No comments about Carols for Christmas / Metropolitan Museum of Art.

No comments about Holiday Hypnosis.

5 comments about Timepiece (1996).

1. "Christmas Box" is one of my all-time favorite movies, and I've been itching for the beautiful prequel "Timepiece" to come out. Told in the frame of reminiscence, this is the backstory of the dignified Mary Parkin of the other movie, and of her husband and daughter.

   Kevin Kilner is astonishingly good as David Parkin, the owner of a successful company during WW2. David is a bachelor with odd social habits; among other things, his best friend is a black clockmaker named Lawrence (James Earl Jones, who is OBVIOUSLY amazing), considered an eccentricity in the upper crust of the 1940s noveau riche.

   A young English woman, Mary Anne Chandler, arrives and somehow ends up as David's secretary. But he isn't yet aware that she has a secret: She's pregnant by a deceased soldier, and unwed, a major stigma at that time. David marries her nevertheless, and for a time they are immensely happy together. David considers her daughter to be his, and soon about five years have passed.

   Meanwhile Lawrence befriends an elderly, kindly spinster with a wastrel nephew. When she dies, she gives all of her money to charities - except for a beautiful, valuable clock that she leaves to Lawrence. The nephew and his friends, needless to say, aren't too pleased. When the nephew shows up, drunk, there's a scuffle and he's accidently shot with his own gun. David dives in to take the blame, knowing that a court would try Lawrence unjustly. This good deed results in an outpouring of both love and hate, with tragic results...

   I've only seen Kilner in one other role -- that of the first lead on Earth: Final Conflict--and was not impressed by his acting abilities. And, additionally, I was groaning in pain when I found out he had been cast as David; I thought he was all wrong for the part. This movie, however, lets him shine. Naomi Watts is excellent as the woman whose hardships forge her into a much stronger person, showing indications of the dignified older woman of "Christmas Box."

   James Earl Jones is a jewel as Lawrence Flynn, an elderly black man who must suddenly deal with the prejudice of some of the town's residents, alongside his friend, Miss Maud Gannon. Jones is, needless to say, amazing. Richard Thomas doesn't really star -- he's in a cameo, at best, artificially aged, but it's a good cameo that sets up the whole movie. Mercedes Kastner, the girl playing little Andrea Parkin is pretty good for a child actor, but not stellar; at times she's a little too affected.

   Flaws? Well, there are some dissimilarities to the book, in more than altered dialogue. In the book, Andrea was not fathered by a deceased soldier, but just some abusive jerk. Richard Thomas's gray artificial eyebrows look like dust bunnies, and he really isn't convincing as an old man. He looks like a young man trying to look old. The effects of the attack on Lawrence is much more severe in the book; but as there are children watching this movie, it's just as well.

   Nevertheless, this is truly beautifully made. The sets and settings are amazing, and I get the feeling that the actors were enjoying what they were making. If you feel in the mood for a really lovely movie, or enjoyed the other movie, you should definitely watch "Timepiece."




2. The gorgeous bookshelves in the study at the start of this movie had my attention and then the theme of clocks and watches was quite unique. Even if you have not seen "The Christmas Box," you can enjoy this story. This sequel focuses more on the life of David and Mary and how they find one another and keep their marriage together.
   
   Timepiece is one of those stories some will find hard to believe would ever happen in real life. Strange, yet true, not only did someone leave Christmas presents on our doorstep one year in real life, my brother also survived meningitis. So, two aspects of this movie made complete sense to me.
   
   The first half is more of a love story and the middle is filled with tragedy. The ending is so beautiful in that the characters learn to forgive and by doing so, bring beauty back into their lives.
   
   The true meanings of friendship, loyalty and love are also explored. The emotions at times border on being overly sentimental, but for the most part, the story flows nicely.
   
   The beauty of this story is more in how the characters react to tragedies in their lives. They discover what it means to forgive and share their lives with those who have also suffered.
   
   As many in America face a Christmas filled with the pain of loosing those they loved this year, I felt this movie could almost be a guide as to how we can turn our personal suffering into joy and hope.
   
   We may not always understand why God allows tragedy into our lives. The story of Mary and David Parkin shows how when you look for ways to make other people happy, you can find joy again and can even learn to appreciate life in a more altruistic way.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



3. My daughters and I watched this after the Christmas Box on
   Christmas night (which has become a tradition for us). We absolutely loved it!We were once again overwhelmed by the story of the Parkin's.The loss of their daughter made us
   sob as did the unexpected ending.I have come to expect this
   from the writings of Mr. Evans,what a talented man!He hits on every emotion possible but the one most evident to me is "HOPE".He makes us believe that there is hope in every situation especially when you think all is lost.The actors in this movie were perfect in their roles and brought this wonderful story to life.I hope to treasure these movies for years to come. They say that each time you watch a movie you catch something that you missed the first time and I'm sure this will be the same.I can't wait to see it again.



