There was a post on a newspaper editing Web site that decried the use of the quote "You'll put an eye out with that!" as a much too arcane quote to be used in a lead or anywhere else in a story without properly attributing it.

The quote, of course, is from the classic "A Christmas Story" and is repeated often throughout by everyone from little Ralphie's mom to the big man in Red himself. The point of the article is that more than half the readers of said article would never have seen the movie from which it came.

Really? Now that's disappointing.

I suspect the point of the post was that all pop culture references are too arcane for most readers to get, including the ubiquitous "Wharol-esque" or "the king of rock n' roll."

Meanwhile, "A Christmas Story" celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and it got me to wondering what Christmas movie has become so ingrained in our collective conscious that we would be able to use references to it. Perhaps "The Grinch That Stole Christmas." Or "A Christmas Carol" and it's wonderful character of Scrooge.

For now, I'll keep by pop culture references to myself as much as I can, but not so with my favorite Christmas time movies. It may be a better top 25 list, but feel free to suggest your own replacements into this list of the top five Christmas movies ever.

5. A Charlie Brown Christmas

OK, so it's a made for TV movie, but a movie nonetheless. And a darn good one at that.

Released in 1965, the animated film follows the lovable loser Charlie Brown and his search for the true meaning of Christmas in a world rife with commercialism.

It should be required viewing, if not for the way in which the message is so deftly communicated in the simple act of picking out of the Christmas Tree for the annual pageant, at least for the wonderful soundtrack that accompanies the film. Both are well worth watching/hearing.

4. Elf

Who'da thunk? The oft annoying Will Ferrell (and I count myself as a fan) who has built a career out of off-beat, often off-color characters could be up front and center in perhaps the best Christmas movie of the past decade or so?

The story of Buddy the Elf and the search of his real father in the big city is played straight up by the talented Mr. Farrell. Surrounded by a great cast, Ferrell's character is significantly different than many of his on-screen personas - he is perfectly earnest and highly likable.

With a cast that includes James Caan and Zooey Deschanel, the film gets extra bonus points from me for the inclusion of Bob Newhart as the chief elf at the North Pole.

3. How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Whether it's the original animated version from 1966 or the 2000 live action version featuring Jim Carrey, you can't go wrong with the wretched green guy and the story of holiday redemption.

Of course, it's Dr. Seuss' portrayal of the absolutely wretched anti-hero that makes both versions work so well, and his transformation from the small hearted villain to Whoville hero is as endearing today as it was more than a half century ago.

It's quite a testament to the author that a picture book written in rhymes could translate into not only one, but two of the most popular Christmas movies ever. It's even being translated to an ice show being put on by the local figure skating club this weekend at Roosevelt Ice Arena (7 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday)

And once again, music plays a key role, in particular with the animated movie's trademark "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch."

2. A Christmas Story

I've already said quite a bit about this one. The Jean Shepherd story of one boy's quest for the perfect Christmas gift and the obstacles he faces in persuading everyone that it isn't so dangerous that he'll put his eye out is at the center of the movie.

But it is the cast of characters - including the spectacular Darren McGavin - and the subplots to this ode to traditional Christmas in America is endearing and, apparently, pretty profitable. A whole cottage industry has sprung up around little Ralphie.

Want the two-disc Special Edition "A Christmas Story," it's right there on Amazon.

How about a replica of the big award, a 20 inch leg lamp? Got that, too, on eBay.

Heck, if you want to stay at the house the fictional Ralphie and family lived in, you can even stay there. And I hear no matter what you say, you won't have to wash your mouth with soap. Who could ask for more?

1. It's A Wonderful Life

Frank Capra had many fine films, but the most memorable by a long shot is "It's A Wonderful Life." The tale of a man pushed to the brink who is allowed - in a nod to Charles Dickens and his 'Christmas Carol' - to see what the would be like if he had never been born.

The deep depression that, with a little help from Angel Second Class Clarence Oddbody, gives way to the realization how precious life is and that the battle for good is a journey in which the prize is the battle itself is as valuable today as it was when the film came out more than 60 years ago.

For decades, filmmakers have been remaking this kind of film over and over again, and even lesser replicas such as Jim Belushi's "Mr. Destiny" or Nicholas Cage's "The Family Man" are worth the watch.

The most amazing thing to me is that "It's a Wonderful Life" was nominated for five Oscars but didn't win one. However, the American Film Institute did rank it as the most inspirational American film ever.