Family > 1964 Family

The Night The Reindeer Died

Advantages: Sense of escapist fun.
Disadvantages: It's cheap hammy nonsense from start to finish.

92. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964) Should I be ashamed when I say this actually made me laugh along with some of the jokes? It’s certainly no finely crafted Bill Murray comedy, or even up to the mediocre standard of a mid series Police Academy film, but it’s not completely without merit. Although for most, it will take a very special frame of mind to avoid drowning yourself in eggnog by the final reel. The story begins with the leader ...
...in the North Pole with Santa Claus. After ten minutes deliberation and consulting a magical 800 year old wise man in a rock garden, he comes to the conclusion that Mars is no fun. Obvious solution: misappropriate Earth’s yearly Christmas festival for the Martians. Most inconsiderately they don’t try to approach Santa off peak and set up a convenient mid-July Christmas on Mars. They instead decide to kidnap him just before the big day. Their ingenious ...

ThePolarOne 22.05.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (DVD)

...Won't you Guide My sleigh tonight?

Advantages: original Rankin Bass animagic puppet film, a couple of nice extras, not overly saccharine
Disadvantages: only available as Region 1

...Sam the Snowman, we follow Rudolph from his birth, when his parents try to disguise his nose, to the discovery that he is a misfit and his subsequent humiliation by the other young reindeer. This scene will endear every child, and was especially powerful for my own 4 year old, who had been terriibly bullied at school. Another misfit is also to hand, an elf who would rather fix teeth than make toys, and together, they conspire to run away. But Christmas ...
...to fly his sleigh. Cue Rudolph and his friend saving the day, that red nose lighting the way. There are many more characters adding to story's theme about the wonderfulness of being different, and how that makes each person special, with a miner and a yeti named Bumble, a legion of abandoned toys, as well as songs that make you want to just sing along. One of the nice things about this dvd is that it is the original, unedited 1964 version, and not ...

Shroud 15.02.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (Animated) (DVD)

Small but certainly Mighty!

Advantages: Good fun story, wonderful animation
Disadvantages: strange looking humans!

The Kingdom of Dor is famous for its soup and once a year the whole kingdom come together to try the new soup which the chef has carefully prepared for them. Things go wrong though when Roscuro the Rat arrives in town and cannot wait to get hold of and sample the soup. As a result of his eagerness he lands in the Queens soup and as a result she faints and then drowns in her bowl of soup. The King now so upset banishes all mice and rats from the Kingdom ...
...is all taking place in the Mouse words a little strange big eared mouse called Despereaux in being born. He is different from the other mice as he does not cower or get scared of cats. He is brave and adventurous. As a result of this he gets to see the Princess and tell her of a story he had just read in the library and she asks him to go on a quest to discover how it ends. When the Mice Kingdom learn of what Despereaux has done he gets banished ...

sewbizzie 15.12.2009 · Read full review
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Review of The Tale Of Despereaux (DVD)

There is a Prisoner on the Loose

Advantages: great story and acting, excellent special effects
Disadvantages: Big chunks of the book missing again

Poor old Harry once again finds himself back at Privet Drive for the school holidays and getting annoyed with his Aunt and Uncle. Things go wrong for Harry when his Uncles sister arrives and starts calling his parents names and he looses control of his magic and she ends up being blown up like a balloon and floating out of the door. Harry decides he has had enough and leaves the house. He accidentally calls the night bus and finds himself being taken ...
...outside of school. Luckily for Harry he gets excused and soon discovers that he is in danger as Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban Prison and he is believed to be after Harry to kill him. Sirius was imprisoned when he was found to be a follower of Voldermort and the one who lead him to the Potters and got them killed. He is believed to be a very dangerous man and the whole wizard community is scared of him. Harry promises the Minister of Magic ...

sewbizzie 11.12.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (DVD)

What is the Chamber's Secret?

Advantages: good story, great effects, great acting
Disadvantages: Big chunks of the book missing

Harry Potter finds himself being back at Privet Drive with his Aunt and Uncle as it is the school holidays, he is quite sad that none of his friends have written to him and is feeling very lonely. He receives a surprise visit from a house elf called Dobby and he soon finds out that his friends have been writing to him and Dobby has been stopping the letters from getting to him. Dobby soon tells Harry that he is not to return to Hogwarts School as ...
...Harry not listening to him Dobby leaves the room and causes havoc at Aunt and Uncles House party which results in Harry being locked in his room. Fortunately for Harry, his best friend Ron and his older brothers arrive in their Father flying car and help Harry escape. Once at Ron’s house Harry feels happy and excited about returning to Hogwarts. The day comes when they are to catch the Hogwarts Express but as Harry and Ron try to get to the platform ...

sewbizzie 10.12.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (DVD)