My Mad Fat Love

That is it. The end of a (very short) era.

They say a good film needs a good soundtrack and that is especially true for television too. And the soundtrack is just the beginning.

MY MAD FAT DIARY captured my attention, interest and heart from the moment it started on screen back in January 2013. The 90’s BritPop music, the band t-shirts and cassette tapes along with the lack of digital presence are major pointers that the show is time-travelling back to pre-millenium, yet so minor in the realisation that nothing of much importance has actually changed.

Across three series, Rae Earl grew up. From an overweight sixteen year old with mental health issues finding her feet in Lincolnshire, Rae allowed us to follow her as she conquered what seems like the world, in just three short years.

Not all teenagers have mental health issues, but all teenagers have struggles.

Whether it be fitting in with friends or coping with family, exploring her sexuality, relationships and studies, Rae resonated realness.

Whilst her mental health issues were portrayed as something that created a wedge between her and society, in reality it was a strong metaphor for the problems we all have. Some extreme and some minor. But whatever it be, it is still a problem. It is something that we need to overcome.

Teen shows such as ‘Skins’ and ‘Fresh Meat’ have previously ventured into heroic territory, trying to highlight to the young viewers that life has problems and we can cope in some way, shape or form. However, MMFD was a little more… natural.

Perhaps the biggest reason for this was due to it being based on a real life. The real Rae Earle published her diary for the world to see back in 2007 and the collaboration between the people behind the scenes definitely resonates on screen. The looks, the animated thoughts that are hilarious yet so cringey because you know you once thought like that, the detail and the exploration. Everything is a different person but yet so similar because we can all relate.

“Finding yourself” is a mission for everybody. Basically, what My Mad Fat Diary highlights, shows, explains and encaptures is that no matter who you are, you will need to find yourself and the people around you will be able to help you do that, but nobody is more important than yourself in finding the true messages you have been searching for.

In the penultimate moments when Rae returns back to the diary for the messages, it has the ability to inspire us all.

We haven’t all got a diary. We haven’t all got a mental illness. But what we all have is our own thoughts, feelings, ideas, wants, needs, and future. No television show has been able to capture that powerful and important message and serve it up in the most dysfunctional slice of pie that every viewer needs to eat. Like, no show. Like… ever.

I honestly believe (and judging by the fandoms across social media I am not alone), that My Mad fat Diary has given viewers something back and that is the reason a television show has truly chipped a little place into my heart.

P.S. I <3 CLAIRE RUSHBROOK

Sponty

They say curiosity killed the cat. What about spontaneity? What does that do?

I had a spontaneous little moment earlier, nothing cray. I just applied for a scheme which I can’t physically fit into my mental busy schedule for the next year and a half. Then I realised I have a schedule for A WHOLE YEAR AND A HALF.

In old people’s terms, (Like 28 upwards is old now) a year and a half, 18 months whatever you wanna say really isn’t long at all. But at the age of (nearly) 21, the fact that I have so long planned out with so much restriction is quite terrifying. Especially when I don’t know what I want to do.

So I graduate from my FdA in Brighton this year, to which I declined the offer to go to the ceremony at the end of July because I’m doing my top up year in Salford. Who has the money for the cap and gown when I could be graduating twice? Not me. But I don’t really want to go to uni.

I JUST WANNA BE FREE.

I want to run around the streets at 3am with a bottle of wine. I want to jet off to sunny destinations and pretend to shuffle to EDM. I wanna wear harem pants whilst I grow out my dreadlocks and reminisce about my GAP YAH.  

(Disclaimer: These are the most generic youth goals, not really mine)

To be honest, I don’t want to be tied down. I don’t want bills, money problems and routine because that’s what I will do when I’m older. However, I can’t afford a spontaneous lifestyle.

This is basically my current nightmare and I don’t know what to do. Any help is much appreciated.

xo

Me & Dia

My love/hate relationship with media is confusing me so much.

I study media. I love media. I want to work in media. However, I think my knowledge of media and the way it works, how constructed it is and how easily it can influence people allows me to love it without taking it too seriously. When I see people like my Nan who thinks news is news, I see how dangerous it can actually be.

