Janeane White
Senior, Mount Miguel High School

For Christmas I have no idea what movie I’d want because I love too many films. I would probably pick a scary movie even though it’s the holidays because they catch my attention more then most. As for giving movies, I would probably pick Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer because it’s cute, and when I was little I used to sing along with the Snow Miser and the Heat Miser. My mom still sings those songs every year. I hear that a sequel has come out this year, and I would get it for my mom. It would bring a smile to her face, and I bet anything she would watch it immediately.

My family is a fan of the older puppet-animation movies like Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Jack Frost. They remind me of when I was younger and when life used to be so much easier.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (USA) 1976, Warner
The Year Without a Santa Claus (USA) 1964, Sony
Jack Frost (USA) 1979, Warner

Lily Canones
Senior, Mount Miguel High School

For fans of horror, Shutter makes a very good Christmas gift. You may have seen the American version, but the Thai one is completely different and might make you not want to leave your camera lying around ever again. The original will keep you hiding behind a pillow as you wonder what will happen next. Horror fans will absolutely love it, and they will get insight into how Asian cultures believe in the spiritual world.

Ima, Ai ni Yukimasu (Be With You) is a touching story about a father and six-year-old son who experience the hardships of the mother and wife passing away. The son recalls the promise she made: “I’ll be with you again in a year’s time, when the rain comes.” This film has a simple structure and flows very smoothly between memories and the present. It would make another great Christmas gift for those who love foreign films or a simple, tender love story.

Shutter (Thailand) 2004, Tartan
Be With You (Ima, Ai ni Yukimasu) (Japan) 2004, Tokyo Broadcasting System

Eric Zacarias
Senior, Mount Miguel High School

Oh, the magical qualities of Christmas consumerism. In these times of economic distress and financial insecurity, holiday shopping is expected to decrease significantly. In times of economic peril, what more simple gift to give than that of a DVD. Relatively cheap and able to be watched over and over again, DVDs provide an easy way to satisfy one’s entertainment wishes. Here are a pair of DVDs I’d gladly take in my stocking.

The Dark Knight, the biggest film of 2008, hits stores December 9. Packed with all the action, drama, and messages that have been synonymous with Batman, The Dark Knight is the best film of the year and sure to please everybody from the casual moviegoers to the most devoted followers of comics.

MST3K is also great. Any season of the classic comedy series would do; its peanut-gallery format is sure to amuse all fans of cynicism and buffoonery.

The Dark Knight (USA) 2008, Warner
Mystery Science Theater 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition (USA) 1988-1999, Shout! Factory