5 comments about Classic Cartoon Favorites, Vol. 8 - Holiday Celebration With Mickey & Pals.

1. It's true that not all the shorts here are technically Christmas related, but neither was the original 'From All of Us to All of You', for anyone who goes back far enough to recall this one. It debuted on 'Walt Disney Presents'(as it was called at that time) back in 1959. Basically, this is one of the earliest Christmas specials for children(predating 'Mr.Magoo's Christmas Carol' and 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer', both from the early 60s). I actually caught it on both 'The Wonderful World of Disney'(the show's title during the '70s) and, later, on the Disney Channel(back when it wasn't just 'Saved by the Bell'-styled kiddie shows). 'From All of Us to All of You' did offer a currier and ives scene from, I believe, the film 'Melody Time'(available on DVD). However, no Christmas identification was specifically given to this winter excerpt, borrowed from the previous film, and it oddly didn't affect the cheerfull holiday mood of the show one bit.
   Also, I realize that everything from film to stage theater to the funny papers were far from politically correct in the day, but if that's all that 'modern' parenting has to worry about, turn on 'Barney'. It's pathetically annoying and, quite likely, will raise your toddler to become a goofy moron, but it beats having to explain to them that dogs tails are for themselves to wag only, guns are for adults, and cartoons are...well, cartoons.



2. Super Holiday classic cartoons! Just what you remembered as a child...let it take you and your children away to some fun holiday time with Disney's best cartoons! Quality is great! A must have for your holiday collection!



3. I have purchased two other Disney Christmas videos for my three year old son, and he and the whole family enjoys them tremendously. However, I was shocked and disappointed by this video. I am not a conservative person, but I do monitor what my young child watches. And while I may be a little conservative about what he watches, this was really too much. There were several racially derogatory scenes and Donald and the Chipmunks get into a military style battle over popcorn. Some parents don't mind animated violece, and I will tolerate a scuffle or two, but for me, this was too much. In my oppinion, pass on this video and look into Classic Holiday Stories VOL 9 or Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas. After all, isn't Chrismas about peace and kindness?



4. This cartoon has been a classic in our family and seeing it again on DVD format was great as it brought back memories from childhood Christmas.



5. Mickey's Christmas Carol is my all time favorite Christmas video. The other cartoons on the dvd make it that much better. It's a good buy for Christmas, entertaining and fun.

5 comments about Winnie the Pooh - Seasons of Giving.

1. It's a little misleading to call this a "movie". It's actually one (or two?) features, one stuffed into the other. Newer footage leads into a "remember when...." segment, which is an older feature (different animation style - perhaps some different voices, or at least different recording quality).
   
   Still, it's a sweet enough story and children probably wont mind the "old tv special stuffed into a new movie" package.
   
   The problem I had with this movie is the voice of the little bird. ::shudder:: An adult trying to talk like a baby I guess... Lots of squeaky whining and mispronunciation of words as only an adult poorly imitating a toddler can do. Mind you, I like most of the sweet character voice acting of the Pooh movies. But this reminded me of someone talking baby-talk to their poodle. It was just irritating.
   
   If watch movies over and over with your child(ren) the voice of the bird may well drive you batty.
   
   If you're children have never seen a Pooh movie, skip this and try "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" or "Pooh's Heffalump Movie". Two family favorites in this house!



2. This is another great DVD to add to your Thanksgiving AND Christmas video collection. It has a touch of both holidays in it. With the way Thanksgiving is pretty much forgotten these days, it is nice to have a few Thanksgiving themed holiday specials to watch. The transition from video to digital was very nice. No editing that I could tell between the versions. It is defintiely worth ordering!



3. The kids, including neighbors, thoroughly enjoy this DVD, as do most of the parents. Or course, most of us adults are dedicated Pooh people, so we may be somewhat prejudiced.



4. A great addition to the classic Winnie-the-Pooh series I grew up with! My 2 year old daughter LOVES Winnie-the-Pooh and this was no exception! This newer segment of the favorite are just as engaging and fun! It offers the same quiet presentation of life's lessons as the classic ones do. We both have watched this again and again!