If the newspapers, news readers, television presenters, YouTube videos and radio tell my nana that chocolate is bad, she is going to think it is bad. Full stop. She isn’t going to think that maybe David Cameron had a big argument with Mr Cadbury and forced everyone to hate on chocolate to put him out of business, is she?

I went to a talk at uni last week with Anji Hunter, Tony Blair’s PR when he came to power. She was talking about the media and the relationships between businesses, CEO’s and celebrities. Thinking back, the talk was so important. In the run up to the election, Anji highlighted how influential the media is in supporting and destroying parties. It has happened before and it will happen again. It is happening now right in front of me on the TV as I write this.

Over Christmas I gave up social media whilst I was at home. I deleted it all apart from Facebook. The main influence for this was Snapchat. I was sat at home having a lovely night with Megan when I was watching people’s stories and I literally thought, ‘I don’t care’. Why should I care? I know that all of the images and videos that people put on their stories to show how happy they are isn’t a true representation of their ‘Social’ lives. Yeah, it is all well and good picking and choosing those pictures where you are smiling, the pretty selfies, the videos of you singing, drinking, eating Terry’s chocolate orange. But that isn’t true. Because you haven’t put the pictures of when you just woke up and look like a dog, or when you sat on the sofa all day watching crapTV and had an argument with your mum.

Social media is just the mass media’s little cousin. But now we can all put our own material out there. We are media trained all by ourselves.

We know that a nice filter on your picture of a roast dinner will get it more likes.

We know that tweet about your shoes wasn’t just because you love the shoes. It was because you want everyone to know how great YOU are because of those shoes. Make everyone want to be YOU.

I’m not saying this as if I’m innocent. I do it all the time and I will continue to do it. One, because I enjoy social media and I find it hilarious. And two because this is the future. There is no way to go back now. Even this blog is across social media and is written in order to get people to listen to me and my views and understand my thoughts.

Contradiction much.

Recently, I got over 100 likes on a picture of me dressed as a house. I spent a long time building the house. I thought it was a genius idea and I was proud of it. I wanted people to see it and if I’m honest, I wanted to show off a bit. It was fab, why wouldn’t I?

However, the minute I log out of Facebook, what impact does that 100 likes do to me? ABSOLUETLY NOTHING. It changes nothing. That is why I wouldn’t dream of floating around telling everyone how great I am for having so many flipping likes! My life is not now suddenly so positive, light and fluffy where I sing with birds when I wake up because 100 people like a picture of me. Ironically, the day I uploaded that picture was the worst day I’ve had at uni so far. Fun fact.  In the real world, it means nothing.

However, as much as I disagree with it, I will always defend the media.

I was at home a while back when I had a discussion with some of my family who said the internet makes people more negative, gives people somewhere to hide and creates bullying.

 ‘If you’re getting bullied online, go offline.’

I could not disagree with this more. Yes, there are a lot of negative people online. I get a lot more critical when I am typing something because I’m not going to get an instant response. And go offline? Just because you turn away from the screen doesn’t mean that people aren’t still doing things, nudes, threats, public embarrassment. It is all there, and like bullying, will take a long time to go away if you just ignore it.

If you was being punched in the arm repeatedly, putting on 2 coats might mean you don’t get bruised. But it doesn’t stop that person trying to hurt you. They will still be trying and that is what is wrong.

That is when amazing projects and support groups on the internet can, have and will continue to help people get through all kinds of shit that they go through. We very often forget about the amazing work that the media and now social media can do, e.g. #nomakeupselfie and ice bucket challenge to name a few.

I just believe that people need to not take the media for the ‘fact’ that it pretends to be and find their own information.

The media is just a giant game of Chinese whispers. Trust no B*tch.

Following The Yellow Brick Road

HALLELUJAH!!

It might nearly be March, which means it might have taken me a whole 2 months to finally get inspiration for a blog in 2015 but better late than never. And, it’s a positive one.

Well, at least I felt 100% positive and empowered yesterday when I thought I’d write this but I got super busy and never got time.

Anyway, yesterday my career path was kinda unblurred (is that a word?) a little and my eyes opened and I made a conscious decision with where I wanna go after uni.

