No comments about Scottish Christmas Celebration.

No comments about Gumbys Holiday Special.

1 comments about The Story of Christmas.

1. I can't decide if I liked this DVD or not. The animation from 1994 leaves a lot to be desired compared to the fantastic CGI of today. And the dialogue was a little... how shall I say... canned. But I really didn't mind that it was basic. That's what I was looking for: something basic for my preschool age children.
   
   What I didn't like was that it was a little too intense. The story, told from a donkey's perspective, seems to be more focused on King Herod and his jealousy than on Jesus himself. The film starts with the villainous Herod and keeps going back to his murderous intent on Jesus life. Of course they don't "show" anything, but the terrified mothers and the vicious looking soldiers raising their weapons were enough to give you a good picture of what happened in Bethlehem and why Jeremiah prophesied that there would be great weeping there. The story then follows Joseph and Mary as they take their child to Egypt to protect him from assassination. I can't remember ever seeing a film portray the time Jesus spent in Egypt and, as an adult, I enjoyed this segment of the film quite a bit. I feel like it gave me a better perspective on who Jesus was. (One of Rich Mullin's final uncut songs comes to mind: "My Deliverer" on The Jesus Record. Terrific stuff.) Even so, it was too much for my kids. A good chunk of the film's 45 minutes was "scary" for them. Not how I want them to remember their first nativity movie.
   
   Now that I think about it, this DVD follows Matthew 2 very closely. Nothing wrong with that. It's just not the gentle Luke 2 version to which we are more accustomed. Maybe I need to change my perspective. The Bible deals with reality and reality is that Jesus did threaten Herod's world, and ultimately He rocks the world of every person. Like CS Lewis noted in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia), "Safe?...Who said anything about safe? Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."
   
   Still, I think I'll wait until my kids are a little older before we use this DVD again.

5 comments about Stingiest Man in Town.

1. I really hope they release this one on DVD. It's the most magical and tender version of Dickens's inmortal tale, filled with songs so powerful that will recall that child within you, felling the glow of Xmas the way It's meant to. It's a family tradition to share this animated treasure for us and it just gets better every year. It is just timeless



2. While this is mostly the Scrooge story that we all know so well, there are some nice ideas thrown in to make it stand out and work well in it's musical format. Because first and foremost, this is a musical. This special has more songs than any other work by Rankin/Bass, the whopping 11 songs include "Yes, There is a Santa Claus", Birthday Party of the King", "One Little Boy, "Sing A Christmas Carol", "Merry Christmas Uncle Scrooge", "The Chain Song", "An Old Fashioned Christmas", "Song of the Christmas Spirit", "Listen to the Song of the Christmas Spirit", "Golden Dreams", "It Might Have Been", and of course the title song "The Stingiest Man in Town". Janice Tore wrote the lyrics, which is unusual in that Jules Bass wrote the lyrics for many of the Rankin/Bass specials. Music supervision by Maury Laws, music arranged and conducted by Bernard Hoffer.
   
   Rankin/Bass studio made yet another hit holiday film with this television special that first aired on NBC on December 23, 1978 in a 1 hour format. Walter Matthau as Scrooge (his son Charles voiced the boy at the end), and Tom Bosley as B.A.H. Humbug the cricket, mostly a narrator. Dennnis Day who stars as Fred, also did work in Frosty's Winter Wonderland. The famous voice actor Paul Frees appears as the Ghost of Christmas Past. Robert Morse as Young Scrooge. Character design was by Paul Coker Jr who did almost every film by Rankin/Bass, both Animagic and traditional cel animation. Screenplay by Romeo Muller, the most prolific writer at the studio. This was one of the most expensive efforts put on by the studio. While it did not reach the cost of a theatrical animated feature, the 150 person animation staff spent $1.5 million.
   
   This is a very nice film from the holiday entertainers of Rankin/Bass Studio and I highly reccommend. Their studio 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, 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.



3. Havnig played Belle in this show twice on stage, it has always been close to my heart. We videotaped the show off the TV back when it first aired and I can still remember singing along with all the songs - especially It Might Have Been (Belle's song). They seem to release and re-release many of the Rankin Bass specials year after year, but this one is ignored. If all you can get is the VHS, get it. Share it with your kids. It's better than Finney's Scrooge musical and has all the charm of the usual R/B specials.



4. According to Warner Home Video's website, "Stingiest Man in Town" will be part of this collection of Rankin/Bass Christmas shows: Classic Christmas Favorites. I am thrilled to know this is finally being released on DVD!
   
   Okay, all that aside...honestly the closeups of Marley's face on the door knocker gave me nightmares as a kid. To this day I can barely watch that short moment in the cartoon or hear the music in the background. Other than that, I absolutely love this movie and have since childhood. Walter Matthau made a great singing Scrooge, the animation was well executed and it's something I wish was still shown on TV.



5. This is the very first rendition of A Christmas Carol I ever saw, even before Mickey's Christmas Carol. The vocies, the songs, the music, LOVE THEM ALL!!!

5 comments about Scooby-Doo's A Nutcracker Scoob.

