Christmas movies are a genre unto themselves: between live-action and animated features, there are literally hundreds of titles out there. Inevitably, some are pretty bad, others amusingly cheesy.

Foul-mouthed without being particularly funny, involved without being compelling, Judd Apatow's This Is 40 wants to be deeper than it really is. Which is an Apatowian trademark.

Nothing completes the holiday experience more than an extra serving of Frank Capra's yule-tide yarn, It's A Wonderful Life. But for Karolyn Grimes, who played little Zuzu Bailey, it has become a wonderful full-time job.

For those wanting a respite from today's low, "in-your-face" brand of comedy, here are a few tried-and-true classics featuring these top screen comediennes. These special ladies made us laugh -- and feel smart -- at the same time.

As we kick off Oscar month tomorrow, we also honor the birthday of Clark Gable, who picked up a statuette at the seventh Academy Awards ceremony in 1935.

With glitzier fare squeezing out this special old stand-by, is the new generation missing out on something special? I think so. In short, the film explores the fundamental, overarching importance of the ties that bind.

The values and emotions imparted in these timeless films are sure to stoke the spirit of "Peace On Earth, Good Will Towards Men" (and women). Happy viewing!

Sarah Palin is clearly a student of film history. So when she says Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is one of her "favorite movies," she must know it was written by a communist, right?

As we head into the Independence Day weekend, I wanted to suggest some classic titles scattered over the decades that each in their way evoke our country's unique character.

It's not enough to revere the best of our film heritage -- we must work to protect and preserve it. With that in mind, I've compiled a short list of public domain titles that I'd like to see brought back to their original glory.

With the glimmering hope of the Obama campaign behind us, Moore's film is a wake-up call to renew and expand America's democratic promise.