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Frosty the Snowman/Frosty Returns

Frosty the Snowman/Frosty Returns

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A classic
Review: This was the one that I had to watch growing up. If I missed it on TV I was really upset. I love the fact that I can share this one with my child. She loves it just as much as I did.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not a Smash, But Still Notably Significant
Review: Well, this does not have the captivating qualities of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" or "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer." And unlike other Christmas specials I have rated, I can not really find any deep messages. (A lot of Christmas specials may appear for children, but they actually carry deep and profound messages.) Nevertheless, it is a cute classic; and there are some very comical and touching moments. The most memorable moment is when Santa shows Karen that Frosty can not just melt, and I do admit I laughed when Santa told the magician he had to go home and write "I'm very sorry for what I did to Frosty" one hundred zillion times. I don't think this is the best Christmas special out there, but then I don't feel this should be ignored either.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Fabulous Frosty! But I want more!
Review: Well, what can I say about "Frosty the Snowman?" It is another Rankin/Bass treat that has stood the test of time and become a permanent part of Christmas. It is really great to see these classics making their way to DVD. Frosty is a five star cartoon.

The DVD itself is a little lackluster, and I was tempted not to buy it. There is an introduction by Arthur Rankin Jr. that is much appreciated. It is not unlike the introduction he gives on the Rudolph DVD. The real disappointment comes with the second feature "Frosty Returns." This is not a Rankin/Bass feature, and is particularly poorly done. It looks and sounds like a cheap knock-off. I honestly think that they used recycled "Peanuts" animation. It is really bad.

Boo on you Golden Books.

With the wealth of Rankin/Bass material, including other snowman features like "Frosty's Winter Wonderland" or "Christmas in July," it is a shame to see this classic paired with such a dog. Look to "Year Without a Santa Claus" to see a great treatment of Rankin/Bass classics. Here's hoping Warner Brothers picks up such greats as "Jack Frost" and the "Life and Adventures of Santa Claus," and Golden Book stays away.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Frosty's the Greatest
Review: When Frosty the Snowman (voiced by Jackie Vernon) is magically brought to life thanks to the magic of a hat that belongs to an evil magician (voiced by Billy DeWolfe) the children couldn't be happier. But when Frosty explains to him that he will melt if it gets too hot, they decide that it's up to them to help him get to the North Pole, so he won't ever melt. On their journey they meet many new friends, and adventures, but they also have to avoid the evil magician, for he has decided that he wants his magic hat back, even if he has to melt Frosty to get it.

While the other Rankin / Bass holiday movies such as RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER and SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN, are filmed with clay-type animation, FROSTY THE SNOWMAN is not. It is done simply in the form of a regular cartoon, and even so, it is still one of the most enjoyable holiday movies for children of all ages. Frosty is a kind snowman who wants to please the children more than anything. Karen (the main child chracter) loves Frosty so much, and will do anything to help him. And Hocus (the rabbit who belongs to the evil magician) is very imaginative and intelligent. As well as a hilarious addition to the cast. A must-have movie for all this holiday season.

Erika Sorocco

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Made Me Cry
Review: When I was in the first grade my friends from Pittsburgh sent us a mix video tape with several different christmas movies on it. This was easily one of the best. The movie starts at a class christmas party with a selfish magician (Professor Hinkle). Then at the end of the day the kids build a snowman in the schoolyard. Somehow Professor Hinkle's hat gets lose and the children find it and it brings Frosty to life. To make a long story short, young Karen thinks it's necessary to get frosty to the north pole before he starts to melt. So they hop a train with a refrigerated boxcar to the north pole. The magician hops aboard and wants his hat back.

Some parts are sad like when Frosty melts in the green house, Jimmy Durante does a wonderful job of narration and singing. It gets emotional at the end when He sings "Frosty the snowman had to hurry on his way, but he waved good bye saying don't you cry. I'll be back on Christmas Day!"

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A "must see" for all ages
Review: When I watched this as a kid, I was always sad that Frosty melted. Now I see all kinds of analogies in the story. Deep meaning aside, my kids love this cartoon and so do I. A classic for Christmas!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "Happy Birthday!" to Frosty in DVD
Review: Who didn't grow up watching Frosty ?

Certain Christmas traditions were inevitable where I grew up: no school (yea!), toys (obviously), snowball fights and sled races (yea again!) and of course, christmas cartoons. "Frosty the Snowman" was already a classic when I was a kid and time has changed nothing about the tale of a Snowman brought to life by a magical tophat. Memorable vocal contributions by Jimmy Durante (whose unique song-stylings turn his rendition of the Frosty song into the stuff of legend), Billy De Wolfe (tricky, tricky, tricky, Professor Hinkle), and the unforgettable Jackie Vernon as the bellywhopping magical man of snow, Frosty.

Now there's only one reason why I'm unhappy with this release: NO extras on the DVD. There is a trend in studios nowadays to release as many titles as they can on DVD to see how well they do, then re-release a new version with cool extras and features much later. I don't know if FROSTY will be re-released, but I'd be willing to wait it out a year to see what happens.


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