English 1013
28 November 2011
Home Alone
Christmas has always been my favorite holiday of the year. Christmas is about coming together and showing love with family, traditions, and gifts. Every family has their own traditions whether it is putting up Christmas lights as a family, or something simple like watching a movie together. After the excitement of Thanksgiving Day, my family sits down that night and watches the Christmas classic, Home Alone. This movie is not only hysterical and shows the importance of family, but brings my family together and prepares us for the Christmas season as it is revered as an all-time favorite and looked forward to every year. The movie begins with the gathering of the whole family including the aunt, uncle, and cousins of Kevin McCallister, the star of the movie, at the McCallister household the night before a Christmas vacation to France. All the excitement leaves Kevin angry because no attention has been shown to him. Angry, Kevin makes a wish that his family would “disappear” as he makes his way to the attic where he is forced to sleep for the night because of bad behavior. Many of us experience similar feelings of jealousy around the Christmas season due to the fact that sometimes we view it as a time of receiving while others are in the spirit of giving. Quickly, we realize that everything is not about us and jealousy strikes. In the morning, the family wakes up in a panic because a power outage has caused their alarm clocks to be disabled so they frantically gather their luggage and count heads in order to make their flight. In their panic and rush, Kevin is forgotten. Kevin awakens to no one in the house which at first leaves him worried that his jealous wish came true, but this worry soon turns into happiness because of freedom from his family. As he parties because his wish has come true, two villains plan to rob the entire neighborhood while everyone is away for the holidays and their particular focus is on the McCallister house. While on the plane, Kevin’s mother realizes they have forgotten him and as soon as they land, they begin begging to be taken back home. This scene in the movie reveals that despite their belittling attitude towards Kevin at the beginning of the movie because of his size, age, and attitude, they truly care for him because he is a member of their family and are willing to do anything they can to get home to make sure he is safe. This proves the importance of the bond between the members of not only the nuclear family but extended members as well. The holidays are a busy time for travel and no seats were available on any plan. The mother sacrifices herself and allows the rest of the family to go to their residence in France while she stays at the airport and eventually bargains with an elderly couple to allow her to fly back to the states in their seats. Once again proving the sacrifice associated with love. When she finally makes it back to the states, no more flights are available to get her home so after causing a scene she gets the attention of a traveling polka band who offer her a ride in their rent-a-van. Many people allow the Christmas spirit to inspire them to give in any way possible. While a home, Kevin goes about day to day habits, proving that he isn’t the small, incompetent child his family accused him of being. He becomes aware of the robbers plan to hit his house one evening and he quickly devises a childish plan to defend his house by setting up numerous traps and gadgets to terrorize the villains. After completely humiliating and hurting the robbers, Kevin makes his way to the neighbor’s house where he has instructed the police to go and the villains are arrested. Here he was helped by the old man who is his neighbor that most assumed to be cruel and vicious. During the movie, he was able to overcome his fear and talk with the old man who simply missed his son and his family but couldn’t overcome his fear to call them. Each of these characters helps one another to conquer their struggles, developing a theme that revealed that not everyone should be judged by their outward appearance. Kevin’s family soon makes it home and he is welcomed with open arms full of excitement and amazement at his capabilities, a complete change from the family presented at the beginning of the movie. For me, the Christmas season represents the closeness of family and their ability to sacrifice for one another in order to assure the happiness and well-being of others. My family’s tradition of watching Home Alone every year serves as a reminder of this definition of Christmas. The importance of family is clearly evident in this movie, and as my family and I sit down and spend this quality time together, I am reminded of the importance of each of my family members and the love we have that is shown during each Christmas season.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
I’ll turn the car around and pick up the man. I’ll walk into Ben’s mothers home hours late and they’ll all be so angry that I ruined their christmas. But then i’ll tell them the story of how I saved someone else's christmas. I’ll prove to them that i’m not some washed up dead beat who skips out on family togetherness because I can’t stand to see what i’ve ruined.…
- 815 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Today’s media plays a massive role in the establishment of a fantasy marriage that was first embodied in the classic tale of Cinderella. Many people are persuaded into believing that these finely crafted stories occur everyday and are very much achievable. Catherine Orenstein illustrates this in her essay “Fairy Tales and a Dose of Reality”.…
- 313 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
American families derive pleasure in viewing Christmas movies, and the hyperbolized plots give children and adolescents, the most influential individuals in society, unreasonable expectations, which affect their practicality. According to the website, “Problems with Christmas Curriculum,” published by Steven A. Gelb, the standard formula used to create the plot of hundreds of holiday movies, shows the same fantasized version of Christmas, which makes one’s choice of how they would want their holiday to take place, difficult. Although several individuals would like the reality of a holiday to more closely resemble the television-version, visual settings, reasons for celebrating, and the holiday’s ending make individual unrealistically expect a more romanticized version of Christmas.…
- 642 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Life As A House was produced in 2001, and the film’s take on cancer and how people deal with illness is even more relevant today. Cancer strikes more and more lives every day. Some people are provided with a miracle and battle the cancer, while others are given a few short months with their loved ones. The awful thing about cancer is that it doesn’t care who you are, how many years you’ve lived, or how many people you are responsible for.…