So I’m currently studying television production in Brighton and it’s a foundation course which, at this present minute I am so happy it finishes this year.

January modules and feedback and lack of submitting modules getting no feedback and a big fat capped mark which was seriously not my fault has definitely disrupted my flow. I can finally see the end of living in Hastings which means I can go home to my family and friends who are positive influences. I can see a short term plan of getting out of my mammoth overdraft debt.

I’m not there yet but I’m getting there. I can see the closure and this time I’m running towards it.

I have been so busy with my documentary and my summer project (which will be revealed really soon and I want you to support it because it’s gonna be ace) and finding work placement and my OB production. There’s loads. My last post of 2014 said I was going to concentrate on where I wanna go in my life and I’m doing it. I’m creating my own doors to open and that is the best part.

So anyway, all of that was probably just babble but you loved it. Shush.

So yeah, although I’m studying television, I have been unclear about what part of television I want to go into if any. Or if I want to go into a more general area of the media. I just had so many ideas that I didn’t know what to choose or what ideas would work. But at least I had ideas.

We had a talk from a guest lecturer yesterday. Lucy Greenwell, an audio producer who has worked for The Guardian and the BBC as an audio producer told us how she got into the industry, the projects she has worked on, the experiences and the stories she told.

She told real peoples stories. She gave the best advice. She basically made me want her job.

And I’m gonna make sure I get something like it! I’m so determined.

For Lent, I have decided that instead of giving up something, I’m gonna do something. My challenge is to do some form of exercise everyday. I’m also trying to eat healthier, which is difficult. It is making me a lot happier knowing I’m doing something good and I’m pushing myself the little bit extra. No pain no gain bitches.

 I’m actually really into this exercising malarkey but I’m not gonna scream about it everyday.

Note to Katie Hopkins: Healthy eating isn't hard to do because I’m a lazy buggar and just want to eat chicken nuggets and chocolate all day. It’s hard because the amount of healthy food I can buy on my student budget is literally less than half of the fatty foods I could buy. Therefore, all the obese people you are hating on are obese because they are poor and can’t afford to feed their families sustainable meals on a wage that is less than the living wage. Not everybody can make a career out of spouting horrible offensive BS. XO.

So to round off. I started this blog post with high expectations of writing something interesting. Got half way through and realised I was fully blabbering, decided I was going to carry on telling you all about how great my life is becoming and noticed you probably don’t care, then ended abruptly. Like this.

<3

It's my lifeeeeee

I am finding it incredibly hard to get the motivation to blog lately. When I blog it’s because I get a little thought or idea in my head, or I over hear a conversation or I'm part of a discussion. I use the news and I start with one sentence that I want to say and build it up. But at the minute, I can’t think or find or hear anything interesting.

I have done so much over the past few weeks though, but they all fit into that “diary” style of blog that I don’t really want to do but I can’t help myself get into.

I see loads of people writing about fashion or reviews and they have blogs that they love because they have a really keen interest in something. Then I realised the most interesting thing to me is Me because let’s face it, I’m brilliant. (Sarcasm)

Therefore, I am just going to tell you about all of the new things in my life that have kept me busy and kept me away from blogging.

-X-O-X-

-          I went to Leeds to meet up with people I met in America which was absolutely amazing. The girls are so lovely and we got VERY drunk and I had an amazing night.

-          I got to spend time at home which was lush and chilled but didn’t seem like enough. But then again it never does.

-          I have just eaten a Chicken Kiev that made me feel SO sick and I smell of garlic.

-          Watching the Baftas helped me create a watchlist and I ticked off Gone Girl last night. The first hour was boring, the second hour was incredible then the ending infuriated me.

-          I finished my mentoring scheme today and I’m thankful it’s over. It was only 2 hours a week but my god, kids are hard.

-          Roisin and James came to Manchester for 2 days last week which was rad. We went to 42’s and I relived my gap yahh. 50p shots and £1.20 vodmix was alright.

-          We also went to Jump Nation which is a mahoosive arena full of trampolines and a foam pit. It was £10 for an hour jumping (which actually kills you and leaves you aching for days) and a pair of socks.

