1 comments about Christmas... A Time for Joy.

1. The styles are varied in this wonderful show, but the quality always high, with renditions of familiar classics along with a few original songs, with some numbers that are truly thrilling, among them the opening song, a bluegrass flavored "It's a Time for Joy" with Karen Peck and New River, the Gaither Vocal Band with David Phelps doing an exquisite tenor solo on "The Christmas Song" (and Mark Lowry doing Johnny Mathis !), "Children Go Where I Send Thee" with The Bishops giving us harmonies from heaven, the country rockin' sound of "Go Tell" with The Martins, and best of all, "Mary, Did You Know ?" (music and lyrics by Mark Lowry and Buddy Green), sung by the Gaither Vocal Band featuring an emotionally stirring solo by Mark Lowry. The words, melody, and interpretation of this song fills my eyes with tears when I hear it...the disc is worth it for this number alone.
   
   The music is so inspired, I probably would have preferred less humor...one segment in particular isn't that funny and has a "secular entertainment" feel to it, but that is a minor quibble when compared to the overwhelming spirit of this disc, which I'll enjoy any time of the year, with the musicians and singers giving 100% of their talent, and moving one to praise and worship the Lord, in the true spirit of Christmas.
   The show was filmed in the Alabama Theater, a lovely ornate theater in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2001, and total running time is 90 minutes.
   The DVD extras include an interesting piece titled "Project Spotlight" with people like Joni Eareckson Tada, and subtitles are also available.
   Track Listing:
   1: Program Opening
   2:"It's a Time For Joy", Karen Peck and New River
   3: Comedy featuring Mark Lowry and Bill Gaither
   4: "Listen to the Angels Sing", The Martins
   5: "Angels We Have Heard on High", The Hayes Family
   6: "Good News", The Hoppers
   7: "White Christmas", Jake Hess
   8: "The Friendly Beasts" (just one verse) Jeff and Sheri Easter, Charlotte Ritchie
   9: "Sweet Baby Jesus", Jeff and Sheri Easter, Charlotte Ritchie
   10: "The Christmas Song", Gaither Vocal Band
   11: Comedy with Aaron Wilburn
   12: "Children Go Where I Send Thee", The Bishops
   13: "Winter Wonderland", Sam Levine on Saxophone
   14: "Hope of the Ages", Tanya Goodman Sykes
   15: "Merry Christmas, My Love", Allison Durham Speer
   16: "Go Tell", The Martins
   17: "I'll be Home for Christmas", The Florida Boys
   18: "Glory to God", The Talley Trio
   19: "Piper's Night Before Christmas" story by Mark Lowry
   20: "Holy is Thy Name", Legacy Five
   21: Narrative by Zig Ziglar
   22: "Five Little Fingers", Stephen Hill
   23: Narrative by Gloria Gaither
   24: "Ordinary Baby", Amy Rouse
   25: "Mary, Did You Know ?", Mark Lowry and the Gaither Vocal Band
   26: "The King is Coming", Gaither Vocal Band

4 comments about Home for the Holidays.

1. Home for the holidays is a great little horror, suspense film with a Christmas, family homecoming setting. Sally Field is very young, and surrounded by more mature and experienced actors but really manages to hold her own. Eleanor Parker and Julie Harris give excellent performances as well and this little gem will hopefully find it way to DVD in the very near future. From there it will quickly add to its considerable cult following. I can't believe it hasn't already been released on DVD. Don't miss this film and don't forget the popcorn.



2. Little did they know! Several academy award nominees, Julie Harris, Eleanor Parker and Jessica Walters not to mention veteran British actress Jill Haworth starred in this scary suspense flick directed by Dan Curtis. We also have Academy Award winner Walter Brennan in one of his last screen roles. Little did they know they were working with a future two time Academy Award winner, Sally Field. She isn't my favorite actress, but she was cute. This film has a lot of mood and music touches by "Dark Shadows" director Dan Curtis. Searched in vain for the out of print laserdisc, perhaps there will be a DVD release.



3. I was really happy with the tape and the fast service.I remember seeing this on T.V and really being scared.The entire cast is wonderful.I recomend this film it's a gem!



4. I was surprised to be able to find this movie. I haven't seen it since I was little. I really liked it and watching it again was enjoyable.

No comments about Hollywood Christmas (DVD).

3 comments about Tiny Toons - It's a Wonderful Christmas Special.

1. this is a funny parody of it's a wonderful life that actually surpases the classic. It is funny, touching, smart and has some of the funniest songs precursing animaniacs. Really amazing!



2. This half-hour cartoon is not only the best Tiny Toon Episode, it's the best Christmas Special ever made. It surpasses The classic Fairly Oddparents episode: CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY, Spongebob's hilarious: CHRISTMAS WHO? and disappointing Jimmy Neutron: HOLLY JOLLY JIMMY.
   Tiny Toons (and Animaniacs) are the wildest shows on TV and this VHS is wonderful. If you haven't seen this, I ORDER YOU TO BUY IT!