4. I caught this movie on the Hallmark Channel a few weekends ago and just couldn't stop crying! But in a good way ~ there were sad parts , yes, but by the end of the movie you are just crying at the goodness of these people through the hard times. James Earl Jones really was excellent in this movie & put great emotion into this role. The faces he made were so powerful, he's just such a great actor. Naomi Watts was beautiful in this and Kevin Kilner was great also. I bought this movie right away after I saw it because this is a movie I want to watch each Christmas & share with others :-)



5. Great Companion to the Christmas Box. You need to view both to get the whole picture.

2 comments about Holidays in American Sign Language, Vol. 1.

1. As an aspect of everyday life, holidays and occasions revolve the lives of every individual. A professional Deaf ASL teacher will teach you over 250 useful vocabulary words for 21 easy-to-follow chapters. These holidays will be as follows:
   
   Christmas Day
   Columbus Day
   Easter
   Election Day
   Father's Day
   Graduation Day
   Halloween
   Hanukkah
   Independence Day
   Kwanzaa
   Labor Day
   Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
   Memorial Day
   Mother's Day
   New Year's Day
   Passover
   President's Day
   St. Patrick's Day
   Thanksgiving Day
   Valentine's Day
   Veterans Day
   
   Learning all the vocabulary words will be quite convenient as this DVD will work best for families, students, interpreters and professionals.



2. Lots and lots of vocabulary words from many categories - really useful and resourceful. Words are categorized for easy learning and practice. I would recommend this to everyone!

2 comments about An Old-Fashioned Christmas.

1. This VHS tape has 44 canned Christmas songs and matching canned videos running for just under 2 hours. The artists for the music are unknown. The quality of the music is average to above average. The tape lacks excitement because there are so many songs and they do not seem that distinctive. I gave the video 4 stars instead of 3 due to the fact that some of the songs reach the level of 4 stars.



2. The same version just a different front cover in this Christmas DVD. Set's the Christmas mood just right, any time of year(mostly during December)

No comments about This Is Daniel Cook (5 Pack) At The Zoo , Celebrating The Holidays, Creating Stories, Drawing a Dragon, Making Gingerbread.

5 comments about 24 Nights.

1. Aida Turturro could have been nominated for an Oscar for this film. If you are a big Aida Turturro fan, then I won't stop you from checking this movie out. Otherwise, it was just a weak film with a dumb premise. The central character has few redeaming qualities and isn't particularly likeable, so it's hard to imagine why he becomes the hinge of a love triangle. Just because there aren't many gay holiday films doesn't mean we need this one.



2. I disagree with ANYONE that the film is shot quote "Amateurish"...that's pure rubish! THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS SOOOO APPEALING! NO high tech nonsense! BRIALLANTLY done and well acted by all the characters. Everyone has something that adds a delightful charming appeal to this fun, feel good movie. (Like a nice hot cup of cocoa). I loved it... PERIOD! Makes you really believe that there is a Santa Claus! :) Check it out and you decide!



3. It was a nice idea and had potential. But this film is so uncheerful and filled with unpleasant people, if Ebeneezer Scrooge had watched it on Christmas Eve, the ghosts of Chirstmasn past, present, and future would have joined him in saying "BAH, HUMBUG!"
   
   Here is the story: Jonathan, an early 20-something gay man is haunted by the death of his parents when he was 8 and, partly to cope, still believes in Santa Claus. He lives with his sister, Marie, and essentially waits for his life to begin. The day after Thanksgiving, he writes Santa asking him for a boyfriend, particularly a cute southerner. Well, the next day, in walks Toby, a guy who fits that description, applying for a job in the gay bookstore where he works. Believing Santa has answered his wish, he persues the guy of his dreams, but the object of his infatuation already has a boyfriend, uptight, suspicious Keith. And the story goes from there.
   
   It had possibilities, but rarely makes good use of them. Part of the problem is the very low budget, which would embarrass a porn production. The lighting and sound are bad, and the editing and film quality leave much to be desired. But even worse is writer/director Kiernan Turner's story and characters. Jonathan is a sullen, immature, self-pitying pothead. And the supporting characters are no better. Everyone in this film is either rude, dumb, selfish, and/or noisy. Maybe the last part is because the sound is so bad, the actors felt the need to shout their lines.
   