-          Ziferblat is a new café in the Northern Quarter in Manchester. They charge you 5p for every minute you spend in there and all of the food and drink is free. You can get hot and cold drinks, cakes, cereal, toast, biscuits. And you help yourself. It is so surreal. You help yourself to as much as you like and get to sit on quirky sofas, playing games, doing work. I would definitely recommend. More information here

-          I stayed at Roisin’s house and teamed up with Claire for The Logo Game. We won. We’re the best.

-          The desperation to go on holiday has definitely increased.

-          My mum phoned me literally crying with laughter the other day because she is a numpty and posted ugly pictures on Facebook. The pictures weren't even funny but she made me cry laughing. That was cute.

-          I caught up with my home besties. Always lovely.

-          I’ve started healthy eating and exercise. Ive been running and swimming and going to a roller disco on Thursday. Summer come at me.

-          I miss chocolate.

-          I’m listening to so much acoustic at the minute and I’m really enjoying it.

-          I could not be less interested in 50 Shades of Grey. I’ll probably watch it at some point but it just looks like they have thrown so much money at it and it will be a success just because middle aged mothers want their vagina’s to tremble.

-          I watched the Superbowl Half time show. I love Katy Perry but that much hype for 13 minutes. Really?

-          Sam Smith, you’re still number one beau.

-          I bought a new oversized denim shirt from Cow and it is heaven.

-X-O-X-

Hope you’re happy you now know all of this useless information.

<3

Michael Jackson was wrong, it does matter if you're black or white. Apparently.

Since 2015 started, I can’t think of a new story where people haven’t moaned about the way in which people have been represented in it and it is getting on my nerves.

The Charlie Hebdo attack was terrible. I watched it on the news and it shocked, saddened and scared me. But whilst I was watching the new story I was repeatedly told how it was an attack from Muslims and how horrible Muslims are.

Thankfully, I’ve been brought up with enough awareness to not take things for face value. If I was naïve enough, it would seem like the press want to force-feed me some Islamaphobia.

It wasn’t an attack from Muslims. It was an attack from people.

Whether you are white or black, male or female, gay, straight, bi ugly, beautiful, happy, depressed, young or old, Muslim, EDL, whatever you are. You aren’t part of the label, you are a person just like everyone else is.

I’m not Harry the White British Gay Student. I’m just Harry.

Obviously there are differences from me to Barack Obama. I am white. He is black. And it is perfectly fine to describe that difference. It isn’t racist to say he is black because he is. It isn’t racist to say I’m white because I am. It isn’t a fault that I was born this way. Lady Gaga, you feel me? But the minute that difference becomes more than a fact, it is racist. And it is unnesseccary. When the fact I am white suddenly means I am a slave driver and I hate black people and I should feel ashamed of history of white people (that I wasn’t a part of and couldn’t change); When all of these things become more important than what I have actually done and achieved,  that is when we have a problem.

When I tell people about uni I don’t say ‘Oh yeah well I live with 5 white girls and 3 black girls’. I don’t even hardly mention I live with girls. I say I live with 8 housemates. Not because I don’t want people to know about these people. Just because it doesn’t actually matter to anyone else.

The other day, we was talking about the new Annie that has just been released with a black actress playing the lead role.

For this example I‘ll refer to peoples skin colour just because I love reaffirming stereotypes and labels. It was a serious conversation and the quotes aren’t 100% accurate but very similar.

White: I wanna watch Annie now. The old one, not the new one.

Black: Why not the new one? Because she’s black. Why you being racist?

White: I’m not being racist. I don’t wanna watch the new one because its shit and it isn’t shit because the lead is a black actress. It’s just a shit remake.

And I can’t agree more. The new film is just shit. Not because of the race of the actors. Just because it’s not the original.

I can appreciate why people are happy to see diversity like this in the media. And I would be happy to see gay people represented in more areas such as sport. But not because they are gay but because they are doing what they want do and aren’t restricted because of their labels, showing other gay people that it’s totally dare I say it, normal. Just like it’s normal that a black child can be Annie.

By highlighting a difference and playing on the fact that, for example, Princess Tiana from ‘The Princess and the Frog’ is a black princess is reaffirming that she is different to all of the other princesses. I can totally appreciate that a black princess in a Disney film is a massive milestone and one that should be celebrated and people notified of, but it shouldn’t be the sole reason you go to see a film. Because a move towards equality is not having a notified difference between anybody.

