Top 5 Netflix Christmas Movies of 2018 #StreamTeamIndia

It's almost that time of the year! A month to go for the cheerful and everyone's favourite holiday - Christmas! I love it because its cold (Mumbai winters get at the most snug jacket or sweatshirt wearing cold only), but we just need a reason to pull those out, have hot chocolate and cinnamon coffees and rejoice!

My favourite Christmas movies help me not feel like I am missing out on the magical New York kinda Christmas. Ofcourse, the all time fav's like Home Alone series, A Christmas Carol, The Grinch who stole Christmas, The Holiday etc will forever remain on the list. But we always need something new, and this year, there are sooo many Netflix original Christmas movies out there, and I have seen them all to tell you which one's to watch and which one's you could skip. Let's start -

1. The Holiday Calendar -

I have seen The Vampire Diaries completely and I was thrilled to see Kat Graham aka Bonnie Bennet as the lead actor! A cute movie and touches your heart and has the Christmassy feel to it. I wish I had that advent calendar too.

2. The Christmas Chronicles - 

A good watch with the kids, I wish I could magically visit the North Pole too! And the Santa character looks quite BadA** I'd say!

3. A Christmas Prince & A Christmas Prince - The Royal Wedding

Though this one was already there on Netflix a while ago, if you haven't seen it, what better time. A prince, a makeover and Christmas - it's got it all! Modern age Cinderella stories you'll! And the movie's sequel just came out on Netflix too - with the wedding! So you got 2 movies here.

4. Angela's Christmas-

An Netflix Original animated movie about a young girl named Angela. It's a 3D animation with a poor girl named Angela, her family, the spirit of Christmas and ofcourse, Christmas miracles.

5. The Princess Switch -

Vanessa Hudgens is back in a chick-flick! Though it pretty much looked like it was made more than a decade ago. Cute, but cliche'd. If that's your type, you would like this movie. But I am sure teenage girls will like this one.

There also is A Christmas Inheritance, Christmas with a view, A royal Christmas, A storybots Christmas and a lot more. Its crazy there are so many movies that you could watch one movie every day throughout the month - I am kidding you NOT! There is also Nailed It - Holiday launching on Dec 7. The only thing I am probably upset about is that we did not get a Peter Kavinsky starring Christmas movie as a gift from Santa. Wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Fantastic beasts - Crimes of Grindelwald - INOX IMAX Experience

I usually watch movies in the Inox next to my home in Navi Mumbai. For this special screening, we were invited to Imax experience at Inox, Rcity Mall. And I was impressed. It's been ages since I've been to this multiplex. Definitely 5+ years. Entry and security check was seamless, they had a VIP lounge and I was very impressed to see a kids lounge where there was peppa pig playing and a couple of toys. I haven't seen this at other multiplexes. A totally engaging lobby experience in all.

I was super excited about this movie because I am a Wizarding World and Harry Potter fan, have read the books and seen the movies and have read fantastic beasts and where to find them as well. After the part 1, was absolutely looking forward to part 2. And also excited coz I was going to see it before rest of the world, in a special premiere! Couldn't get any better than that. And was looking forward to seeing Johnny Depp, who by the way, you cannot recognize at all. The cinematic experience was just mind blowing. The movie was in 2D but because of the Imax experience, it gave this 3D life-like feel. I don't have words to describe how crisp and clear and brilliant the output was. And the surround sound. Usually corner seats don't give as good an experience as center seats but even though we were towards the corner it felt no different - because of the curve of the screen. 

 I won't be giving movie spoilers but you do know that you get to see Dumbledore during his youth, even Professor McGonagall and Hogwarts! Because the HP series ended, anything that connects with makes me nostalgic. The Niffler (and it's adorable babies) and Bowtruckle are there from the first movie. But apart from that, there are way too many new creatures and it's amazing. I loved the Kelpie, the Zouwu, and even the intense looking Matagots. Oh you'll even know the back-story for Nagini! There is so much happening and so many connections with Harry Potter series.
  

We had the good old movie combo of popcorn soft drinks and samosa. And overall had a great experience. The icing on the cake was the quick Harry Potter quiz after the movie where people won wands, and rest got posters and t-shirts. Which I absolutely loved. Can't wait to catch the next movie at Inox Imax!