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Summary: Peanuts lover from Tampa
Review: I just love this Peanuts cartoon, it brings me back to the simple times of the 60's and 70's and I fondly remember when I first saw this, I had just arrived in this country and so whenever I see it I go back to that time. Christmas was nicer and more fun then. Charles SHultz was a great man to have done Peanuts and I can see his heart felt feelings in each cartoon. Everyone will enjoy this Christmas cartoon and the message it has.
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Summary: A Christmas classic!
Review: This holiday themed edition of the "Peanuts" series has Charlie Brown feeling depressed over the commercialism of Christmas. It also has him directing a Christmas play and in search of the perfect tree. Among the highlights, Linus eloquently stating the real meaning of Christmas, the whole gang dancing while Charlie Brown tries to direct the play and Lucy's attempt to use psychology to get to the root of Charlie's holiday depression. A great cartoon to show the whole family!
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Summary: Return of the Missing Scene
Review: Aside from the excellent transfer, the DVD also contains a scene that was omitted from the network broadcasts for many years, no doubt to make room for more commercials. It immediately followed the scene where the characters are catching snowflakes on their tongues. They are shown throwing snowballs at an old tin can on a fence. When this scene ends, it slowly stops snowing and Charlie Brown goes to Lucy's Psychiatric Help stand. This explains the abruptness in the network broadcasts and older videocassette releases when one moment it's snowing and the next it's not as well as the obvious cut in the background music. I haven't looked at the supplemental material yet (I would've preferred an old interview with Charles Schulz on the making of this special), but just having the complete, uncut program makes this DVD worth the price.
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Summary: A Christmas Surprise
Review: Charlie Brown takes a wonderful season and makes it into a disaster.Charlie Brown goes to Lucy for some help. She wants him to direct the school's Christmas play. Charlie Brown makes everything go wrong. Lucy and all of the other people say he should go get a big aluminum Christmas tree. Everyone is dissapointed about Charlie Brown's small tree. Back home, Charlie Brown sees that Snoopy's dog house won first prize. Well, everyone from the play comes and decorates Charlie Brown's little aluminum tree. Charlie Brown comes put and sees the tree. Then, they all sing and that's the end of the movie.
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Summary: "Of all the Charlie Browns...you're the Charlie Browniest!"
Review: With all the Christmas Specials around, no Christmas should be without this one! There are so many beautiful scenes, it is difficult to pick just one or two special ones. I like how Charlie Brown insists on "adopting" a puny-looking little tree to decorate for the Christmas Padgeant. Another great moment is when Linus speaks about the fact that Christmas has lost its true meaning and has evolved into commercialism. Snoopy upstages everyone (as usual), showing off his many hidden talents. Like all Charlie Brown features, this one also has a happy ending. Treat your kids and yourself to this timeless classic! Charles M. Schultz, you've come up with another winner!
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Summary: Linus tells us what Christmas is all about
Review: Charlie Brown wants to know what Christmas is all about and Linus has the answer. Can you imagine any other show daring to give that same answer today? Just a gentle reminder from Charles Schulz that the simplest answers are always the best.
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Summary: Subversive,wry,magnificent.
Review: Simply, this is the best Christmas show ever produced.If it were made presently,the edge would be off, the sountrack would be sung by various"divas" and teen hearththrobs,and Charlie Brown himself would different. This masterpiece,which was awarded a Peabody[and an emmy],is no less than a subtle,full frontal attack on Christmas as it is now celebrated.By using the beloved Peanuts characters.Schultz gets away with something that now he would be censored for. The plot,known to most,is simple. In this first Peanuts special, Charlie Brown,hapless everyman with a good great heart,is looking for the soul of ChristmAS.With his intrepid buddy Linus[and his ever present security blanket],he becomes the head [director ]of the local christmas pagent. When he is sent out to buy a christmas tree , well, you'll see.Linue delivers the most accurate summation of christmas known to exist.No teacher,scholar,theologian,etc.could ever touch this.The ending,itself is perfect.Vince Guaraldi's score is now legendary,and if anything is UNDERRATED.For a few years CBS used to,this is delicious irony,cut off the ending to bring a commercial!Boy,they sort of missed the boat,hunh?Do yourself a favor,buy this,play it whenever you get depressed.Better than prozac,and no side effects.I'd give it 10,20,30 stars!!!!!!!!!!
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Summary: Just a 30 Minute Cartoon, Or More?
Review: Well, I was never really a big Peanuts fan. But, this deserves special attention. From the start, Charlie grabs us. The truth is that many people get depressed around Christmas; and since Charlie feels that no one likes him, he especially gets depressed. (Holidays always seem to rub it in if we feel alone.) Also, he is disturbed at the huge commercial aspects of Christmas. Charlie is then called upon to direct a Christmas play and get a tree for the play. It is clear that the other children are distant from Charlie, and it is also clear that they expect a tree that will reflect the commercialized aspect of Christmas. He takes a stand and buys the tree that seems to need a friend. Linus' role is very well done here. Notice he does not criticize the tree itself or Charlie's intentions! But he is concerned that Charlie will be taunted for this. The next scene is done well. Charlie tried (even if unkowingly) to bring the true meaning of Christmas into a crowd that concentrated on the commercial aspects. As Linus fears, Charlie was in fact taunted and mocked for carrying the true meaning of Christmas in a commercial society. When Charlie is mocked, Linus (who also seemed to be carrying the true meaning of Christmas) shows bravery and confronts everyone with the true meaning of Christmas. It is almost as if he carried it, but was afraid to unleash it; and when he saw Charlie show bravery that he would be mocked for, he felt he had an obligation to act. Through this, the mood of the children change. So, Charlie and Linus carry the true meaning of Christmas in a society that does not; Charlie is mocked and taunted; Linus feels compelled to step in; the mood of the whole gang changes for the better. Even if you don't really care for The Peanuts, you should watch this.
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Summary: It's failer time at Christmas for Charlie Brown
Review: Charlie Brown starts out by talking to his best friend, Linus about how he is not happy at Christmas time. he says, "I like decorating, and giving presents, but I'm still not happy" then Linus informs Charlie, "Charlie Brown, you're the only person I know who can take a great holiday like Christmas and turn it into a problem. Like Lucy says, of all the Charlie Browns in the world your the Charlie Brownest." Everyone in the cartoon thinks that Christmas is getting too commercial. Lucy thinks that Charlie Brown has Pantaphobia which is the fear of everything. Also she thinks he needs involvement to feel better so Charlie Brown becomes the director of the school play. He then is givin the task of getting a Christmas tree, but just finds more failer. So watch the first animated peanuts cartoon.
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Summary: A Christmas Tradition!
Review: Watching "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is as traditional as decorating the tree at our house. Although this video is quite old, the lesson of remembering the true meaning of Christmas is definately not outdated. The catchy theme song and Linus's explaining the true meaning of Christmas will never be out of style! This is a video that families can watch together and BOTH parents and kids will enjoy. It shares its wisdom in a way that is fun, not preachy or too heavy for children. In my opinion, this is a far better Christmas special than many new ones that are being produced!
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