I’m making a documentary at the moment looking at the representation of LGBT characters and themes in fairy tales. I’m not there to celebrate a huge leap towards equality if two princes fall in love. I’m looking to see if people feel unrepresented in fairy tales and how this affects people’s upbringings. Not ‘oh your gay you have to love this story where two princes meet and live happily ever after just because you’re a raving homosexual and it was made just for you.’ If there are gay characters in stories, so what. Yep. Some kids will learn about gay characters and it will make them feel more comfortable growing up. It will also show they are no different to the kid that is learning from the heterosexual story.

Diversity at the Oscars: if you have made a good film. Well done. Pat on the back for you. I don’t care if you happen to be a white male. You made a good film and you should be praised for that. I don’t care if next year it is all black females. Well done, you made a good film. Pat on the back also.

I’m getting bored now. Both at me ranting and the thought that people don’t already know this.

See you later, the White British Male. Slay me. 

Blank Space

I’ve got writers block.

We’re two weeks into 2015 and I haven’t written a blog post yet. Until now, of course.

It was my New Year resolution to work harder at my blog and discover where I’m going with it. Whilst part of me thinks I can only discover that by continuing to write and “falling” into it, I don’t want to keep writing blog posts like a diary because they aren’t the kinda things I like reading or writing. The occasional one is cool.

But for now I’m just going to bore you with exactly what I don’t wanna write about because it’s the only thing that I can think to write about.

So over Christmas I got rid of my social media for over 2 weeks (apart from Facebook and Messenger, contacts init’). It was literally the best and most refreshing thing I have done in a while. I was sat watching people’s Snapchat stories and I just thought “I really don’t care”. The amount of free time I had was unbelievable and I got so much done, as well as actually spending time with my family. I didn’t argue with my niece hardly because I actually spent time with her.

I’m back at uni and crying over my lack of funds.

It has resulted in me trying a £10 a week budget which was working well until I got bored of eating pasta.

Since I’ve been back, I have literally not stopped laughing. My little bae’s have been forever bae-tiful and I’ve just enjoyed everything I’ve been doing without worrying about anything else and it has been wonderful. I hope I don’t jinx it now and it becomes hell again.

I’m going home in a few weeks to spend time with my momma which will be great, even though Virgin have put the train fares up and I’m not overly happy!

I have plans to get money. I have plans to enjoy the best summer ever and try to travel as much as I can. I have plans for university next year. It all seems pretty OK.

But this is a bit too happy so I’ll probably depress you’s with my next one. YOLO.

Peace out xo

The Rest Is Still Unwritten

Yahhhh,

I feel like I haven’t blogged in ages but it’s only been a few weeks. I'm blogging now because I have loads of work to do but I don’t want to do any of it and this distracts me/gives me an excuse not to do it.

The countdown began long ago, however now it is serious. 4 days until I go home for Christmas. Only four days. I cannot tell you how happy this makes me. And with Christmas comes New Year and reflection. So I am going to do this blog now so that when I'm at home I don’t have to and I can just chill.

Every year I see people say ‘This year has been crap, I can’t wait for the next one!’ and at least the past 4 years I've actively thought ‘I've loved this year!’. I couldn't have disagreed more. 2014 unfortunately has been a bit rubbish.

I feel wrong saying that because I know that an outsider looking at what I have done will think I'm a idiot.

I went to AMERICA. I went to an actual summer camp with lovely people and the best campers. I learnt so much about myself and people. I made amazing friends. I travelled along the East Coast and experienced the best city on earth, NEW FLIPPING YORK.

I passed my first year of uni. I got a new house with 8 people that made me laugh. I grew up and got that extra bit more independent.

I visited my childhood best friends in Greece with my beautiful best friend and had one of the best weeks of my life.

I got to celebrate my other best friends 21^st birthday and still have our treat to look forward too.

I know how amazing this year has been in terms of what I have done and what I have achieved. I don’t for one second take any of that for granted. However, amongst all of this, I have never felt more rubbish.