5. My son really likes this Whinnie the Pooh story. It really is a sweet little Christmas story. I'm happy my son likes it. I, however, can not watch it as frequently as he does. It's cute the first time and maybe once a year, in my opinion. But they didn't make this movie for me.

2 comments about A Christmas Story [Blu-ray].

1. I was almost finished recording "A Christmas Story" on last Christmas morning. Fifteen minutes before it ended, my father walked in and said that we would get the special edition soon.
   
   That I didn't go postal at losing an hour and a half of my favorite holiday on something that would shortly be redundant shows how much I love "A Christmas Story." This 1983 classic is not just a heartwarming little story about a loving (if bickery) family in the dour America of the late 1940s, but a hysterical comedy about what it's like to be a kid at Christmas.
   
   Ralphie Parker's (Peter Billingsley) Christmas wishes are simple: a official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass and a "thing that tells time." But his mom says he'll shoot his eye out. So Ralphie begins a quiet crusade to get it as a present -- he writes an essay on it and even asks Santa, only to get the same terrible reply: "You'll shoot your eye out."
   
   As the days tick down to Christmas -- with no sign of an air rifle -- Ralphie hits other obstacles when he clashes with bullies, says "the mother of all dirty words," and watches his parents battle it out over a tacky "major award" (leg lamp). But there are surprises in store for the Parker family on Christmas morning -- and some of them involve smelly bloodhounds.
   
   Yes, the plot is pretty simple -- it's the delivery that makes it special. It's narrated by an adult Ralphie who offers his slightly sardonic take on everything ("We plunged into the cornucopia quivering with desire and the ecstasy of unbridled avarice"), mingled with a hint of nostalgia. And it's completely tuned in to how kids think, and how a toy can seem like the most important thing in the world.
   
   Fortunately the scriptwriters never condescend to the audience by adding some kind of syrupy message about love and family and all that -- after all, real life doesn't work that way. Instead there are all sorts of classic moments -- the leg lamp, Chinese turkey, the terrifying visit to Santa ("HOOOO HOOOO HOOO!"), and Ralphie's fantasies of defending his family with "Ol' Blue" against a bunch of inept, unarmed bandits.
   
   And Jean Shepherd -- the co-writer and narrator of the movie -- deserves especial credit for bringing this movie to life with his slightly stressed-out delivery. He covers the movie with a snowstorm of one-liners and hilarious dialogue: "Over the years I got to be quite a connoisseur of soap." "He looks like a pink nightmare!" "Oh FUUUDDDDGGGE!" and others. McGavin gets many of the best ones, though ("FRA-GEE-LAY... that must be Italian!").
   
   Billingsley is a little stiff as Ralphie, but gives the portrayal of this everykid his charming, slightly frenetic best. He's never oversmart or annoying, ever. Melinda Dillon and Darin McGavin are the comic geniuses here, with their slightly kooky but loving parents (one of the highlights is Dillon's "show me how the piggies eat!" scene, and McGavin's revolted response), and there's an array of very convincing bullies and classmates too.
   
   "A Christmas Story" didn't get much notice when it came out in 1983. But now it's one of the quintessential holiday movies, and a must-see at Christmastime. HOOOOO HOOOOO HOOOO...



2. This is a collection of tales as they are recollected by a person thinking back on their childhood one Christmas. It has all the exaggerations with its ups and downs.
   
   Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) spots a "Daisy Brand Red-Ryder BB" 200-shot Carbine with compass, in the window of a story and fantasizes on how to get it for Christmas.
   Will he succeed?
   And if so will he shoot his eye out?
   
   I had one of those Davie Crocket hats when I was a kid. There were lots of other items and actions that I could relate to. However my wife likes the watering method used by Melinda Dillon (mother) around the trophy. And she likes the way the mother conserved electricity by turning it off. I could see her snickering through the corner of my eye. I am not sure I should have bought this movie. It may prove fatal to any window plans.
   
