Hello and welcome back to English with Ally! Today I'll be talking about Christmas movies – do you want to guess which films I shall talk about?
Naturally at Christmas, some people may watch films about the life of Christ such as
But there are other classics shown on TV that we watch year after year. More modern Christmas films can also be blockbusters, meaning they’re big, popular movies that lots of people go to see. And of course, every film has a plot – that’s the story of what happens - that may have nothing to do with religion at all.
For example, Home Alone is a hilarious story about a boy left behind at Christmas. His family goes on holiday to Paris and accidentally leaves him at home. At first, Kevin enjoys his freedom, but when two burglars try to break in, he has to protect his house. In the end, his family rushes back and they reunite just in time for Christmas. This could be described as a feel-good film because it makes us happy and give us that cosy, holiday feeling.
Or what about Die Hard – yes, it’s an action film, but it takes place at Christmas, so many people call it a Christmas movie! The whole story happens during a Christmas Eve party, with decorations, music, and there is even the theme of family and reconciliation. Over time, watching Die Hard at Christmas has become a quirky tradition for many fans.
These films connect to the importance of family as the heart of Christmas celebrations.
A British film which has become a Christmas tradition in the UK is The Snowman. This is a beautiful, animated film about a boy and his snowman who comes to life. They share a magical adventure, flying through the night sky to meet Father Christmas. It’s famous for the song Walking in the Air.
The central message is about the beauty and fragility of special moments. It celebrates imagination, friendship and the magic of childhood, but also reminds us that these moments don’t last forever – just like the snowman melts at the end.
Today’s key words are:
So what’s your favourite Christmas film? Is it a classic like Home Alone, a magical one, like The Snowman, a religious film like The Nativity Story, or something more modern? Let me know!
That’s all for today’s episode of English with Ally. Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you next time. Merry Christmas!
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