- 1139 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
It was Thursday morning and all I saw was my mom in the kitchen getting the turkey ready; while, my dad was getting the ladder from outside so my sisters can start bring the Christmas decorations down from the attic. It’s a big and fun day for all of us especially for me because I get to spend quality time with my family just like any other year.…
- 423 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
How Was Ha’s Life Turned Inside Out Ha, a ten year old girl and her family have to flee their home in Saigon in the novel Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai. Ha’s story is very similar to that of other refugees around the world. Refugees are defined as “people who are residing outside their countries and cannot return due to a well-founded fear of persecution because of their race, religion, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group”. Ha’s story is similar to other refugees because all refugees need to relocate and learn a new culture. Some refugees get teased at school, neighborhoods or even stores.…
- 920 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
In the first section of Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children, Jacob is telling stories.While growing up in Englewood, Florida, Jacob tells us about Grandpa Portman’s stories, and how he struggles with the fact it they are not real.When Jacob is a teenager he stops believing in Grandpa Portman's stories. While working Smart Aid with another failed attempt to get fired, then he gets it from Grandpa Portman. Though Jacob thanks this is a normal event when grandpa forgets to take his meds, he still heads over to Grandpa Portman’s to check on him. When Jacob shows up at Grandpa Portman’s house, he finds his grandpa a breath away from death. After simple Portland stuff break up, has many internal conflicts. One thing he wants to do is if…
- 166 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
Christmas brings out a certain joy in me. Seeing the same enthusiasm in others makes me realize how wonderful the season is. Hearing the songs that can brighten anyone’s day, and smelling fresh cookies straight out of the oven is just a bonus to the already perfect holiday. Christmas 2015 here I…
- 412 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Christmas is one of the most incredible times of the year; snow on the ground, a warm fire in the living room, and twinkly lights around every turn. When I was young, I loved Christmas. Toys and treats had me in a daze for almost a week straight. I was a typical kid, and my focus during any holiday was, “What do I get? Who brought me presents?”. I never realized the true meaning of why we have holidays, other than presents, until I was seventeen years old. As I’ve started to see my family less and my co-workers more, I understand that the true meaning of holidays in general, is to spend time with our loved ones. Taking my new found wisdom into account, my opinion of the “best holiday of the year” has changed from Christmas to Thanksgiving. My views, including favorite holiday, have changed because my focus on what’s important has matured.…
- 979 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
The holiday tradition for christmas in my family starts on Christmas eve, since I have little brother and sisters we bake cookies for santa and set the milk out and we even put reindoor food out! (It's glitter and trail mix) When me and my siblings have finally fell asleep, my parents put out nthe gifts they don't wrap the ones from santa so it looks more realistic! Anyways, early in the morning we wake up and see the gifts from santa, then we open the ones from our parents. After our presents have been opened and the mess from all the wrapping paper and open boxes are cleaned up we go to the waffle house and chow down! Then we get together with our whole family and have christmas dinner and exchange presents. I love christmas with my family, not only because of the gifts but because we don't get together as much as we should!…
- 342 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Thanksgiving passes and the Christmas trees and lights are put up around the neighborhood. Christmas tunes are playing in every single market. This time of the year is typically where families reunite and are cheerful. As much as one may not like Christmas, the only way to escape it is by isolating themselves from everyone else staying home for the whole month of December. Celebrating Christmas and the stories of Santa Claus has always been a tradition in the United States since 1870.…
- 803 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
My favorite holiday is Christmas. All of my family gets together at multiple places. We do presents and stalkings at my grandparents house and then we leave and play white elephant at my aunt and uncles place. These are my favorite holidays because I get to be with my family and have…
- 793 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
A seemingly quaint story about a small business owner from Indiana turns into a blood curdling expose about violence and spiritual rebirth. Ignoring the opening seen the movie begins with Tom Stall, his wife Sarah and son Jack comforting Tom's daughter who can't sleep without a nightlight. The movie maintains this pace until two criminals try to rob Tom's small-town café. At gunpoint Tom disarms and kills the two robbers and is crowned the town's hero. However Tom's publicity brings some shady strangers to town that seems to think Tom from Indiana is actually Joey from Philadelphia. The rest of the film tells a story of a man fighting to protect his family from his past and protect himself from a seemingly imminent death.…
- 646 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Cinderella is a traditional fairy tale based on the central character, Cinderella. Cinderella is living happily with her mother and father until her mother dies. Cinderella's father remarries a cold, cruel woman who has two daughters, Drizella and Anastasia, who make Cinderella do all their work.…
- 168 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
I have listed two good reasons why I like Christmas above all holidays, but the main reason actually is because of the family. See most people have family all over the place so when the holiday comes around they all meet up and they all get full of joy for being able to finally see them again. Another reason why spending time with the family is the best is because you get to hear all of those great stories they tell. These are the main reasons why I like…
- 300 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays