| Christmas DVDs New and Old by Phil Boatwright |
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FILM SYNOPSIS: Filmed on location in Alaska, the story concerns a small-town, well-liked mayor suddenly challenged by an old rival who has moved back to town. Mitch Bright (Daniel Baldwin) returns under mysterious circumstances after 20 years. His rivalry with Mayor Dan Reed (Ted McGinley) re-ignites when Mitch takes offense at seeing the town’s flagrant violation of the constitution’s Establishment clause. Mitch wants the nativity scene removed from the front of the City Hall and the salutation Merry Christmas switched to Happy Holidays on all signs. In the heat of the legal battle and with Dan facing certain defeat when Mitch runs for mayor, Dan’s wife, Kristen (Nancy Stafford), and their daughter show the true meaning of Christmas, which inspires the entire community. REVIEW: Aided by the pro performances of Ted McGinley and Daniel Baldwin, and infused with comic relief by comedian Brad Stine, Helmut Schleppi directs with a leisurely pace, his story reminding us to love our enemies. It contains redemptive messages, and it displays a respect for God and Christ (prayers are spoken, church is attended and the main characters acknowledge the birth of Christ). I was moved by Christmas with a Capital C and find it the best straight-to-DVD Christmas-themed film I’ve seen since The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey. Snowmen FILM SYNOPSIS: After a surprising discovery in the snow catapults three small-town boys into the spotlight, the best friends hatch a plan to be remembered forever by setting a Guinness World Records® title. Along the way, the trio battles schoolyard bullies, unites their community and discovers that, while fame may be fleeting, true friendship lasts forever. From the producers of The Passion of the Christ and The Ultimate Gift, the film stars Bobby Coleman (The Last Song, Martian Child), Ray Liotta (Wild Hogs), Bobb'e J. Thompson (Role Models), Josh Flitter (Ace Ventura Jr.) and Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future 1-3, Who Framed Roger Rabbit). REVIEW: The film isn’t just a well-meaning “family” film slapped together by amateurs with a minimum budget. Oh, it has a minimum budget, but it also has a charming quality and some powerful thoughts that could leave a positive impression on young minds. I think it’s one kids will watch several times. The DVD contains special features, including bloopers and a director’s commentary. Rated PG (there are two or three minor expletives, but I caught no harsh or profane language; the film does feature a child who is recovering from cancer surgery; there is a fight between some boys, but compassion is the victor; a frozen body is found; a boy almost drowns – he appears to be dead, which may upset little ones, but there is a happy, uplifting ending). From MPower Distribution. Becoming Santa Well, this is the most unusual film on my stocking stuffer list, but I found it to be a compelling documentary. It’s more for adults – especially single adults. Looking for some happiness during the Christmas season, a man decides to become a Santa Claus. He enrolls in Santa School and soon discovers the joy and turmoil of stepping into Kris Kringle’s boots. Though St. Nicholas was a kind-hearted man who gave to the needy, today the Jolly Good Fellow is not so much a religious character as a toymaker/deliverer. But as I said in my review of the remake of Miracle on 34th Street years ago, this film also points out that Santa is a symbol. He embodies love, hope and joy. To little ones, Santa is a superstar. He’s Rick Springsteen. He’s Elvis. He’s John Wayne! He’s magic. Interesting, often touching, it is a gentle reminder that lives are well spent when caring for others. Not rated, I found nothing objectionable. 93 min. No extras on the DVD. Released by Cinema Libre Studio. Fairly New: THE CHRISTMAS BLESSING This sequel to the 2002 CBS TV movie The Christmas Shoes, tells the story of a man’s struggle with his own life choices. Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) is a young doctor who loses his patient on the operating table and begins to rethink his career. He moves back to his small hometown and in with his father as he tries to decide what to do with his life. There he meets a woman, whom he quickly falls in love with, and a young boy in need of a friend. He finds himself questioning God, fate and the fragility of life after he discovers that both these people are also searching for a Christmas miracle. Replete with themes concerning the loss of loved ones and looking out for others, it tells its story well, engaging viewers with fine performances and a savvy mixture of gentleness and sincerity. Though not designed to preach the gospel, it does show reverence for God as scenes play out in a church. And in a way, it celebrates Christ’s loving nature, as several characters begin to place others before themselves. It becomes obvious that something spiritual is happening to these people Classics To Be
Tom Berenger, Joely Richardson. A mysterious recluse also happens to be the best wood carver in the valley. Slowly the woodcutter finds his world transformed by a young boy and his mother who have asked him to carve a yuletide scene. Mr. Berenger gives dimension to his role and the technical and artistic merits each blend together nicely. Containing uplifting messages, it’s one of the best seasonal films I’ve seen in a while.
