The tradition of Christmas movies is as old as moviemaking itself. The most beloved family Christmas movies are about showing compassion[同情,怜悯], appreciating your loved ones, helping others, and avoiding crass[非常的] commercialism[商业主义]. In short, messages that are right in line with[符合] the holiday spirit. Enjoy!
圣诞节电影这一传统和电影制作史一样悠久。最受欢迎的家庭圣诞节电影都是关于慈悲为怀、珍视你爱的人、帮助他人,以及避免(圣诞节)过于商业化等主题。简而言之,就是传播符合节日气氛的信息。好好欣赏吧!
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
红鼻驯鹿鲁道夫(1964)
This classic made-for-TV Christmas movie premiered in 1964 and it’s been delighting generations of kids ever since.
It tells the story of Rudolph, a reindeer[驯鹿] with a nose that lights up. He’s looking for a place where he belongs. Special guest appearances by the Abominable Snowman注1 and the misfit toys make this movie extra-special.
这部专为电视打造的经典圣诞电影于1964年首播,自此以后就为一代又一代的孩子带来欢乐。
这部电影讲述了鲁道夫这只鼻子会发光的驯鹿的故事。它一直在寻找让自己有归属感的地方。喜马拉雅山雪人和一群错位玩具的特别出演令这部电影格外独特。
A Christmas Carol
圣诞颂歌 
Whether you like the 1984 version starring George C. Scott or the 1977, 1999, or 2009 version – a remake seems to come out every year – this is a holiday classic.
Based on a story by Charles Dickens, it is about an old miser[吝啬鬼] named Scrooge who learns compassion when three ghosts visit him on Christmas Eve. This makes a great holiday movie because it’s thrilling and it has a nice message.
无论你喜欢的是由乔治·C·斯科特主演的1984年版,还是1977年版、1999年版抑或2009年版——这部电影似乎每年都会被翻拍一次——这确实是圣诞节的经典之作。
《圣诞颂歌》改编自查尔斯·狄更斯的故事,讲述了三个鬼魂在圣诞前夜拜访一个名叫斯克鲁奇的老吝啬鬼,他自此懂得了同情心的故事。这个故事之所以能拍成一部优秀的圣诞节电影,是因为它不单扣人心弦,还传达了一个良好的信息。
How the Grinch Stole Christmas 
格林奇偷走圣诞节(1966)
The original 1966 animated classic is the only version that does justice to Dr. Seuss注2. In it, the Grinch (a non-human Scrooge注3) tries to ruin Christmas for the Whos in Whoville by stealing their presents, trees, and holiday treats. Of course, the Grinch has a change of heart and finds love and friendship with the Whos.
1966年最初的动画版是唯一能体现苏斯博士原著精髓的经典之作。在这部电影里,格林奇(非人类版的斯克鲁奇/吝啬鬼)想通过偷窃礼物、圣诞树和节日大餐来破坏无名镇居民“无名氏”们的圣诞节。当然了,格林奇最后改邪归正,在无名氏中找到了爱和友谊。
The Year Without a Santa Claus
今年没有圣诞老人(1974) 
A stop-motion classic from the 70s. Santa finds himself feeling too discouraged to make his Christmas rounds. He’s sick and he doesn’t think that kids believe in him anymore. Two of his elves decide to go out to find children to convince Santa that the Christmas spirit is still important to everybody else. The plot is pretty flimsy[缺乏合理性的], but children won’t mind – they’ll be too taken with the catchy[易记住的] music.
这是一部七十年代的经典定格动画。圣诞老人沮丧地发现自己难以让圣诞节继续下去。他生病了,而且觉得孩子们不再相信他的存在。他的两只小精灵决定出去找一些孩子回来,让圣诞老人相信圣诞精神对每个人来说依然重要。情节挺站不住脚的,但孩子们可不介意——他们完全被好听易记的音乐迷住了。
A Christmas Story
圣诞故事 (1983) 
Ralphie Parker, a young boy growing up in the 1940s, wants only one thing for Christmas: a Red Ryder BB gun[一种空气枪]. His parents don’t want him to shoot his eye out and refuse to get it. Ralphie develops some wacky[古怪的] and creative schemes[阴谋] to convince his parents that this is perfect gift for him.
拉尔菲·帕克是一个成长于20世纪40年代的小男孩。圣诞节他只希望得到一样东西:一支红色游骑兵BB气枪。他的父母不想他打到自己的眼睛,所以不买给他。于是拉尔菲想出了各种奇奇怪怪、创意十足的鬼主意,以说服父母这是给他的最佳礼物。
A Charlie Brown注4 Christmas
查理·布朗的圣诞节(1965) 
In this half-hour Christmas special, Charlie Brown becomes the director of the school holiday pageant[露天表演] and goes out with Linus to buy an aluminum[铝] tree for the show. Instead, they bring back a forlorn[被遗弃的] real tree. Our hapless[倒霉的] hero finds himself dismayed[使沮丧] by the rampant[猖獗的] commercialization of the holidays and searches for the true meaning of Christmas.
