One Magic Christmas (DVD)

...revivals, so dvd's like this one were readily available, this was purchased from Asda for the sum of £7.00. I believe it is still on sale there and also in Woolworths, though I'm sure Amazon or Ebay have a roaring trade in them, and probably for half the price!!!

My final words…….. I know your tired of them already!!!! If you are after a film that will stretch your emotions to the full, that also contains the warm fuzzy feeling included ... more

Anyone that is familiar with previous reviews written by myself, will be aware of my love for anything Christmas. After a brief conversation on this matter with my mother earlier today, I decided to dust of my Christmas dvd's and get into the Christmas spirit early.

Anyone around my age, (29.…just!), may remember the film I will now review, however before I start I must tell you a little of my childhood Christmas's and thus hopefully explain my adoration of this time of year.

When I was younger, my mother and father were, as many other young family's in the 80's, not particularly well off, and in so being tried to instil into myself and my two siblings a sense of celebration rather than the materialistic aspects of Christmas. In fairness they did it for easter, bonfire night and Halloween, but Christmas will always stick in my mind as being the most magical!
Of all the so called "traditions" that were repeated every year in preparation of the festivities, watching any and all Christmas films was high at the top of the list.

The film I will review is "one magic Christmas", which is a wonderful film from Disney, released 22nd November, 1985, I was 7 years old when I first watched it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SYNOPSIS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The film starts on a beautiful snowy, wintry night in a small suburb in America.
The opening scene shows a man sitting high in a tree playing a harmonica, until a voice appears from nowhere and you suddenly realise who the man is and who is speaking……… "Gideon, Gideon, its me Nicholas. You didn't think I had forgotten you did you? I have a very difficult job for you this year, you must help Ginnie Grainger find her Christmas spirit……….."

The man in the opening shot is actually a Christmas angel, and his mentor,( Santa Claus), gives him his yearly task.

Ginnie Grainger is a young mother of two children ( Abbie and Caleb), who is on the verge of eviction, with a husband who can't get work, no money and more importantly no Christmas spirit, it is Gideons job, (along with a little help from 6 year old Abbie), to help her remember how she loved Christmas as a child.
The film shows of Ginnies struggles against life in general and just see's Christmas as the compounding factor in her problems, she dislikes it so much she hasn't said "Merry Christmas", to anyone in years, claiming that no-one actually means it anyway! Her husband, (Jack), on the other hand is the festive enforcer of the house, even taking on himself the task of decorating a forty foot Christmas tree in the centre of the community, to help bring joy to the lives of so many underprivileged children. On top of this he is also a talented bicycle maker and mender and fixes dozens of broken bikes and gives them to the poorest of the children, which is a sore point and argument starter with Ginnie!!!

After a couple of failed attempts at helping her regain her spirit, Gideon, (the Christmas angel), is forced to move the goal posts so to speak and so sets off a chain of events that change and devastate Ginnies life……… or do they!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MY OPINION~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is, for a Disney film, actually quite a gritty story, including desperation due to circumstance, through to the lighter side of the film including scenes in Santa's workshop!!! Apologies for so few details on the film plot, but unfortunately any more information would spoil it for you!!
This film is a rollercoaster of emotions to the viewer. The film is set around a very poor community and seeing the children talking about how Santa probably won't be coming to them that year brings you to tears let alone the story!!!
It is beautifully acted by Mary Steenburgen, (Ginnie), underplaying the anger that she so obviously feels towards life and not necessarily against Christmas, but of all the actors in this film, the show is stolen by Elisabeth Harnois, (Abbie), who not only looks like an angel but captivates with every word that she speaks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE DVD~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now for the technical bit!!!

Running time - 85 minutes
Rated - U contains mild peril and some violence
Widescreen format
There are no extras on this dvd and can only assume, the reason for this is because it is just a re-release of an old film.

~~~~~~~~~PRICE AND AVAILABILITY~~~~~~~~~

Last Christmas, (when this was purchased), seemed to be the Christmas of retro revivals, so dvd's like this one were readily available, this was purchased from Asda for the sum of £7.00. I believe it is still on sale there and also in Woolworths, though I'm sure Amazon or Ebay have a roaring trade in them, and probably for half the price!!!

My final words…….. I know your tired of them already!!!! If you are after a film that will stretch your emotions to the full, that also contains the warm fuzzy feeling included in most Christmas films, with a traditional soundtrack of beautiful carols, then this a film for you!!!!

Thank you for reading my waffle….. Hope it has been of help to you!!! 

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