   The sequel of "A Christmas Story" ("It Runs in the Family" [1994]) lacks a lot of the originality of this one.

5 comments about The Family Stone (Full Screen Edition).

1. My wife and I left this movie before it finished. It was the most hate filled uncomfortable movie I've been to, EVER. How in the world anyone can like this is beyond me. If my family was like this one I would never bring a future bride to meet them. I love movies (have over 1000 DVDs) but I want my money back from the people that made this floater. We should file a law suit for them even using the term movie in conjuction with this thing.



2. This dvd I loved from the first time I saw it! Everything about the family, and hardships really touched me. I tried to buy this movie from a buyer prior to this seller. When I received it in the mail it skipped and would not allow me to access any features at all. I quickly went online and found the exact movie I wanted and a friendly and helpful seller who was honest and willing to send it out right away. Even though I have only had it for about a month I have watched it several times.



3. This movie is almost painful to watch. It is another movie portrayed as a comedy in the trailers, but it turns out that if you've seen a trailer, you've seen every funny part already. It's a drama and not a very good one at that. The writing fails a potentially good story line. The viewer isn't given enough time to believe that Everett could actually fall out of love with the main character and in love with her sister based on knowing her for half a day. Bad writing!



4. Where was Crow and Tom Servo from "Mystery Science Theater 3000" when this bomb came out? This movie is right up there with "Manos and the Hands of Fate" and "Swamp Women"!! What should have been a moving story of family facing a tragedy on what would be their last Christmas together ended up to be a mish-mash of neurotic family members with absolutely no chemistry, focusing on trivial and selfish matters. The film alludes briefly to Diane Keaton's terminal condition and then flicked it off like a fly on the wall. We got none of the pathos and sympathy which a condition of this magnatude demands. I'm a big fan of Sarah Jessica Parker but her character was shrewish and vapid, lacking depth (and a good make-up artist!) Her contract rider should demand that her films be in letter-box or widescreen format - the vertical frame stretch only made her look like a whippet in drag!
   
   I have nothing good to say about the other actors because their roles were not only forgettable, but painful to watch. Only Craig T. Nelson stands out as a man who is dropped in the middle of this madhouse. He did exhibit some human characteristics while trying to corral what appears to be a foster family without any connection to each other by either nature or nurture! The writer attempted to appeal to every demographic by building a fake family of professionals, bums, blacks, gays, mommies, kiddies, terminal matriarch, and confused patriarch. DE EXPERIMENT FAIL'T, DOKTORR!! And the "Gag Reel" was so painful that it made me...well, GAG! This director must have been "The Godfather" to make this many good actors accept an offer they SHOULD have refused!



5. Ten minutes into the movie "the Family Stone" I was regretting my choice of the movie. Predictable to the extreme it seemed to have echoes in myriad family movies of recent years : Dan in Real life, The Wedding date and what have you. The family itself was not terribly likeable, the heroine was irritatingly self concious and the hero wasn't doing much to charm the audience.
   BUT to enjoy this mtovie you need to be patient. This is NOT a romance! The fact that it starts out with SJ Parker visiting Mulroney's family over the holidays has little to do with their romance and whole lot to do with the undercurrets of family secrets and relationships. the characters do find love by the end and loss as well. Diane Keaton is wonderful as usual. The problem, I felt, was that there wasn't one character or couple to focus the audience's hopes on. Mulroney does an excellent job as the quiet elder son trying to make peace between his family and his girlfriend, Parker is overwrought for most of the movie and Luke Wilson is Luke Wilson. The finest part of the movie is probably in its last half hour and is worth waiting for.

1 comments about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

1. This is probably the best of the Christmas cartoons. It never grows old and should be a Christmas tradition for everyone.

5 comments about The Santa Clause (Widescreen Special Edition).

1. The movie captions are excellent--complete and clean. Sadly, though, the extra stuff isn't captioned, which is too bad because the Wolfgang Puck segments cooking with kids are very enjoyable. A how-to-be-an-elf segment may be interesting for aspiring kid actors, but I didn't play the DVD player game, nor did I access the DVD ROM features. Again--none of the DVD player extras are captioned. Maybe this will be done for a future reissue?? We can always hope!