1. Two words--Scrappy Doo. And where is Velma? Even my 4-year-old got tired of this one after a couple of viewings. If you're not sure whether to get this one or not, do your wallet a favor and rent it first!



2. This is one of the worst Scooby videos I have ever seen. The animation was really poor quality and the plot silly. My kids are big Scooby fans but even they only watch this video rarely. If you liked Scrabby doo maybe it will appeal to you, but for those of us who grew up with Scobby, this is a thumbs down Scrabby toon.



3. Alright. Granted, this is not the best Christmas special out there. But it's not horrible either. It is a fine tea sipper and Christmas cookie chewer in the midst of the season. The animation and the story are decent. Scooby, Shaggy, and Scrappy offer some comical moments. I don't know why Velmah is missing. This is certainly not Scooby's best episode, but the mislead is well done, and there is a nice element of surprise in the end. Fred and Daphne are fine as the level headed normal gang members that provide a contrast to the antics of Shaggy and Scooby. Guest character Mr. Nickleby is well drawn. (Undoubtedly Ralph Nickleby was borrowed from Charles Dickens' "Nicholas Nickleby.") Other episodes are better drawn, but the pace of this is fine, and there is a snow chase that adds some welcome action. Without ruining the ending for those of you who have not seen it, there is a nice element of redemption that deviates from the standard Scooby episodes. I grant this is not the most essential Christmas Special, but give it a chance. You may be pleasantly surprised.



4. With the new live action movie out in theaters, everything with the name "Scooby Doo" on it is turning to gold- or at least selling like gold. This compilation video is not gold. I sat my five year old son down in front of the television, and we started the hour long videotape.

   The video features four cartoons altogether, and I have included their individual star ratings at the end of their mini-review:

   "A Nutcracker Scoob" features Scooby Doo, Shaggy, Daphne, Fred, and Scrappy Doo (Velma is nowhere to be seen on the whole tape except for previews of other videos). The gang are at a children's home where a ghost pops up during rehearsals for "A Christmas Carol," and tries to find a hidden emerald. The supreme red herring suspect appears in the form of one Winslow Nickleby, whose family used to own the building. The guys carry on with the show and catch the real "ghost." This episode is from a later series of Scooby Doo adventures, and features the most annoying opening theme song and credits ever done. Also, watch for the French maid, and give yourself a quarter if you can understand more than three words she says. The animators also decide to drive their viewers blind: all the backgrounds are shot in very soft focus, but the main characters are sharply defined. My eyes started playing tricks on me, not knowing what to concentrate on. Throw in a doe-eyed orphan named Tiny Tina, who talks to her stuffed bear, Teddy, and you will be wishing for the old days of just plain bad animation. **

   "Alaskan King Coward" has Shaggy, Scooby Doo, and Scrappy Doo in the Alaskan tundra, digging for gold. They dig up a frozen monster instead, and spend the rest of the episode running away from it. No mystery, no villain muttering "those meddling kids," just an overdose of the always annoying and unpopular Scrappy Doo. The monster, which looks like a sabre toothed dinosaur, is badly drawn, changing sizes from scene to scene. **

   Next on the tape are two Bonus Cartoons: Squiddly Diddly stars in "The Ghost is Clear." An entertainer squid, he leaves his home at the theme park Bubbleland to play at a child's ghost's birthday party. The child then begins terrorizing him with everything from turning invisible to showing him his basement dwelling vicious pets. The child's parents look just like Elmer Fudd and Fred Flintstone's mother-in-law, and the child, Wilbur, is given a high pitched grating voice that wreaked havoc on my ears. This is really dull and unfunny, even to my five year old test subject...I mean, son. *

   Finally, The Cartoon Network world premieres Shake and Flick in "Raw Deal in Rome." Shake is a dog, Flick is a flea, and they both make like Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, as Shake tries to entertain some Romans while Flick tries to get in his fur and bite him. Soon, they are introducing fighter jets and nuclear warheads into the battle, making you wonder why this thing was set in ancient Rome in the first place. This was a little gory as well, as Shake as the ability to shed his skin and muscles in one scene. This is the kind of cartoon "The Simpsons" makes fun of on their "The Itchy and Scratchy Show" blood drenched cartoons. One funny scene: Shake's ride up the elevator. **

   All in all, my five year old was entertained, and that is important, but I was bored silly. I used to love Scooby Doo as a kid, and the original series' episodes still have a charm about them that subsequent series (and, apparently, the live action film) are not able to recapture. The Christmas angle of the tape is tenuous. You have the Christmas themed first episode, but just a brief Santa Claus sighting in the second episode, and nothing to connect to Christmas in the bonus cartoons. Children may like this, but adults beware. I cannot recommend this video.

   Unrated- Physical violence, some gun violence, mild gore




5. i love scooby doo i mostly like the holiday ones too like the christmas ones those are the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No comments about 'Twas the Fight Before Christmas (McGee and Me! #09 Video).

2 comments about Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.

1. Buy this DVD for the Infant Holy, Infant Lowly performance!!! A performace beyond this life for sure...
   
   The transition from Infant Holy, Infant Lowly to Peter Graves reading of Luke Ch. 2 sends a shiver to my soul.
   