在这个半小时长的圣诞特别节目中, 查理·布朗当上了学校圣诞表演的导演。他和莱纳斯出去为节目买一棵铝制树,却带回来一棵被人丢弃的真树。这位倒霉的主人公对节日里浓烈的商业味感到十分失望,决心寻找圣诞节的真正意义。
Little Women
小妇人 (1994) 
This 1994 adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved children’s book tells the story of the five March daughters and their mother – how they live and keep their family strong during the Civil War.
This movie is a celebration of family and creativity. It’s also about growing up and leaving childhood behind. There are some very nice scenes that take place during the holidays and have a message about generosity[慷慨].
这部拍摄于1994年的电影改编自路易莎·梅·奥尔科特备受喜爱的儿童读物,讲述了马奇家五姐妹及其母亲的故事——这一家人在美国内战期间如何生活,如何坚强不屈地面对一切。
这部电影是对家庭和创造力的赞颂,还讲到了成长和告别童年等问题。电影里有几幕圣诞场景拍摄得很不错,表达了慷慨助人的意义。
Home Alone
小鬼当家 (1990) 
He may have ended up becoming one of the most precocious[早熟的] child stars of his generation, but there is no doubting that without Macaulay Culkin, Home Alone would have never become such a popular film. It tells the tale of young Kevin McCallister, who has been accidentally left home alone for Christmas, saves the day[扭转败局] by foiling[挫败] a pair of stupid robbers[盗贼]. Home Alone certainly has that little bit of Christmas magic. And it’s not just the Christmas magic which makes it so special, but also the cartoon style slapstick[闹剧] which gets you laughing.
他也许成了那一代童星中最早熟的一个,但毫无疑问,没有了麦考利·库尔金,《小鬼当家》这部电影绝对不会如此受欢迎。电影讲述了小鬼凯文·麦卡利斯特在圣诞节期间不小心被独自留在家中的故事。他击退了一对笨贼,反败为胜。
《小鬼当家》无疑带有那么一点圣诞魔力。这部电影不单有令它与众不同的圣诞魔力,还有让你捧腹大笑的卡通式闹剧。
The Holiday
恋爱假期 (2006) 
Although many Christmas films are made for children, there are a few, usually romantic tales, which are made specially for adults. One of them is The Holiday. The movie manages to blend modern romantic comedy with a touch of classic Hollywood to deliver a warm Christmas film. The fact that it is set over a Christmas period means that it is a worthy addition for anyone looking for a romantic Christmas film.
虽然很多圣诞节电影都是为孩子们拍摄的,但还是有一些电影——通常是爱情片——专门为大人而拍。其中一部就是《恋爱假期》。这部电影成功地在现代爱情喜剧中融入一点好莱坞经典桥段,带出一部温馨的电影。电影的背景设在圣诞节期间,对于那些想找圣诞爱情电影的人来说是不错的选择。
It’s a Wonderful Life 美好人生(1946) 
What holiday movie list would be complete without this 1946 Frank Capra classic, starring James Stewart?
A man is about to commit suicide during the holidays because he’s financially ruined. But he is stopped by an angel who shows him what life would be like if he’d never existed. It’s a charming movie – part romance, part pathos[哀婉], and a celebration of life.
如果缺少了这部拍摄于1946年、由弗兰克·卡普拉执导、詹姆斯·斯图尔特主演的经典电影,圣诞电影清单怎能算完整呢?
在圣诞节期间,一个男人由于陷入了财政绝境,准备自杀,却被一位天使阻止了。天使向他展示了如果他从不存在世上会是怎样一种情形。这是一部引人入胜的电影——有点浪漫,有点哀婉,同时也是对生命的赞颂。
注1:在世界上所有神秘生物中,最让人神往的就是传说中的喜马拉雅山雪人。雪人被称作“夜帝”(Yeti),意思是居住在岩石上的动物。曾经有登山队及探险队上山搜寻,最多只能发现可疑足迹,从未真正发现。
注2:苏斯博士是美国作家希奥多·苏斯·盖索(Theodor Seuss Geisel,1904-1991)的笔名。他是二十世纪最卓越的儿童文学家、教育学家。
注3:源自《圣诞颂歌》的“Scrooge”后被用来形容非常吝啬的人。
注4:查理·布朗是美国著名漫画家查尔斯·M·舒尔茨(Charles M. Schulz,1922-2000)的《花生漫画》(Peanuts)的主人公。这部漫画里更为中国人熟知的形象是查理·布朗的狗狗——史努比。莱纳斯则是查理·布朗最好的朋友。