Keisha Castle-Hughes and Oscar Isaac star as Mary and Joseph in the retelling of the birth of Christ. The filmmakers worked hard to ensure that The Nativity Story was both historically and biblically accurate: There were several Christians involved, such as screenwriter Mike Rich and producer Wyck Godfrey, and a wide spectrum of New Testament scholars and historians were involved in the pre-production process. PG. Prancer (1989) Sam Elliott, Rebecca Harrell, Cloris Leachman. A precocious 8-year-old cares for a wounded reindeer she believes is one of Santa's flying helpers. Not just another film promoting the existence of Santa Claus, its theme is about believing in things unseen. Contains positive lessons about faith, family love (although the father is a bit of a grump - a no-nonsense farmer frustrated with financial problems and single parenting, but we see his love for the children by film's end), spiritual healing, and doing what you believe is right. G. Christmas Favorites:
Jimmy Stewart's George Bailey reminds us that we touch so many lives and can have a real influence on those souls. That’s a pretty incredible message for a Hollywood movie.
Cary Grant and Loretta Young. An angel aids a struggling minister. I marveled at the ending sermon given by the Bishop, played by David Niven. Standing behind his pulpit, the Reverend reminded his parishioners to focus attention on Christ. “All the stockings are filled, except one. We’ve even forgotten to hang it up. The stocking for the child born in a manger. It’s his birthday we’re celebrating. Don’t let us ever forget that. Let us each ask what He would wish for most. And then, let each put in his share.” The Fourth Wiseman Based on the Henry Van Dyke tale of a good magi seeking the birthplace of Jesus, but who, because of his duty to others, is delayed in the desert for 33 years, only to see (from afar) the Savior as He is being crucified. Martin Sheen stars as a devout man searching for the Messiah in order to give valuable treasures. But one by one he sells his priceless gifts to help the needy. Full of compassion and illustrations of how our Lord would have us treat our fellow man.
Miracle on 34th Street (1994) Richard Attenborough, Mara Wilson. The manager of a New York department store hires Kris Kringle to be the store Santa. Soon the old fellow has to convince the woman and her precocious daughter that he truly is Father Christmas. A delight and a rarity, as it is one of the few worthwhile remakes. Full of laughter, poignancy and charm, it is noteworthy for containing both visual and verbal Christian metaphors and points out that Santa is a symbol. Contains a great visual: A cross lit in Christmas lights on the side of a building, centered in the screen with decorated trees outlining the tableau. What an image! It places the true meaning of the holiday at the center of the screen and the story! There's even a Thanksgiving prayer - when is the last time you saw that in a Hollywood production? PG (one expletive; Santa is provoked by the villain, but he later repents). Although Edmund Gwenn and Natalie Wood have nothing to worry about, this newest Miracle is destined to become a classic. The scene where Santa communicates with a little deaf girl is worth the rental price.
