Without a Santa Claus

Q:  What about it (the movie) makes it your favorite?

A: Burl Ives, Fred Astaire, and Shirley Booth are the narrators (showing my age!).  All the figurines look real. It shows how Santa becomes Santa because of Sombertown.  The German children have been told there are to be no toys because the Burgermeister Meisterburger tripped on a toy and broke his leg.  Santa befriends the Winter Warlock. 

In Rudolph, he runs away and meets Hermey the Elf and Yukon Cornelius, and they travel to the Island of Misfit Toys and meet the Abominable Snowman.  

In the last one, Santa has a cold and doesn’t want to do Christmas- the Heat Miser, and his brother Snow Miser sing as Jingle and Jangle try to prove that people still believe in Santa.

Q: What is your favorite quote from the movie? singing!

“It’s a difficult responsibility

That you accept from the #1 lawmaker, me

Have it know throughout the land from sea to sea

There’ll be no more toymakers to the king!”

Tanna Ball

Q: What is your favorite holiday movie?

A: Christmas Vacation

Q: What about it (the movie) makes it your favorite?

A: It brings laughter, smiles and happiness to everyone who watches it. And, during the holidays, really what else could you ask for, but to be with family and laugh and smile!!!! As a family with ages ranging from 7-16, it is also one of the few movies that we can all agree on year after year.

Q: What is your favorite quote from the movie?

     “Mom, Is this box meowing?”- Rusty Griswold

Alex Bergren 

Q: What is your favorite holiday movie?

A: Love Actually (Die Hard and Scrooged round out my top 3)

Q: What about it (the movie) makes it your favorite?

A: I’m not generally into romantic comedies or Christmas movies, but this one just hits all the right notes. I love that it follows multiple story lines, and ultimately sends the message that everyone deserves to be loved and to love, no matter who they are. I think that’s what this time of year really should remind us all of. 

Q: What is your favorite quote from the movie?

“When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge—they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love, actually, is all around.”

Catie Bond

Q: What is your favorite holiday movie?

A: My favorite holiday movie is It’s a Wonderful Life.

Q: What about it (the movie) makes it your favorite?

A: My family and I have a tradition of watching It’s a Wonderful Life every Christmas Eve. It’s a heartwarming story about family, friendship, and purpose.

Q: What is your favorite quote from the movie? “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. And when he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?”

Jennifer Harrington 

Q: What is your favorite holiday movie?

A: My favorite holiday movie is Love Actually. 

Q: What about it (the movie) makes it your favorite?

A: It highlights all aspects of love during the frantic and stressful holiday. It’s easy to forget what the holidays are really about and this movie helps to remind us. The characters are also very relatable.

Q: What is your favorite quote from the movie?

A: “To me, you are perfect.” or “Love, actually, is all around.”

Lacy Krell

Q: What is your favorite holiday movie?

A: Any movie my family will sit and watch together.

Q: What about it (the movie) makes it your favorite?

A: The time spent together, the shared experience, and the one-liners we will continue to use in random conversations.

Q: What is your favorite quote from the movie?

There are lots:

 “Light the lamp not the rat”- Muppet Christmas Carol

“Yippee Kai Yay”- Die Hard

“God Bless us, every one”- Christmas Carol

“Every time a bell rings and angel gets his wings”- Wonderful Life

“Santa, I KNOW him”- Elf

Robin Lusk-Stancil

Q: What is your favorite holiday movie?

A: White Christmas

Q: What about it (the movie) makes it your favorite?

A: The nostalgia, the positive message, the songs and dancing, the old school humor

Q: What is your favorite quote from the movie?

It is actually the song “Sisters” as they seem to be talking about how close they are and how much they take care of each other…until a man is involved.

Victoria Macoul

Q: What is your favorite holiday movie?

A: Elf

Q: What about it (the movie) makes it your favorite?

A: This is a comfort movie for me. I’ve watched during the holidays for years. Now, my family watches it at the end of Thanksgiving day to celebrate the transition from Thanksgiving/fall to Christmas. 

Q: What is your favorite quote from the movie?

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” 

Heather Powers-Carasella

Q: What is your favorite holiday movie?

A: It’s a Wonderful Life is my favorite holiday movie.

Q: What about it (the movie) makes it your favorite?

A: I have been watching this movie for as long as I can remember.  It is a family tradition to watch it when we bake holiday cookies.  Today, I love listening to my mother tell my daughter about her life and what she did during the holidays when she was young in the 1940s.

Q: What is your favorite quote from the movie?

“What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word, and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.”

Allison Schroyer

Q: What is your favorite holiday movie?

A: A Christmas Carol

Q: What about it (the movie) makes it your favorite?

A: A Christmas Carol is a movie that my mom introduced me to when I was young.  Growing up, my family had a tradition of watching A Christmas Carol every Christmas Eve.  There are many versions of it, but the George C. Scott version from the 80s is my favorite.  Even today, I have continued the tradition by showing my own children versions of it, they love the Muppets version.  It is a movie that always brings back great holiday memories, and I am glad that I am able to continue it. 

Q: What is your favorite quote from the movie?

“Marley was as dead as a door-nail.”

“Bah-humbug!”

“God bless us, everyone.” 

Laura Todorovic

Q: What is your favorite holiday movie?

A: Elf

Q: What about it (the movie) makes it your favorite?

A: It’s so funny and wholesome, and Will Ferrell just makes everything better

Q: What is your favorite quote from the movie?

A: “I’m sorry I ruined your lives and crammed 11 cookies into the VCR.”

Rylee Toler

Q: What is your favorite holiday movie?

A: How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Q: What about it (the movie) makes it your favorite?

A: There are a few reasons… First of all, I have loved this movie since I was a child. Rewatching this as an adult gives me a new perspective and understanding for all of the jokes. Second, I love Jim Carrey. He did an exceptional job with this role. 

Q: What is your favorite quote from the movie?

This line is hard to understand out of context, so I have attached an image that encapsulates the scene perfectly. “Ooh. Ah. Mmm… That’s it, I’m not going.”

Kathleen Trace

Q: What is your favorite holiday movie?

A: A Christmas Story

Q: What about it (the movie) makes it your favorite?

A: A Christmas Story is a classic that the whole family can enjoy. My family is from upstate New York so the setting reminds us of what Christmas looked like when we were younger. I also love that it can be watched on multiple levels–jokes the kids get, and jokes the adults get. 

Q: What is your favorite quote from the movie?

“It’s a big award!”

“You’ll shoot your eye out!” 

“Fuuudge.”

Lauren Wallace

Q: What is your favorite holiday movie?

A: The Holiday

Q: What about it (the movie) makes it your favorite?

A: I love the actors and actresses, its a movie about finding love and doing what is right for yourself. I feel like I fall in love with every movie that features an author. The movie is a romantic comedy. 

Q: What is your favorite quote from the movie?

• “You’re seriously the most depressing girl I have ever met.” 
• “Shakespeare said, ‘Journeys end in lovers meeting.’ What an extraordinary thought.” 
• “I’ve found almost everything written about love to be true.” 
• “I have a cow and I sew. How’s that for ‘hard to relate to?”