A Charlie Brown Christmas

Rating:
Summary: I Feel Depressed...
Review: ...if I don't get to see this each year. I've been watching it since I was knee high to a grass-hopper. Snoopy and the gang are great but what really made this is the Vince Guaraldi Music.

Rating:
Summary: Annual must see for Peanuts fans.
Review: Yes, it's campy. Yes, it has sub-standard animation. But, you can't beat the feeling you get when watching it. This special takes me back to my younger years every time I see it. I have never seen an aluminum Christmas tree, but I always marvel at the sight of a lot with dozens of them.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent for all audiences
Review: This is a great video for having fun while remembering that the true meaning of Christmas, as Linus reminds us, is to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Animated Xmas feature
Review: Charlie Brown searches for the true meaning of Christmas in a world besieged by commercialism. The story Charlie Brown's quest works on a number of different levels, making it worthwhile viewing for children and adults. This half-hour special hits the mark with its message, its wit, music and charm.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: I loved A Charlie Brown Christmas growing up, but didn't know if it would truly hold up for the next generation - my daughter. Well, she's 19 months old now and she's been watching it since her first birthday - she asks to see it a couple times a week! She absolutely adores it, so even though it's summer - it's Christmas with the Peanuts gang in our house! You MUST let your little one's experience the magic of this wonderful show.

Rating:
Summary: Holiday Tradition
Review: when I was growing up, during the week before Thanksgiving, I would pull out my copy of 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' and would watch it constantly until Christmas, its one of my FAVORITE holiday movies of all time. I recently started my own tradition with my little ones by introducing them to this movie, and each year as the holidays start to arrive they beg me to pull it out and we watch it every day until Christmas.

Rating:
Summary: The Peanuts Gang and the True Meaning of Christmas
Review: This was the first Peanuts special and while the animation techniques have certainly improved over the years "A Charlie Brown Christmas" remains the best of the bunch because it has so much heart. For that matter, there might be other animated Christmas shows that are as good, but none of them are any better than this one, and that includes the Grinch. Okay, everybody tick off their favorite parts from this Holiday classic along with me and feel free to use your toes once you have used all your fingers: the kids skating on the pond, Snoopy skating on the pond, Lucy explaining how Christmas is run by a big eastern syndicate, Schroeder playing Jingle Bells on his toy piano, Charlie Brown finding a Christmas tree, Snoopy winning the decorating contest, and even above and beyond Vince Guaraldi's beloved musical score, there is Linus' explanation of what Christmas is all about. What other Christmas special is as explicit as "A Charlie Brown Christmas" of the true meaning of December 25th? You know, ever year when I watch this, I even sort of miss the commercial for Dolly Madison that were built into the show. I also think that the voices of the Peanuts gang, especially Peter Robbins as Charlie Brown and Christopher Shea as Linus, have never been as perfect as they are in this first outing. This is one of those rare videos that brings back your childhood in a rush of vibrant memories and feelings.

Rating:
Summary: Don't listen to the others!
Review: Even though this TV is now almost 40 years old, it has surely stood the test of time and is still relevant today. Basically, Charlie Brown is upset that Xmas has become too commercialised. He wants to enjoy it but can't because of the shallow, money-grabbing opportunity he sees all around him.

The gang try to cheer him up by letting them direct their Xmas play. He finds it a major stain at first but soon finds it easy being an artistic tyrant. But they need an Xmas tree and the only one Charlie can afford is practically a twig. It needs a lot of love, which the gang sure do give it.

Also this TV special also features something damn rare in Xmas movies these days; an actual dedication to Jesus. Now, I am not a puritan Christian but there are sooooo many movies that try to find the TRUE meaning of Xmas but none ever mention the birth of Jesus. Weird eh? Definitely one of the better Xmas specials and miles better than Mr Magoo Xmas Carol or Denver the Last Dinosaur Save Santa.

Second on this DVD is It's Christmas Time Again, Charlie Brown. When compared to the original Charlie Brown Christmas this TV special seems to be less social commentary and more an excuse for gags. It's more cartoony and has more obvious laughs rather than any irony or important things to say.

There's another Xmas play in this 'un. Peppermint Patty is refusing to do any homework and is annoyed that Marcie is playing Mary and she is left with the thankless role of a sheep. Still, she's determined to steal as much scenery as possible. Charlie Brown is selling his old comics to buy an Xmas present for his wannabe girlfriend and his sister Sally has only one word to say in the play 'HARK' but she ends up yelling 'HOCKEY STICK' instead.

More like a series of Peanuts vignettes than a real TV special. But still nice.


The shorts are presented in perfectly adequate 1.33:1 fullscreen, as drawn, with Dolby Mono and Stereo tracks. There are no extras. Also, the Coca-Cola sponsorship ads have been edited out of this DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Of all the Charlie Browns in the world...
Review: ...he's the Charlie Browniest!! I love Charlie Brown, and this Peanuts special is the best one of them all!! If you ever get to feeling like you've forgotten what Christmas is all about, sit down with your kids and watch. Linus will gently remind you that it's not about trees, or presents, or plays. It's about the birth of a baby that gave the world hope. No one has ever said it better! Merry Christmas Charlie Brown!!



Rating:
Summary: Christmastime is here...
Review: Linus' recitation of the Bible and the gang's rendition of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" could make even Scrooge smile. And even Lucy van Pelt admits, "Charlie Brown is a blockhead, but he did get a nice tree." No secularism here.