By: preme | On: 31 Dec, 2009
Amazon.com
This 44-minute musical Christmas movie finds Pooh, Tigger, Darby, and the rest of everyone’s favorite characters from the Hundred Acre Wood enjoying a busy Christmas Eve filled with Christmas preparations and dreams about what they hope to receive from Santa. When Roo and Lumpy discover a fancy red bag in the snow and then stumble upon a young reindeer named Holly caught in a thicket, they find out that the bag they’ve found is Santa’s magical toy sack and that without it, Santa may have to cancel Christmas. When Holly is unable to remember which direction leads home, Roo and Lumpy sound the super sleuth siren and the whole gang sets off for the North Pole to return Santa’s bag. Using their knowledge of the North Star to guide them, the hopeful group makes their way toward the North Pole, but finds the road difficult and full of danger. Can the group make it to Santa in time to save Christmas by working together? Will their individual Christmas wishes eve (more…)
By: preme | On: 30 Dec, 2009
Amazon.com
This 1962 special marked the last hurrah of Mr. Magoo, who starred in 43 cartoon shorts, including two Oscar® winners, from the UPA Studio between 1949 and 1959. Magoo appears as Scrooge in a Broadway production of “A Christmas Carol” in this minimally animated hour. The play-within-the-show features forgettable songs by Jules Styne and Bob Merrill: Tiny Tim (“played” by the animated character Gerald McBoing-Boing) sings, oddly, of “razzle berry dressing” and “woofle jelly cake.” This retelling of Dickens’s holiday standard is much tamer than Richard Williams’s Oscar-winning adaptation: the ghosts aren’t scary, nor does Magoo confront the specters of Ignorance and Want. Small children who might be frightened by more dramatic versions of the story will enjoy this mild program. And the self-satisfied chuckles and bromides Jim Backus gives Magoo in his lighter moments remain as delightful as ever. This film is suitable for ages 6 and older. –Charles Solomon
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By: preme | On: 25 Dec, 2009
Amazon.com
The classic Dickens’ tale A Christmas Carol gets a Barbie makeover in this animated holiday program about the evils of selfishness. As Barbie and Kelly are preparing for a Christmas Eve charity fundraiser, Kelly complains that the new event is interfering with the family’s Christmas Eve traditions. Barbie takes the opportunity to tell her sister an important Christmas story set in Victorian England. The story is in essence the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge, but with Eden Starling (Barbie) standing in for Scrooge, Catherine for Bob Cratchit, and young orphan Tammy for Tiny Tim. Eden is a self-centered star whose new stage show is about to open and who lives her life by the decree that “In a selfish world, the selfish succeed.” Completely lacking in Christmas spirit, Eden insists that her best friend and costume designer Catherine, as well as her other co-stars, cancel their holiday plans to work on Christmas day. Eden’s peaceful Christmas Eve s (more…)
By: preme | On: 24 Dec, 2009
Spend the most wonderful time of the year with your favorite purple pal in this “dino-mite” Christmas classic. Join Barney and friends as they take a musical journey to the North Pole where they are greeted as special guests at Santa’s Workshop. With music in the air and presents everywhere, it’s a dream come true as Santa unveils his secret toys for this year’s Christmas. Watch in wonderment as Mrs. Claus takes the kids on an enchanted train ride through Santa’s Toy Factory. Then it’s off to a gift-wrapping party where everyone helps Santa put the finishing touches on this year’s presents. Give the gift of music and laughter in this classic collection of Christmas treats!
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By: preme | On: 23 Dec, 2009
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938) Reginald Owen portrays Charles Dickens’ holiday humbug Ebenezer Scrooge, the miser’s miser who has a huge change of heart after spirits whisk him into the past, present and future. From sets to stars to story, this triumphant adaptation adds a glow to the season. Like Tiny Tim’s benediction, it blesses us – every one. CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945) A magazine columnist totally devoid of the homemaking skills espoused in her column had better get some fast: her boss has invited himself and a recently returned war hero to her home for Christmas. Laughs, romance, holiday cheer: that’s the recipe Barbara Stanwyck and a stellar company follow in this perennial favorite. IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVENUE Home for the holidays! GI families hit by the post-World War II housing crunch take over an abandoned New York City mansion. THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER In the third of their four screen pairings, Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart engage in re (more…)