   The actors are no better. Kevin Isola is convincing as a pothead, but other than that he sulks throughout the movie and never gives us a reason to care about his character. Aida Turturro (of "The Sopranos") basically shouts her lines, and treats us to more Italian stereotypes than an Olive Garden commercial. It's laughable for them to be portraying brother and sister. With his mushy California mumble and her thick Noo Yawk accent, I couldn't believe they grew up in the same state, let alone the same house. Embarrassing, unintentional comic relief comes from David Burtka as the object of Jonathan's desire. His performance consists of a bug-eyed, goofy grin and bogus, honey-chile' accent. Jim Neighbors fans will be happy to know that Gomer Pyle is alive and living in New York City. And, oh, the poor Stephen Mailer. A nice-looking and likeable actor, he's stuck in the thankless role of Burtka's insecure, uptight boyfriend. With his rigid posture and grin-and-bear it manner, it's obvious that Mailer is bored and embarrassed. I was hoping he'd appear shirtless, to see whether he was wearing a back brace. He performance screans, "I can't wait till the filming is over so I can fire my agent." His attitude is understandable, but doesn't make the film any more entertaining.
   
   What's sad about this is not only the good premise, but the fact that a few moments are quite good. The scene where Jonathan mistakes a woman for his deceased mother and follows her to a store Christmas display is genuinely moving. Some of the quiet moments, like Marie confiding how much she cares about her brother or Keith reaching out to someone he once considered his rival, make us briefly care about them. And some of the humor is laugh-out-loud funny. These give you a sense of what could have been. But there just aren't enough of them.



4. Yes, I think 24 Nights is a nice little film. All the negative reviews remind me that so many people always view the glass as half empty.
   
   Has the message of this movie been presented before? Yes, hundreds of times. The message being that something what you hunt for is something right in front of you that you don't even recognize.
   
   But this theme was put into the "____ shopping days until Christmas" format and it turns into a simple and delightful film. Of course the main character is moody--he is single, living with his sister who raised him because his parents died/disappeared. It's a sad existance.
   
   So Jonathon does something so cute and sappy...he writes to Santa Claus and asks for a boyfriend. He thinks his Christmas wish was granted when a young man with a Southern accent appears at the book store and asks for a job...could there be a more blatant sign?
   
   But Jonathon was wrong. He found love with another man once he let go of his preconceived notions and opened his heart.



5. "24 Nights"
   
   Santa Delivers
   
   Amos Lassen
   
   Jonathan wants a boyfriend for Christmas and he asks Santa to bring him one. His life has not been so great so far but he knows that Santa Claus can help him find the prefect man. Spending a day working in a gay bookstore, then going home to live with his sister, smoking a little pot and bumbling through life, he thinks that a boyfriend is what he needs. Jonathan is a romantic and even though he does not have a great deal going for him, he feels that the time has come to settle down.
   Suddenly Jonathan gets a new coworker when Toby comes to work at the bookstore. Toby is cute, from the South and has just won the wet underwear contest. There is only one catch--his boyfriend. He also loves to party and Jonathan realizes that this is not what he asked Santa to bring.
   Kevin Isola is Jonathan and he is a very sexy man but the idea that he has written to Santa to ask for a man seems to be a bit of a juvenile plot line. Yet I was surprised how convincing the film us. However, the low budget caused the film to be just another movie.
   The film is a bit of a farce and there are several truly laughable moments. Here is a new twist on Christmas that is not just funny but is cute and refreshing and somewhat touching. Kevin Isola gives quite a performance as Jonathan but it is Aida Turturro as his sister that is the star of the movie. She has the best and funniest lines. Some of the highlights of the movie include a poker game which is played with old 45 recordings (that most of you have probably never seen) and a scene with Pepe LePew on the nature of love.
   Rufus Wainwright sings on the soundtrack as do The Roches and Vicki Lawrence. Even though the movie is set against Christmas, it can hold its own any time of year. If you need a bit of a pick up, here is a film that will do just that.

4 comments about The Littles Christmas Special.

1. After all these years of not being released to home entertainment, The Littles are livin' with you again. Aside from it's TV movie Here Come The Littles from Playhouse Video in the late '80s, and a early '90s release from BMG, as well as a late '90s release from DiC, and the rare Liberty & The Littles which is a rare release. Anyway, the DVD was great. I do not know why it's considered a Christmas special release because non of these have to do with Christmas (even though the one title A Present For Grandpa Little is a bit of a refrence), but the episodes are actually Looking For Grandma Little (1984) (which is titled A Present For Grandpa Little), The Spirits Of The Night (1983), as well as the show's final episode ever The Little Girl Who Could (1985). Plus also, there's a bonus episode on the DVD "The Little Scouts" (1983). The opening is intact before the menu and I am happy to report that The Little Ideas For Big People segments (aka A Little Known Fact in 1985 episodes) are intact except on the bonus episode and nothing is sped-up and I am very happy that they kept the DIC logo with Dinky tossing the button is intact as well. So I give this release three stars!



