10. Gran Torino
This one barely cracks the list because the trailers have Clint Eastwood beating people up. If that doesn't take you back to your childhood, nothing will! All jokes aside, this is a leading Oscar contender on the Best Actor front.

9. Four Christmases
I've seen it, so I'm cheating a bit. It's completely elevated by the performance of Vince Vaughn -- one of the more likable guys in Hollywood. Plus, it's mercifully short, perfect for that family movie outing.

8. Valkyrie
This makes the list because it's make-or-break time for Tom Cruise. The early buzz has us thinking he's broken,…

Not everyone embraces sugarplums, mistletoe and holly during the holiday season. Some folks even get a wee bit cranky, what with all the crowds, the shopping and the endless carols blasted at us wherever we go. Thankfully, there are some great Christmas movies on DVD for all of us curmudgeons, chock-full of family dysfunction, violence and mayhem:

Die Hard (1988)
One of the great holiday films…

Holiday shopping searches often end up in the DVD aisles. Finding the right gift is always difficult, especially when you haven't a clue what your brother-in-law does for a hobby. But you probably can remember something about his movie tastes. In a selfless and concerted effort to fulfill our gifting needs, DVD companies have made a fine art of the packaging of fancy boxed sets and boxed…

Every year, basic cable and network television offer the same slate of holiday classics -- It's a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, A Christmas Story, plus innumerable TV-movie versions of the old standards, starring C-list sitcom actors. You know the drill. So why not try something a little different this year? Whether your tastes run to the traditional or the offbeat, there's no lack of…

Our family's Christmas tradition includes a black-tie party after Christmas Eve Mass. This black-tie event began about 20 years ago when, after a large Christmas Eve dinner, all of the men in the Italian branch of my husband's family retired to the living room to smoke cigars and sip brandy or nap while the women cleaned up. Three generations of women decided that if the men were going to behave…

If there's one thing that's on our wish list each holiday season, it's that our favorite TV shows can deliver episodes that aren't trite, predictable or nauseatingly sappy. Of course, there are always hits and misses, but some offerings truly stand the test of time.

In other words, we actually remember them.

Here are our picks for the most notable TV episodes:

The Office, "Christmas Party"
Michael…

The end of the year means holiday specials galore all over the major networks and cable, many of which have aired for decades and will have multiple airings this December as well. Here is a list of some of the highlights:

November 23: A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All(Comedy Central, 10 PM): No war on Christmas here! Elvis Costello, Toby Keith, and (naturally) Jon Stewart are on…

When it comes to the girl in your life who's on top of the latest trends and already has everything she could possibly want, coming up with gift ideas can be tough. So we've compiled a list of trendy finds and classic pieces at a range of price points that will impress the most stylish of ladies.

Headband
While nobody does preppy chic quite like Blair Waldorf, your fashionista sure can try with a…

It's not so much to ask for, whether it's Santa bringing the gifts, or it's little pagan solstice elves, or whoever. I just want some nice new DVDs to keep my player warm through the cold winter nights. Like maybe one or two or ten of these:

• Doctor Who: The Complete Series 4 (out…

The holiday season is quickly approaching like a sprinting lion on the African plains, waiting to dig its teeth in my zebra neck. o I thought I'd put a list together of my favorite holiday movies for your consideration when you venture the crowded retail stores Thanksgiving weekend (also see my article on great non-holiday-themed DVD gift ideas, and don't miss my article on not-so-great DVDs for…

It's that time of year again -- awaiting the autumn leaves, dusting off the old box of home decorations, and predicting the annual ritual of holiday DVD reissues. And here I am still wearing white after Labor Day.

This year, though, at least three of the major holiday films are returning to home video with more than just a change of their red ribbons. This time Blu-ray…

'Tis the season for made-for-television holiday movies. In addition to the occasional special primetime network presentation, Lifetime, Oxygen, and ABC Family offer practically non-stop holiday movies from Thanksgiving to New Year's day. Maybe the WGA strike means your favorite show is in reruns, or maybe you just need something to turn on on a Saturday afternoon while you wrap presents or bake…

Plenty of cinematic attention has been given to Christmas and Thanksgiving. By now, probably at least three different versions of A Christmas Carol have aired on a TV channel near you, and the Christmas Story marathon is in the offing. As much as I have enjoyed these yuletide chestnuts, the spirit longs for something more . . . more! And I don't just mean movies set on or around a holiday. There…