3. i am not going to give any thing away.but i do want to tell you that it hould be on dvd.

2 comments about Hermie and Friends: A Fruitcake Christmas.

1. This is a beautiful story about the true meaning of Christmas. The story is told with a healthy does of humor, and my whole family enjoys it.
   This series is the best, and I definitely recommend this Chrismas DVD.



2. We bought this for one of our daughter a couple years ago, the message of this movie is good, and my daughters like it, it gives them an understanding what Christmas is really about, and it teaches them to share also.

No comments about Hello Kitty & Friends, Vol. 6: Holiday Magic.

5 comments about Red Boots for Christmas.

1. I remember seeing this for the first time on TV. The story behind this DVD truly touched my heart! I was so happy to see that I could buy it. This is a family classic that will touch your heart!



2. A grumpy shoemaker in a small German town is visited by an angel who tells him he will receive a special gift and visitor for Christmas from God. The excited shoemaker starts preparing his house for a feast and makes a special pair of red boots for his expected visitor. Christmas eve comes and three townspeople who have irritated him in some way come to visit with simple presents and he invites them in to share his Christmas feast. Later the angel returns to tell him that the gift and visitors were from his friends and tells him about the baby Jesus being the savior and that He is the true meaning of Christmas. The happy shoemaker runs out and gives his precious red boots to a small child without shoes. A simple story but surprisingly moving. One of the better Christian videos I have seen. The animation is even pretty good.



3. I got this movie for my 4 year old son and I felt it really accurately captured what the true meaning of Christmas should be in a way a young child can understand. It is truly a keeper and a great choice among the so many other secular videos available. We've watched it together many times. The length is perfect, just long enough to hold his attention and the content is excellent. This movie should definitely be a part of every Christian's Christmas movie collection.



4. This is a great dvd. The picture is so cozy. Tells how Christmas is not only for presents but of God's biggest gift to us, Jesus. Great family film for anytime of the year.



5. I watched this video with my 6-year-old niece and 3-year-old nephew and we all enjoyed it very much. It reinforces good Christian values.

2 comments about Jim Brickman at the Magic Kingdom - The Disney Songbook.

1. On February 7 get ready to listen to Disney song on an awesome DVD. Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins Medley, Chim Chim Chree, Feed the Birds, Let's Go Fly a Kite, Stay Awake, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Cruella De Vil, Beautiful, Reflection, When I See an Elephant Fly, Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah, Baby Mine, Can You Feel the Love Tonight, A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes, Some Day My Prince Will Come, I'm Amazed and When You Wish Upon a Star are the songs on this DVD. The songs the won the Academy Award for best song are When You Wish Upon a Star, Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah, A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes and Can You Feel the Love Tonight. This DVD has extra featuring performances from Jim Brickman, Michael Bolton, Anne Cochran and Tracy Silverman. The DVD also includes the music video Beautiful with Wayne Brady as an extra. A PBS special named The Making of the Disney Songbook is also an extra.



2. My wife and I attended the taping of the show at Disney World in Orlando Florida. It took two nights to complete the taping. We enjoyed both nights. And the DVD of this program is Fantastic. If you enjoy Jim Brickman and Disney Music you need to get this DVD.

5 comments about Where the Toys Come From.

1. All I can figure by the last review is that this person never watched this movie when they were a child. My brother and I were sone of the lucky few (since none of my other friends of the same age remember it) who were completely enthralled by the story of Peepers and Zoom. Yes it's short, yes it's almost a documentary. However, now that this is on DVD I have to own it. I loved this movie as a kid and I always will.



2. Want to know something funny...Last night my daughter(14)asked her oldest brother(20)what his favorite movie was when he was a younger...He said "The Peepers Movie" !!
   This movie makes you smile the whole way through. To this very day, whenever we see a wind-up toy we think of this movie.



3. 'Where The Toys Come From' is probably the most experimental Disney film ever made,even slightly surreal.It starts out with a pair of intellectual wind up toys Peeper (glasses I think) and
   Zoom (a camera) both lovable 'Toy Story' type characters.And they are real,live action wind ups,not animated.The journey starts with their 'owner' Robin and a serious of oddball dancing antique toys at a toy museum.Eventually they end up going to Japan to find out where they are made.From that point on the film becomes something of a documentary of how toys are made.Interesting for kids interested in modern toy making and (if I may say so) alot better done and far less cloying then most modern Disney Channel productions.



4. I watched this movie when I was a child. It was a great movie. Now I know I can find it I'm gonna buy it.



5. No better video than this for the younger viewer. Especially if your child likes to watch things over and over. I'm 47 and it's always a treat. So different from the traditional DVD fare- surprisingly simple yet educational as well. Truly, neither you nor your child has ever seen anything like it.

5 comments about Christmas Past - Vintage Holiday Films.