John Wayne stars in this western morality tale about three outlaws who come across a dying woman and her newborn baby. The symbolism between the Christ-child and this new foundling has a redemptive effect on the three bandits. Unrated. The Gathering (1977) Ed Asner, Maureen Stapleton. This Emmy-winning TV movie focuses on a dying man's efforts to reunite his family. It reinforces the importance of family. Unrated And For the Child in All of Us:
A perfect animated tale by Charles Schultz with the PEANUTS gang searching for the true meaning of Christmas. Great dialogue, charismatic voice performances and an award-winning jazzy score by Vince Guaraldi. And how often do you hear cartoon heroes quoting from the gospel of Luke? The Little Drummer Boy
How the Grinch Stole Christmas Based on Dr. Seuss’ beloved book, and aided by the voice of Boris Karloff, this delightful animated made-for-TV special from Chuck Jones asks these questions: Can the Grinch steal the town’s holiday spirit by stealing their holiday treats? Or does Christmas mean a little bit more? Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962) This hour-long animated version of A Christmas Carol works for the whole family. Jim Backus’ near-sighted but good-hearted soul is a triumph as Scrooge in this musical adaptation of the Dickens’s classic. Awful Ones While I don’t like being negative, I really found these to be ghastly films. But, we won’t end this list with the misses. See the final film for a real winner. Fred Claus (2007) If It’s A Wonderful Life is the most heartwarming of Christmas classics, and Elf is the silliest, then surely Fred Claus is the angriest. There are a few laughs, but the genial mood is often disrupted by a searing harshness, as if the folks who once gave us Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? were trying their hand with the meaning of Christmas. The resulting experience may be disturbing for little ones, while annoying to adults.' Deck the Halls (2006) Danny DeVito, Matthew Broderick. Here’s the first joke: the mayor of our quaint little setting tells Steve a secret about the police chief being a cross-dresser. Hmmm, that seems like a strange first joke for a film aimed at the family. Suddenly, I’m visualizing parents throughout America’s dimmed movie theaters having to respond to, “Daddy, what’s a cross-dresser?” I’ve said it a hundred times: no one sets out to make a bad movie. But every time I generously offer up that statement, a film like Deck the Halls comes along to challenge that theory. DeVito does DeVito, which is fine, but he seems to be drifting through each scene with all the profundity of a snowfall that won’t stick. And poor Matthew Broderick summons up the same stodgy characterization he’s used in every film post Ferris Bueller, this one more unfunny and unlikable than any previous incarnation. Christmas with the Kranks (2994) Tim Allen plays Luther Krank, a man who decides to skip Christmas in favor of a Caribbean cruise. Ever see The Out-Of-Towners with Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis? It’s a story about a loving couple whose vacation to the Big Apple is fraught with calamity. The comedy is siphoned from their discomfort. Well, humor farmed from pain takes a unique handling by a filmmaker. The Three Stooges could do it. The Out-Of-Towners couldn’t. Neither could the Kranks. The Funniest Holiday Film: Elf
Phil Boatwright reviews films from a family perspective for TVGUARDIAN and several other outlets, and is the author of "Movies: The Good, The Bad, and the Really, Really Bad," available on Amazon.com. He also writes about Hollywood for Movie Reporter. |
Christmas with a Capital C
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
The Nativity Story (2006)
It’s A Wonderful Life
The Bishop's WIfe (1947)
When it comes to the famous Dickens tale, here are three of the best renditions: 
Three Godfathers (1948)
A Charlie Brown Christmas
The very moving seasonal song comes to animated life with the capable voices of Greer Garson, Jose Ferrer, and Teddy Eccles. It puts present-giving in perspective.
After accidentally sneaking into Santa's sleigh, a human baby is raised at the North Pole as an elf. After wreaking havoc in the elf community due to his size, Buddy (Will Ferrell) heads to New York City to find his place in the world and track down his father. But life in the big city is not all sugarplums and candy canes. His father is a "Scrooge" and his eight-year-old stepbrother doesn't believe in Santa. And even the snowmen aren't friendly in New York. Worst of all, everyone has forgotten the true meaning of Christmas, and it's up to Buddy and his simple elf ways to win over his family, realize his destiny and, ultimately, save Christmas for New York. Okay, that “true” meaning here is typical of Hollywood holiday movies. Its “real meaning of Christmas” is about the appreciation of kith and kin, not the birth of the savior of the world. But Elf, thankfully, is not another family adventure bent on convincing the child in all of us that Santa Claus really exists. It’s not trying to convince us of anything. It’s just trying to be funny. Come on, folks, it’s a story about a 6’2” elf! That’s not to say there isn’t a poignant moment or two. Like any Christmas comedy that has stood the test of time, Elf includes a pinch of humanity. The filmmakers are reminding tinsel hangers of the magic found in family. There’s a nice message about fathers and sons connecting. And of course, the Scrooge-like father discovers what’s really valuable. But it’s not a message film. It’s a forget-your-troubles film.