You know when you feel like there is just constantly people who are trying to pull you down. My family and close friends have been so supportive which is why I love them with all of my heart, but it’s hard when people whose opinion you don’t care about are the people that are against you.

And it’s hard to just ignore it and carry on when you have been ‘carrying on’ constantly for months.

The hardest part is when you question yourself for no reason.

Bitching. Petty arguing. Answering to people who have a tiny bit of power. Having to defend yourself for eating potatoes when everyone ate the stupid potatoes.

Stupid stuff.

I started a jar of memories for my 2^nd year of uni and I'm struggling to put stuff in it because my happy moments here are few and far between. And I know it sounds like nothing but it’s like being poked. It doesn't really bother you but when it’s constant and you realise you just don’t need it, you realise how much better it would be without it.

This is why I'm so excited for Christmas at home with my nearest and dearest, decorating, spending, drinking, laughing, probably drunk crying, eating, chilling. It is so appealing right now.

2015 is the year I put everything into perspective.

I am going to work on my blog. I am going to build a media portfolio. I am going to go to loads of festivals and party. Most importantly I'm going to smile and focus on the positives.

I'm aiming to move back to Manchester for my 3^rd year of uni. If not for uni then for a year to clear all of my university debt. I look forward to getting my life organised and laying down the foundations for my future. Hopefully.

<3

BloggersGroupHug (1): Someday

So, I've joined BloggersGroupHug and it' a cute idea where you get e-mailed a word each week and you have to write a blog about it. You can get all the information by clicking here This weeks word is: Someday

In the wise words of Adele, 'Someday, I'll be better without you.'

However, to me, someday is an illusion. You answer all your uncertainties with the word someday. This means you can never be disappointed because you haven't put a limit on it. There is always a chance you can do it and if there isn't, it's because you are dead.

With only a few weeks left until Christmas, I have made it my mission to make 2015 'The Year of the Someday'.

I am going to do as much of my "someday's" as I possibly can.

1. Someday I will finish my bucket list.

So, I have 70-80 different things on my bucket list that I created in 2012 and I have currently done around 15/20 of them. Ranging from travelling to America and going to festivals, to tie dying a t-shirt and drawing. There is so much I am working towards and when i get their, I will either be happy that I have achieved something or sad because I won't know what to work towards any more. I have a feeling I'll probably be about 70 when I actually get there though so, I have time to worry.

2. Someday I will be a fashion icon

OK, so I don't actually want to be a fashion icon. Exaggeration, otherwise known as lies. However, I do want to walk around in the clothes I look at and think 'Id never look good in that.' Break the boundaries. I just don't want to have any ugly days. I need to be hot non stop.

3. Someday I will know what I'm doing with my blog.

So I recently said to a beautiful friend 'Your blog is good if you can sum it up in a few words'. Then, I realised I can't sum up my blog at all and I need to distinguish what kind of blog I want. Without announcing it, I hope it changes over the next year and proves itself to be something I know I want.

4. Someday, I will go to shit loads of music festivals.

I've been to one. And I haven't camped. Next summer, I will be wearing my shorts and wellies in the pouring rain, wearing an ugly hat and wishing the line for the Portaloos was a lot smaller because I'll be dying with cider shits. It's not very pretty but that's the dream. Each to their own.

5. Someday, I will be prepared for Christmas.

Since I got EMA at college, I've bought Christmas presents myself and every year since I have moaned that I haven't had enough money and all I want is to treat my family. This is the last year. While you may have to put up with socks and a scented candle in 2014, every year after you will be getting good presents. I mean, top notch! (Terms and conditions apply)

6. Someday, my hair wont be shit.

Tbh, I think I'm more likely to complete my bucket list before this one happens. But I'll definitely try to work on getting a pro fro.

7. Someday, I'll just go with it. Not think about what I'm doing or the consequences.

Beauty is... spontaneity.


I hope you all organise and complete your somedays out too. Achieve it bitches.

We wish you a Merry Christmas

Christmas isn't Christmas without movies. Here is a list of my TOP TEN CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER!