1. Interesting movies from almost a century ago. But be warned. The muscial score leaves much to be desired. I prefer to turn off the sound and watch this DVD without sound, or I choose to play my own Christmas music selections in the background.

   Nice movies. Naughty score!




2. I caught this on TCM before Christmas and taped it to first review before I considered getting the DVD. Be warned, this takes a lot of concentration and patience to view: rather boring in many parts, the sound track is useless (better, like a previous reviewer states, to play your own Christmas music, instrumental of course, while viewing), gets pretty interesting towards the end, though. Keep in mind that this was the days of filming when it was extremely raw and young, or young and raw, whatever, so "Christmas Past" is almost 100 years old, in part, and is quite different from the early color Christmas cartoons and silent video.

   I'd buy this only if you keep an open mind (and eyes for that matter since it can lull you into a winter's slumber) and view it as a period piece. Silents can be great with the right music since the music adds or subtracts from the "feel" of the video as it does today.

   I sure wish they'd put out "Cleopatra" (the 1912 version) silent which has a sound track (new) that is totally phenomenal (new music by Chantal Krevinzuk and Raine Maida). If you get TCM on your cable/satellite, checkout some of the silents on Sunday nights. You'll be surprised at how wonderful many of them actually are...especially the first "Cleopatra" with Helen Gardner. Exquisite! I was mesmerized.




3. This is one of those rare oppurtunities to see some obscure images from a time long, long ago. With the exception of perhaps one episode, most of the players are unknown people who gave their interpretation of a Christmas story. I felt like I was looking through a time machine, and the feeling of great nostalgia came over me. These are Christmas stories from the past presented by people who are long gone, but how much we have in common! I read some reviews that blast the soundtrack. I thought it was great and very appropriate. I especially enjoyed the use of Christmas bells, and think that the score helps add the feeling of nostalgia to this beautiful presentation. I ignored this title until catching it on TMC. If you enjoy silent films, this title is a must.



4. As has been said in other reviews, this DVD (which I original saw on TCM as well) is a strange, moving, sometimes boring, but generally wonderful time-trip back to another era. (I still don't really get "Santa Claus vs. Cupid," but, hey, it doesn't bother me...)
   
   I am one who thinks the music is haunting, strange--and perfect for this collection. It does add a touch melancholy to the procedings, but it works for me. Some of the most beloved Christmas songs are melancholy--look at "Have yourself a merry little Christmas" and "White Christmas"--looking back in memory, expecially of Christmases past, can definately involve a bit of that.



5. Kino Video's lovely A CHRISTMAS PAST is for a limited audience who knows the names of Edwin S. Porter, Thomas Edison as a filmmaker, and D.W. Griffith when he was still doing short subjects. Over 121 minutes, it presents a nostalgic Currier and Ives-like Christmas in silent tales ranging from 1901 to 1925. The prints are flawless by any standards, and the music score includes violins and Christmas bells.
   
   A HOLIDAY PAGEANT AT HOME (1901) runs 5 minutes and has kids presenting a little skit for Mom and Dad.
   
   A WINTER STRAW RIDE (1906) should be called "A Winter Sleigh Ride". It runs 7 minutes and was directed by Edwin S. Porter for the Edison Corp.
   
   A TRAP FOR SANTA (1909) is a 16 minute D. W. Griffith short about two kids trying to trap Santa in the middle of the night to see if he really exists. It has poignancy because a destitute father runs away from home and Mom plays Santa. But then Dad returns, and there are two Santas!
   
   A CHRISTMAS ACCIDENT (1912) is a 15 minute Edison Corporation short, directed by Bannister Merwin. I think this is the one with wealthy and poor families living side by side, and the wealthy family doing something nice for the poor family at Christmas when a roast is delivered to the wealthy house.
   
   THE ADVENTURES OF THE WRONG SANTA CLAUS (1914) has a father and a burglar fighting it out over who is the real Santa for a family. The burglar steals all the presents, and Dad goes after him in costume to have a happy ending. This is also a 14 minute one reeler from Edison.
   
   THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1905) is the first version of Clement Moore's famous story. It runs 7 minutes and was directed for Edison Corp. by Edwin S. Porter.
   
   SANTA CLAUS VS. CUPID (1915) was written for the Edison Corp. by Alan Crosland (1927's THE JAZZ SINGER). This Christmas romance runs 16 minutes.
   
   SANTA CLAUS (1925), ostensibly filmed with the real Santa at the real North Pole, focuses on Christmas Eve and delivering presents. But two children ask Santa what he and Mrs. Claus do the rest of the year. At 29 minutes, this is the longest film here and the most recent.
   
   Finally, we have a 10 minute version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL from 1910 and the Edison Film Manufacturing Corporation. It is fun to see an attempt to tell the story in one reel.
   
   A CHRISTMAS PAST will not be for everyone. But audiences excited by what I say about the contents should find it the ultimate Christmas Eve or Night treat. This is a long ago Christmas and quite exquisite.