2. The Santa Clause (Full Screen Special Edition)
   
   Arrived timely and is a very funny good family movie



3. Living in Florida I truly miss the real feeling of Christmas and the holidays. Seeing the snow filled streets, the Christmas lights on homes and of course going to the North Pole helps remind me of some really great Christmases and Christmas wishes. Full of the holiday spirit.



4. This was the best Christmas movie i have ever seen. It is great for kids of all ages. I saw it when i was little and I loved it and 10 years later I still love it. The special effects and great you can not tell that he did not gain 45 pounds. The acting was great from Allen and Reinhold. It was a little stale from Crewson and Loyd. The movie is a short 90 minutes and it is about a divorced dad who accidentally kills santa and puts on the suit and delivers the rest of the gifts. Little does he know now he is santa. Withen the next year he grows a large santa sized pot-belly and a white beard. Which is great to watch. He then has his son taken away from him because his son thinks he Santa.It has a predictable ending but all around a great movie.



5. 'The Santa Clause' is a Disney movie centered around the Christmas season. Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) is a single parent with a son Charlie (Eric Lloyd). Scott is a toy salesman for a large toy manufacturer. When Charlie's mom Laura Miller (Wendy Crewson) and step dad Dr. Neal Miller (Judge Reinhold) drop Charlie off at Scott's home for Christmas Eve dinner, they tell Scott that Charlie does not believe in Santa Claus. All of Scott's attempts to provide a good dinner fail, and Scott and Charlie end up at Denny's for a Christmas Eve Dinner. Charlie is awakened by a noise on the roof, and when Scott and Charlie go outside to investigate, they find Santa on the roof. Santa slips off the roof and is killed from the fall. While looking for identification, Scott finds a business card on Santa. The card states that Scott must take over for Santa. The reindeer take Scott and Charlie on the appointed rounds, delivering toys to the girls and boys, before ending up at the North Pole. Bernard (David Kurmholtz), the head elf, explains to Scott that when he put on the Santa suit he became the new Santa Claus, because of the 'Santa Clause'. Over the next year, Scott loses his job as a toy salesman, gains weight, and grows facial hair that turns white. Director John Pasquin attempted to inject comedy into the sensitive subject of believing in Santa Claus. Trying to make a movie for all ages is especially hard when the subject is Santa Claus. I believe the use of the police in this movie was not the right approach for a children's movie, because children are instructed from early on in life that police officers are their friend and present to help them in a time of need, only to be further confused by the sight of their friend taking Santa Claus to jail on Christmas Eve. The animation of the reindeer was superb. The fact that Charlie's step dad, psychiatrist Dr. Miller, wanted a weenie whistle for Christmas was one of the funnier parts of the movie. My opinion is that this movie rates on the low end of the Disney collection. I do believe, do you?

5 comments about Santa Claus - The Movie (20th Anniversary Edition).

1. I ordered this movie because it was one of my favorites growing up and I wanted my son to see it! He loved it, just as I did when I was a little girl! The enhancements were wonderful!



2. Still a great movie. Not as great as I remember, but Dudley Moore is great in it. Makes a nice change from the stuff normally on tv at Christmas.



3. I haven't seen this film in such pristine glory since it's initial release in 1985 while I was stationed in England as a 21 year old Air Force airman, and it took me back to that simpler time in my life. The effects hold up very well in this new DVD (unlike previous video and television versions which looked like they were recorded straight from a TV monitor), especially the full shots of the sleigh team in flight. The only (minor) problem I had was with the film's continuity during one scene: during the chase to the North Pole, the six reindeer are at an incredible speed cutting thru the sky, but when Santa stands up in the sleigh shouting encouragement to his team, his loose-hanging coat DOES NOT flap in the wind--AT ALL!!! That has always bothered me; maybe they can do a Director's Cut sometime and fix that! LOL. In any case, the movie overall will stand as a Christmas classic, or just a feel-good injection whenever I need a pick-me-up!



