The is what the snowman looks like in "Jack Frost" (1998) starring Michael Keaton. Would you want to see this movie more if I told you Henry Rollins was in it?

I have few holiday traditions, but I’m so far working on a few that I hope will last the run of my lifetime, and the various Christmas seasons I’m able to celebrate. Christmas mix CDs have been ageless (and now morphed into podcasts!). Decorating the plastic Christmas tree has been going for five. Recording a Christmas EP has been running for three. I started doing the Christmas card mail-out this year (yes, offline e-cards). Adding clove spices to the coffee grounds is another. Church on Christmas eve. Buying presents. And one of my most favourite: the Christmas movie.

My tastes seem to change year to year, from sentimental oldies to whacked out oddities, but there’s a few usuals that seem to stick around… you’re likely to agree with me on all of these. Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without them. Without further ado, here’s my top Christmas movies for 2009.

1. Die Hard. I need to watch Bruce Willis kill some terrorists to really get that holiday spirit. Kidding.
2. Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All. It’s satirical and sincere all at the same time. You can tell Colbert actually believes in Christmas, but still has fun with the spirit of it. Not just that phony, entertainer-y kind of Chrismas special like Carrie Underwood or someone like that would give you. Plus! Music you actually want to listen to… I would even go so far as to call this a modern classic.
3. It’s a Wonderful Life. Loved watching this on my old black-and-white television with rabbit ears, and now I love watching it even more with a rowdy group of friends at the Bloor Cinema.
4. Ernest Saves Christmas. I’m not sure if I actually like Ernest, but I do remember watching all his stupid movies without understanding all the in-jokes. He’s just greasy and weird, but also genuine. It’s a shame that we have comedians like Larry the Cable Guy standing in for him these days.
5. Gremlins. Because there’s nothing scarier than a Christmas gift you didn’t want.
6. Home Alone. I love this because I actually love spending time all by myself in the house, just hanging out, doing things. Without the burglars of course
7. Scrooged. I’ve only seen this once, but it became an instant classic. Who doesn’t love Bill Murray?
8. Jingle All the Way. Set in the twin cities, this is one of those overlooked “commercialism is bad” Christmas movies, although I’m not totally sure if the film actually makes that point. And in the movie, Arnold Schwarzenegger punches a deer in the face. Then gives it beer.
9. Batman Returns. The final Tim Burton/Michael Keaton Batman movie is actually a “goth” Christmas movie in disguise. Bascially, that’s all Tim Burton movies though.
10. Jack Frost. Brand new addition for 2009! I caught this on TV the other day, and while I didn’t necessarily love it at first, I just couldn’t get over how bizarre this movie is. Juvenile humour. Henry Rollins. And according to the S.O., Keaton’s Frosty always has a “murderous look on his face.” Added to the top ten.

Notable mentions: The Ref (Denis Leary), Fred Claus (Vince Vaughn), the “I-can’t-actually-suggest-this-to-anyone-but-I-liked-it” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Christmas Special,” I’ll Be Home for Christmas (starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas), He-Man and She-Ra: Christmas Special, Pee-Wee Herman’s Christmas Special.