   Otherwise, great performaces of traditional Christmas songs. Only wish they had male performer to accompany Audra McDonald.



2. Audra McDonald sounds fantastic... I'm an instant fan!
   Everything looks and sounds as perfect as you could imagine. This will easily be your favorite Christmas DVD that's great to watch any time of the year.
   How can I be just the second person to write a review for this fantastic audio and visual treat? By all rights, there should have been hundreds of fantastic reviews before I ever even thought of putting my thoughts down.

5 comments about Halloween 4 - The Return of Michael Myers - Limited Edition Tin.

1. The spooky atmosphere makes these films. I recommend this Film to anyone. My favourite movies are pts 1-5. Pt 1 - 3 brings me back to my youth and the DVD transfers are fine, if you are after something intelligent, this is not for you, for the films are a fun and entertaining session of good-looking horny teens getting slashed. Not great but what the hell its all popcorn stuff anyway. If anyone is interested in Halloween collectables, email taylor5821@hotmail.com



2. To me Halloween four was the best of the series. What a way to reinvigorate the franchise. I watched this after recently seeing the remade Halloween, and have to say. This one is still the best.
   
   The suspense is great as you watch Jamie try to escape from Michael Myers. Donald Pleaseance returns in his role as a driven Dr. Loomis.
   
   I broughbt the Divimax to help comlete my collection of Halloween films, and was pleasantly surprised by the picture and sound quality. It was definately worth the price and still managed to entertain after all this time.



3. After the insulting part 3, Hollyweird wised up and brought Michael back.
   This was good and bad, good to have Michael back, bad because like part 2 it continues to veer further and further away from Carpenter's original vision.
   Bloody, gory, a somewhat interesting story line.
   I have a hard time recommending this to anyone but the most diehard Halloween fans.
   If your curious though, give it a shot, you might like it better than I did.
   But I though the series should have stopped with part 2 and THEN brought back with H2O.



4. The Halloween series should've ended with Halloween III. The fourth in the series opens the door to make lots of cash for the creators and do absoultely nothing for the art of film making. Michael Myers died at the end of Halloween II after being shot in the eyes by Laurie, blinding him permanately yet he still manages to go on a killing spree and murder a dozen people. Made with no talent or imagination. John Carpenter and Debra Hill got out while the going was good. They had brains, unlike the audience that this, and the continuing sequels were made for.



5. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers is an okay sequel but nothing special. Michael Myers sister has died and now he's after Jamie played great by Dainelle Harris. Dwight H. Little has crafted a film with good camera work but the scares are little & few and the ending is choppy.

5 comments about The Legend of Frosty.

1. Legend of Frosty is a warm, endearing movie that is true to the original while being original in its own right. The story, characters, and animation were on par with my favorite holiday specials, and Burt Reynolds was perfect as the narrator. More importantly, the toughest critics of all, my kids, loved it more than I did. It's a great movie to watch with the whole family.



2. 
   This movie is a great update of the classic, with the added insight of today's world. It's got humor that appeals to today's kids and voices they're familiar with: the guys who do Spongebob and Patrick!! (Burt Reynolds is great to hear narrating and singing--he's from my era!) This version, finally, holds my kids' attention. I am relieved to have a good Christmas (Holiday) movie for my kids to watch, without having to overcome some of the dated references. Wholesome, funny, fast-paced. Well done!
   
   My kids are running around my house quoting the movie--which is the true barometer of a good movie these days. They've probably burned a laser-hole in the DVD by now!
   
   Highly recommended DVD.



3. I watched the DVD with my 7 year old daughter and I must say that I never thought I would enjoy it so much. And not only was the movie great, but so were the games. She just wanted to play them over and over again. I highly recommend this movie to everyone as it reminded me of my childhood.



4. Watched this dvd with my 5-year old son this weekend. He absolutely loved it. And I was very surprised how entertaining it was. Watching this video will definitely become a holiday tradition for our family.



5. Well,I watched this movie on Cartoon Network and it was great!
   About January weekends 2006,I'll purchase this!
   By the way,I think Tommy is so cool because...........................................he did the goods for Mayor of Evergreen!

5 comments about Christmas with the Kranks [UMD for PSP].

1. Ok, so I was searching for some movies to buy for my grandpa, and came across this one. I didn't buy it, but I saw it on T.V.
   
   This movie is SO unrealistic. Everyone in the Kranks' neighborhood is upset that they aren't going to celebrate Christmas. That's the jist of it, but what about Jewish people or those who celebrate Kwanzaa? The plot is just so dumb. It's an unbearable movie.



2. This is a great fun to watch Christmas comedy with a heatwarming ending.
   My family enjoys watching it 2 or 3 times every Christmas Season.



3. This movie was just boring. The first time watching it, I was fast-forwarding through it just to get somewhere. I'm giving it alittle more than 1 star though, because there were a few funny moments. It's a shame, it seemed like it could have been really cute.



4. This movie is a feel good movie with some great laughs. Don't have super high expectations and you will enjoy. The end is very touching.



5. I love this movie! It starts off where your not thrilled with either side - but then shows you the true meaning of Christmas Spirit - love, family, community and how we all should come together for each other.