Rating: 
Summary: Superb Snowman
Review: "The Snowman" is among my family's enduring few favorite videos. It's just wonderful, marvelous, magic, and all those warm things you say about a great little gem of a show. Basically it's a simple story about a boy who makes a snowman. That night the snowman comes to life, and they have some fun together. The story's all told without words, excepting the lyrics to one song.You'll never appreciate how fantastic this little film is on those terms, though. It's the music, and the graceful timing, and the way the animators worked with the images from the original picture book, and just the whole gently smiling package that wins over everyone who sees this thing. Honest, it's really pretty unusual for me to write unqualified praise of something, but this one deserves it. It's a perfect, flawless kids' show. The music, especially, is just a treat. It's a graceful soundtrack, charmingly woven through the wordless images of the video. One holiday season, I talked myself into buying a new stereo just to play the video tape version of this over more than one speaker. It turned out the sound on our tape was flawed -- we'd worn it out I think -- so I bought a DVD player and the DVD version. Okay, sure, I'd been thinking about DVDs for a while, but this little movie is just THAT good. Why four stars instead of five, then? Well, first of all, the Father Christmas half isn't quite up to The Snowman's standard. It's pleasant enough, but it just isn't quite as charming or well-timed. For some reason they've got an American actor dubbed over the original English one, though the story's clearly set in Britain anyway. Those sound like quibbles, but let's just say I wouldn't go out of my way to watch that one. The other problem is the DVD quality. The first copy we got of this had horrible jitters to the image, actual breakup, as if the disc had been badly mastered. The second copy, which we've kept, won't let you select The Snowman from the main menu; whichever button you use, you go to Father Christmas. (We use the info panel on our player to move to the other title on the disc.) The sound and image quality are fine, if you can get a good copy, but there's a quality control thing going on somewhere. Honestly, though, this disc is worth a tiny hiccup or two. Snowman ranks up there with all the Christmas classics I remember from being a kid -- Charlie Brown's Christmas, Rudolph, and so on. It's got class, and it's fun, and it's beautiful. Buy yourself a new stereo and dig in.
Rating: 
Summary: 2
Review: 10
Rating: 
Summary: the snowman
Review: a wonderful, magical video. My kids watched it when they were little and now are away at college and both have asked for a copy.
Rating:
Summary: A classic must have!
Review: After catching The Snowman a few years back I knew I had to add it to my permanent Christmas collection. I was pleasantly surprised to find it on DVD. I was also pleased that Father Christmas is just as entertaining to watch.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful
Review: Although both animations are lovely, 'The Snowman' is the real masterpiece of the two. The Briggs book is brought to life, and the story is actually enhanced by the lack of narration. Having loved this video since I was young, I wanted to introduce it to my young son (he's 5). I had a suspicion that, as fast-paced as today's shows and games are, he would find this dull. I was pleasantly surprised that the story won out, and that he was into it from beginning to end. (I also recommend the 'Kipper' series of videos for this calm but engaging style of storytelling.) 'Father Christmas' is nice enough. It's a good bonus feature, but isn't quite as wonderful as 'The Snowman,' and doesn't hold my son's interest (or mine) as well. I understand that the British version is racy and lot more charming. Anyhow, it's a real treat to be able to share this movie with my son!
Rating:
Summary: The Snowman Cometh
Review: Although it's a great 2-in-1 treat, The Snowman is by far the superior of the two Christmas tales in this DVD. Told entirely through a gorgeous arrangement of music, and free of dialogue, this story of friendship between a boy and a Snowman literally leaps to life. The soft pastel strokes of animation evoke a dreamlike quality that propels this story into the realm of artistry. While The Snowman is ideal for children of all ages, make no mistake that adults will be moved by this too. No fair to give away the ending, but it's a heartbreaking metaphor for the exact moment in our young lives when we all "grow up"; it's perhaps the most moving thing I've ever seen.
Rating: 
Summary: Agree - Sanitized Father Christmas is Bloomin' Awful!
Review: As the other reviewers state the Americanized Sanitized version of Father Christmas is, well, bloomin awful! The British original in which Father Christmas has a cokney accent and sounds a lot like Bob Hoskins is wonderfully fun. Giving him a BBC accent and taking out all the "Bloomin" and "Blimey" makes it just like all the unimaginative Disney [stuff] out there. Having ranted about Father Christmas though, I can now tell you I LOVE the Snowman. It is magical and enchanting (definately NOT Disney), and you should buy this DVD just for that.
Rating:
Summary: The American Version
Review: Beautiful animation based on Raymond Brigg's Books. Although the Snowman is intact to its origional content. It's a wonderful tale of a boy who builds a snowman who comes to life, and has a north pole adventure in the middle of the night, Meeting santa, and returning home. In the end the snowman melts. Bitter-sweet, and wonderful, its told not in words but in action. Father Christmas has been re-narrated by an american actor. The Charm of the British version is lost. The origional hosts a cranky, cantankerous Brit Santa who, sick of the cold, wet snow-time job, goes on a vacation in different parts of the world. His adventures are full of tongue-in-cheek Brit humor that adults can watch, and children will not notice. The movie shows a Santa who kicks back eats, drinks, gambles in Vegas, and complains along the way. There are even two parts cut out of this version: One is of santa in the outhouse, Second is part of a Scottish pub scene were Santa and the musician there have a few drinks, and He ends up barefoot in the bar dancing with a number of onlookers. It's all tastefully done to British Standards. The American(P.C) version of this show a chipper Santa, and looses all the charm of the origional. Even the song: 'Bloomin Cristmas' looses all humor with an American Voice-over. I recommend this to anyone who wants a dvd of the snowman, but I would skip the whole Father Christmas of this video. Find the origional F.H.E version on Ebay, or somewhere's else.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie for all ages!
Review: Excellent relaxing bedtime Movie. My daugher recieved it for Xmas last year. She watched it every night for 2 weeks . I tried packing it away;. not a chance, she watched it throughout the whole year once or twice a week.
Rating: 
Summary: Sanitized American version
Review: First, the DVD is defective. Only the Father Christmas story plays. This version is a sanitized American version which eliminates the British Engllish expressions that give life to the story. SKIP THIS DVD! If you ever have a chance to see a British PAL video, you'll see why.
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