4. If the North Pole was anything like it is portrayed in this movie, I want to live there. The scene when Mrs. Claus had to choose green or red for the first Santa suit was awesome. He put that red coat on and you could almost hear a choir singing! And when the reindeer and sleigh took off for the first flight it was breathtaking. Five big stars for this movie. It is my favorite Christmas movie now. I have even bought it for friends so they could get as excited watching it for the first time as I did.



5. I love this movie, Dudley Moore and John Lithgow are fabulous and so is the rest of the cast! I got it for a reasonable price, especially since no one anywhere had it. Thank you.

5 comments about Baby Einstein - Baby Santa's Music Box.

1. Baby Einstein is a wonderful line of videos to help aid in your child's development. Get them off to a very good start with these videos, and this special one, Baby Einstein - Baby Santa's Music Box. Get them well on the way to a successful future now! Don't wait!



2. The baby loves it. We watch it together. I laugh because she laughs at different parts. Great for anytime of year.



3. We originally found Baby Santa after our son's first Christmas... but bought it anyway, as we were afraid we would not be able to find it again. We played it for him for his second Christmas, and while he was older than the usual ages for these videos- it was a great way to introduce him to the sights and sounds of the season. This year was our daughter's first Christmas and I started playing the DVD in November for her. Like her brother before her, she loved the Baby einstein series- particularly Baby Mozart and Baby Santa was certainly no exception to the rule. She's 9 months old- and sat quietly watching the video- with her 3 year-old brother at her side- pointing out things to her and interacting with her and "teaching" her about Christmas. Whoever said this video was a disappointment was not looking close enough... These videos are meant to be seen through a child's eyes... and my children loved it.



4. The name "Baby Einstein" can lull you into thinking it's okay or even good for babies to watch t.v., but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no television at all to children under 2 because so many studies have proven its harmful effects on children. Studies have shown that:
   
   - for every hour of television a baby watches a day, their chances of acquiring an attention deficit disorder increases by 10%.
   - among babies ages 8 months to 16 months, every hour spent daily watching programs such as 'Brainy Baby' or 'Baby Einstein' translated into six to eight fewer words in their vocabularies as compared with other children their age."
   - brain wave activity in babies is slower when watching television than when sleeping.
   
   I believe television should be used SPARINGLY and with caution, and without any delusions of it increasing baby's intelligence. As for making them more intelligent, Dr. William Sears says, "relationships, not things, make babies smarter." The easiest way to make babies smarter and calmer is to carry them a lot. Slings, pouches and carriers help make this more manageable. Studies have shown that:
   
   - carrying babies an extra 3 hours a day resulted in 40% less crying.
   
   Babies who are frequently carried are proven to pick up verbal skills faster, and develop better core muscle strength and balance. My Listmania list "Natural Parenting for Baby's First Year" has more information on babywearing, or you can google "babywearing" or "television and baby studies" for your own research.
   
   Crown Crafts The Original NoJo BabySling by Dr. Sears - Black Chambray is a great starter sling.
   
   Finally, I'd suggest "SIGNING TIME" videos - not to be confused with "Baby Signing Time" - as a last resort for OCCASIONAL viewing instead of other baby videos because at least baby can learn sign language. Communicating in sign language is proven to:
   
   - reduce frustration and tantrums
   - accelerate language development
   - promote parent-child bonding
   
   I found the entire series at my local library. I especially liked Signing Time! Volume 4: Family, Feelings & Fun DVD and 'naming' feelings also increases emotional intelligence in babies.



5. My daughter was bored by this one. It just didn't seem to flow like some of the other Baby Einstein videos. Also, the music didn't seems especially Christmas-y or festive. I would not recommend this one. Buy Baby Mozart, the First Moves or First Signs videos instead.

5 comments about Christmas Comes to Willow Creek.