IF YOU HAVENT SEEN ANY OF THEM, I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU WATCH THEM. <3

10 - The Nightmare Before Christmas

Okay, so this is at the bottom. But then again, it is still in my top 10 list. I only watched this Tim Burton animation recently, as in the past 2 weeks recent. And although it isn't an in-your-face-Christmas-extravaganza film, it is still festive and sweet. The story line is inventive, the creepy characters are good and it captures the Christmas spirit without sickening you so it's good if you like Christmas but you don't love Christmas. Also, it is based around Halloween too so you can watch it early November and nobody can judge you for starting Christmas too early. 

9 - Miracle on 34th Street (The one with Matilda in)

This film is adorable. It proves Santa is real and it doesn't cover him in all the glitter and sparkle you would expect. However the court case scenes seem to drag on too much and it becomes more 'adulty' rather than 'family'. 

8 - The Holiday

It has a super star line up. It is cliché but not overly cliché. It has the cutest British cottage ever and Jude Law is beyond beaut. It also features Cameron Diaz singing Mr Brightside at the top of her voice and this will forever be one of my favourite things.
If you say you've never done this, you lie.

7 - Nativity!

An improvised British film with Martin Freeman and loads of hilarious children. What more could you want? A school play becomes a Hollywood film when Freeman's lie gets out of control. A cameo from Alan Carr, sickly-sweet songs that you can't help but sing and memories of primary school are the highlights of this movie. I haven't seen the sequels yet, I don't want them to ruin it.

6 - The Grinch

Is there a person that has never wanted to be a Who from Who-ville? The Grinch is horrible but you can't help yourself from loving him. Dr. Seuss's rhyming, Taylor Momsen as little Cindy-Lou Who and Baby Grinch are all you need to fall in love with this film. While the sets and Christmas overdose will make the kids giddy with excitement, the adult jokes are evident throughout the film, but hidden well enough so you don't have to answer any tricky questions. 

5 - It's a Wonderful Life

No other film shows true Christmas spirit like this. A black and white film (remade in colour, but that's not as magical) from ages ago, it still has everything you need to get into the spirit. The film follows George Bailey, showing him how different his loved-ones lives would have been if he wasn't alive. It also includes an angel and snow. THIS IS ALL YOU NEED. 

4 - The Polar Express

Just missing out on the bronze medal is this animation starring Tom Hanks. A little boy who is quickly losing his belief in Santa endures a train journey to the North Pole. There's ghosts, hot chocolate, friendship, elves and ofc, Santa. All of the essentials for a festive film. The train conductor teaches the kids valuable life lessons and it leaves you feeling angry that you never got to go on a train as cool as this. Definitely puts the sparkle back in Christmas.

3 - Elf

IT'S SANTA! One of the most quotable films ever. I's fun. It's cute. It's hilarious. It has Zooey Deschannel. The best sets. The best actors. The best ending. ITS BEYOND AMAZING. Just pipped to the post because there is A LOT of Christmas (I'm not complaining) and sometimes, subtlety is admirable.

2 - Home Alone

The Legend. Everybody knows this film and the many spin-off's that were good but never as good. It made Macauley Culkin into a star and allowed everyone to scream 'Kevin!' at people called Kevin. His ability to overcome the Wet bandits by crushing baubles and swinging paint cans is what every child dreams of, as well as being able to sledge down their stairs straight through the front door. It taught me French, ("You're what the French call, 'Les Encompetent"). It taught me not to judge old men on the street who shovel up snow. It sold me the dream of ordering shit tonnes of pizza. It was a life experience and the film is still amazing and will be forever more.

This is it...

My favourite Christmas film is...

LOVE ACTUALLY

Okay, so this one is Christmassy, but it isn't too much Christmas. It's excellently written. It has one of the best line-ups I've ever seen in a film. There are so many stories that it's hard not to love at least one and even harder to choose a favourite. Emma Thompson's performance makes me cry. The little kid in love melts my heart. We are allowed to remember Martine McCutcheon for something other than Activia Yoghurt adverts. It has something for everyone and gets a "true feeling of christmas" across without shoving it all over you and force feeding you Quality Street. I would go as far to say its perfect if it got rid of Colin Firths storyline (or at least limited it) and Rowan Atkinson wasnt involved.

If you haven't seen it, please watch it. However, this is my favourite scene in the whole movie. Cute.