2. now, before i start let me just say that "the littles" has been a favorite cartoon of mine(and one i haven't seen in ages). when i noticed this dvd for sale i grabbed it quick, but after watching it i was disappointed that there was nothing to do with christmas aside from the cover art. however, you get four great episodes from the show, i just wish the company would not have promoted it as a christmas special.



3. I love the littles and I was so excited when I saw this Christmas edition. There is snow in one episode but nothing has to do with Christmas!! Nothing! I was so disappointed. The episodes were good but please don't expect this to have ANYTHING to do Christmas. Other than that the episodes were good, just like I remembered!!



4. great shows, but the title is completely misleading.
   
   I am SO disappointed.
   
   I can't believe they marketed this in such a deceiving fashion!
   
   THIS IS A LIE!

5 comments about Pinocchio's Christmas.

1. This movie is painfully awful... but you can't stop watching it! It all boils down to the dancing song. I can't stop laughing every time I hear it! If you're into B rated movies, this is definitely your flick! I've had this movie for almost two years and I still can't stop watching it.



2. Yikes! I love watching Christmas cartoons but I didn't love watching Pinocchio's Christmas, it was awful and really lame and I can't believe it's a Rankin and Bass production. It Must have been an off day for them when they thought of this one!



3. Yikes! I love watching Christmas cartoons but I didn't love watching Pinocchio's Christmas, it was painfully bad and really lame and I can't believe it's a Rankin and Bass production. It Must have been an off day for them when they thought of this one! It's beyond tacky!



4. PLOT: Pinnocchio is told about christmas by Gepetto, who gives him an early present. Pinnochio sells it to buy a present for Gepetto, and along the way gets caught lying. The bad Fox and Cat trick him into burying his money to grow a tree of silver and gold. Pinnochio goes to work in a puppet show, and rescues a girl puppet, then hides in the enchanted woods. Pinnochio lands up at the North Pole, teaching toys how to dance. Later the Fox and Cat sell him as a present to a rich Duke for his kids, and when Pinnochio learns that the busy Duke only spends 3 minutes with his kids on Christmas he makes him change his ways.
   
   BACKGROUND INFO: This show is a 1 hour TV special that first aired on ABC on December 3, 1980. Made 16 years after Rudolph, the technical ability of the studio Animimagic stop motion work made the action more life-like than ever before. For one thing the puppets themselves are better made than ever before, and the stop-motion is more fluid than any other show they had made before. Pinnocho is voiced by Ted Porter. The cricket is voiced by Robert McFadden, who did other work for the studio. George Irving as Gepetto, Alan King as the voice of Maestro, Allen Swift, Diane Leslie, and Pat Bright also lend their voices. Written by Romeo Muller. The music is by Maury Laws, who wrote the music for Rudolph and many other shows. While Jules Bass wrote the lyrics for many of the specials, the yrics were by Julian Gardener. Character design was by Paul Coker Jr. who did the design for most of the shows from Rankin/Bass, both cel animated and animagic. He did all the characters for 'Year Without a Santa Claus' for example.
   
   If you are a Rankin/Bass fan, give this title a chance, it's better than it sounds. It is loaded with 7 songs including, "Gonna Get lucky, Knock on Wood"; I Never Know What Gifts to Buy, Do You?"; "The Very Best Friend I Ever Had"; "Let 'Em Laugh"; "It's the Truth"; "The Perfect Gift for Christmas Day"; and "Dancin'", surely the best song in the special.
   
   Their studio has brought us such memorable holiday classics such as Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Year without a Santa Claus, Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey, Mad Monster Party, The Little Drummer Boy, Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Mouse on the Mayflower, Here Comes Peter Cottontail, Cricket on the Hearth, the Stingiest Man in Town, Jack Frost, Pinnochio's Christmas, Rudolph's Shiny New Year, the First Easter Bunny. They also made non-holiday films such as the Hobbit, Flight of Dragons, the Last Unicorn. It is incredible that one company is responsible for all those TV specials, 95% of the ones we see every year. Their work includes standard animation, stop-motion animagic, and live action. I hope this comes out on a restored DVD soon, I have bought all the other Rankin/Bass that have been released on DVD.



5. I've always loved the immortal story of Pinocchio and of course treasure the classic animated Disney film released in 1940 that continues to enchant viewers of each new generation. It has been an absolute joy this last Christmas gone then to finally see this delightful Rankin and Bass "animagic", which originally premiered on television back in 1980 but strangely doesn't seem to be as well remembered as the other much loved specials that Rankin and Bass produced such as "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer", and "Frosty the Snowman". "Pinocchio's Christmas", offers a different slant on the famous character of Pinocchio this time placing him in a Christmas setting and the charming little story combined with the excellent animagic stop motion work makes for a truly beautiful little Christmas special that deserves to be seen more often during the festive season.

No comments about Planet's Funniest Animals: Holiday Spectacular.