1. This is a GREAT Christmas movie. It is clean, inspiring, and warms the heart. It is TOTALLY appropriate for anyone of any age. I bought this movie for my Mother for Christmas because she had seen it before and wanted to see it again. She LOVES Tom Wopat and John Shneider. It is rare in this day and age to find a movie that can portray a family with troubles working out the troubles without a lot of violence and filthy language...this movie does just that. There is a fight scene, but no blood and gore. My whole family enjoyed this movie.



2. i really liked this movie. i have liked it every since i seen for the first time



3. I was so surprised to find this DVD for sale on Amazon, I didn't know it was for sale anywhere! Ordering & shipping was a brezzed!



4. I have enjoyed this movie ever since it aired on TV twenty years ago, and I have watched it religiously every year since! I have been wanting it on DVD, and when I saw it for this great price, I ordered four copies for myself, family and friends! You cannot go wrong with this movie!



5. Kind of cheesy, but good anyway. John Schneider looks really great in this movie. Mostly a feel good movie.

5 comments about Frosty the Snowman/Frosty Returns.

1. Great Christmas time movie for the whole family. Old school animation brings this movie to life. Story line is great and it will not let any age down as far as being a worth while Holiday flick!



2. My three year old daughter loves this...it was one of my favorites growing up too so I don't mind watching it over and over and over again with her.



3. Frosty the Snowman is a wonderful story! A classic! Frosty Returns was horribly disappointing! Other reviewers already mentioned the socio-political agenda which was obvious, but I would like to add that the music was BAD, BAD, BAD! Not only were they melodically boring, but the lyrics sounded like they were written by a 4 year old. The fact that the characters couldn't carry a tune in a bucket didn't help either! They could have at least found people who can sing!!!
   
   Buy it for Frosty... Chuck Frosty Returns in the garbage! Don't waste your time!



4. The original FROSTY THE SNOWMAN is a true Christmas classic. Jimmy Durante is the perfect narrator for this clever holiday cartoon from the early 50's. The story has humor, suspense and even pathos (who can forget the sight of our friend Frosty turned in to a big puddle of water on the greenhouse floor?) as well as themes of rebirth and friendship. And of course there's that wonderful title song.
   
   Unfortunately FROSTY RETURNS is inferior to the original in every respect. There are so many technical goofs in the animation I at times wondered if this was supposed to be self mocking. I have always found Jonathan Winters annoying and his performance here does nothing to change my opinion. As other reviewers have said the kid characters have strange similarities to certain friends of a beagle named Snoopy and I swear at least one of the adults was a Mr. Magoo clone. The songs are nothing special and it is never a good thing when an adult finds the plot of a children's cartoon difficult to follow.



5. While it is a total joy to have the classic Rankin and Bass Christmas classic "Frosty the Snowman", on DVD what is disappointing is that it is unfortunately paired on this DVD with a dour "update", of the adventures of the most famous Snowman in the world titled "Frosty Returns", that is a clear victim of "politically correct", agendas. The original 1969 classic "Frosty the Snowman", is a story beloved by generations of television viewers with its catchy tunes, beautiful animation, likeable characters, and unabashed celebration of Christmas and all its traditions. "Frosty Returns", however is seemingly driven by a desire to down play the importance of Christmas traditions altogether, indeed Christmas amazingly is never even referred to once in the story, being instead replaced by a rather unfortunate "Winter festival". Imagining Frosty the Snowman without Christmas is like trying to picture Rudolph without his shiny nose! While the original has charm aplenty "Frosty Returns", also displays a number of less than charming characters, namely Frosty himself who in this story is more sarcastic and jive talking and far less jolly than in the memorable original. This sequel also has some of the most woeful animation and songs in it that you could imagine which only succeeds in making the original classic shine ever more brightly. Seeing these two features side by side on this disk made a number of decades apart clearly illustrates the often discussed "war on Christmas", that seems to be taking place in our western culture and after one screening of the "update" "Frosty Returns", I know I'll be sticking with the original classic "Frosty the Snowman", which still charms all these decades after it was produced by the legendary team of Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass.