The Christmas Star

Rating:
Summary: A DISNEY CLASSIC COMES TO DVD!
Review: One of the truly great Christmas films at long last comes to DVD. Ed Asner, Fred Gwynne, Rene Auberjenois, and writer/director Alan Shapiro and his talented crew make this Dickens-esque family perennial a must-see. Do yourself a favor and get a copy.

Rating:
Summary: A DISNEY CLASSIC COMES TO DVD
Review: One of the truly great Christmas films at long last comes to DVD. Ed Asner, Fred Gwynne, Rene Auberjenois, and writer/director Alan Shapiro and his talented crew make this Dickens-esque family perennial a must-see gem. Do yourself a favor and get a copy.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Christmas tale
Review: This movie has it all: Scooge-like characters (two!), both reformed by the end; an usual story-line involving a bank heist stash hiden in Santa's throne at a department store; children and family; mystery; a poor little dog...It's a great take-off on Dickens'Christmas Carol. I urge the studio to re-release it!

Rating:
Summary: PRETTY GOOD LITTLE CHRISTMAS MOVIE
Review: This was originally a Disney made for TV movie from the mid-80's. It ran a few years but I honelstly have not seen it pop up on TV for a long time. It's now being realease on DVD and while not in the same class as Miracle on 34th Street or "A Christmas Story", it's still a good and enjoyable family Christmas movie.

Ed Asner steps inside the Santa Claus suit and out of his Mary Tyler Moore character,and turns it inside out to create a gruff, loveable Santa. The child actors are suberb, and heartbreakingly beautiful. The bad guy gets 'Scrooged' in the end, in time to brighten everyone's life, and even the dog that get's offed returns in a new and brighter form. This film will make any viewer feel a little better, no matter how jaundiced, and in my cynical case, bring a tear to your eye. Lovely rarity, if you have the chance to see this film, turn off the phone and seep yourself in wonderful acting, a fun story, and a return to the Christmases of Yore!

A worthy addition to your X-mas movie collection!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Made-For-Tv Disney Movie!
Review: This wonderful Christmas film debuted in 1986, and stars Ed Asner as a mean crook named Horace McNickle who escapes from jail- his partner in crime got off, and he wants revenge. When he escapes, he meets some kids who live in an apartment building who are faced with a grim Christmas. Their parents are struggling financially, and may be evicted if they can't make the rent. The landlord is Rene Auberjonois (Odo from Deep Space Nine), and has a son who is the "bully" played by Zachary Ansley (The Journey of Natty Gan). Asner is following the clues left to him leading to a fortune, and he enlists the children (who have no idea that he is an escape convict- they even think he's Santa!) to help him find it. There is a great scene where Ed is on a train and has a supernatural experience, very Scrooge-like, which changes his life forever.

As the movie progresses, the mean are transformed and all begin to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. I remember watching this on the Wonderful World of Disney which at the time was hosted by Michael Eisner (the current President of Disney). I am delightfully surprised and glad that Disney is releasing this great film on dvd. If you want to see Ed Asner in a role like never before, get this movie in time for the next holiday season. You won't regret it!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Made-For-Tv Disney Movie!
Review: This wonderful Christmas film debuted in 1986, and stars Ed Asner as a mean crook named Horace McNickle who escapes from jail- his partner in crime got off, and he wants revenge. When he escapes, he meets some kids who live in an apartment building who are faced with a grim Christmas. Their parents are struggling financially, and may be evicted if they can't make the rent. The landlord is Rene Auberjonois (Odo from Deep Space Nine), and has a son who is the "bully" played by Zachary Ansley (The Journey of Natty Gan). Asner is following the clues left to him leading to a fortune, and he enlists the children (who have no idea that he is an escape convict- they even think he's Santa!) to help him find it. There is a great scene where Ed is on a train and has a supernatural experience, very Scrooge-like, which changes his life forever.

As the movie progresses, the mean are transformed and all begin to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. I remember watching this on the Wonderful World of Disney which at the time was hosted by Michael Eisner (the current President of Disney). I am delightfully surprised and glad that Disney is releasing this great film on dvd. If you want to see Ed Asner in a role like never before, get this movie in time for the next holiday season. You won't regret it!