Rating: 
Summary: Buy it for the titles & packaging. . . . . . forget the CD
Review: I just received this in the mail and was fortunate enough to pre-order it so I got the 30% discount. Even with the price it's at now it's still a bargain compared to the individual price of each DVD if you were to buy them separately.
I actually owned the 1st issue DVD's and bought this set "blind" hoping that Sony Wonder had made some sort of effort to clean up and perhaps re-digitize the picture on all five of the shows. Alas, after a quick view of each one, it seems they used the same old, tired, scratched, specked copies as were used previously.
But I'm still glad I have this set because the packaging is awesome. The "box" flips out just like the Lord of the Rings Extended set -- and I'm happy to report all discs were secure in their holders without a scratch on any of them. When closed, it can stand upright on it's own and the "spine" actually looks like a Christmas book -- as opposed to a DVD set. Really nice touch.
But let's talk about this "bonus" holiday CD that's included. You're really led to believe that the CD is a compilation of the original songs from the 5 titles that are in this set. Great! What a neat thing to include! Oh wait, on the CD in small print it reads: New Songs By The Silver And Gold Singers. Uh oh.
Let me give everyone some advice before they even think about playing this CD. Throw it out. Burn it. Break it. Recycle it. Use it as target practice.
Just don't play it. I can't even begin to describe how bad the singing is. But what's even worse is the alleged singers recite some of the dialogue from the shows that lead into the song. But the singing. . . . . .how can I describe it? If you're familiar with Mark Harris, who was Martha Rae's "husband" at the time of her death, you'll know how all the songs are performed. For those who still don't know, the best way I can describe the singing is Liberace crossed with a male Judy Garland impersonator. . . . .drunk. To say the performances are "flamboyant" is. . . .well, it would be an understatement. It's embarrassing, really. I own close to 100 Christmas CD's including a freakin' Barney the Dinosaur Christmas CD (hey, I've got kids!) and nothing. . . NOTHING is as bad as the CD they've included in this set.
Okay, you've been warned.
Despite that huge flaw I STILL have to recommend this set because of the price savings and the excellent packaging which I'm still marveling over -- when not throwing up from thinking of the singing.
Happy Holidays!
Rating: 
Summary: It's all about Christmas!
Review: I love this gift collection. It has all your Christmas favorites and DVD is so much easier to store then VHS tapes. My kids love Rudolph and Frosty, while Santa Claus is coming to town is my mine and my husband's favorite. So there is something for all of us. Even the Little Drummer Boy is cute.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT DVD Value! Bonus CD "OK." Timeless!!!
Review: I'm an early thirty something father who grew up with these wonderful movies. Of course it was much different then, as many of these movies were aired just once a year! Part of me thinks there is something wrong with watching these movies anytime, as it takes something from the experience. Of course that did not stop me from purchasing these DVD's. I am very happy with the packaging and quality of movies. The bonus CD has been criticized by many in these reviews. I too am not a fan of the "bonus cd," but I also realize I am not a young child that may not have a problem with it. The songs are covers tracks from the DVD's. I think just about any non original version would seem odd to me. I will agree a male singer does sound like he might be a Judie Garland impersonator on the weekends. Keep in mind, it is a "bonus cd." Overall, GREAT value. I wonder who enjoys them more, my 4 year old son or me....
Rating:
Summary: Christmas Package
Review: If you're looking for the old time Christmas Package this is the one.. it has all the oldies plus more. There are hours of entertainment here and fun for kids of all ages. I enjoyed these!
Rating:
Summary: A boxful of Rankin/Bass Christmas goodness
Review: It's just not the holidays without the animagic puppets singing and dancing and telling the familiar holiday tales. Now, we don't have to wait for the T.V. channels to decide to air them or not. It's Rankin/Bass on demand.This set contains a smattering of the best holiday specials put out by that creative team. Unlike previous VHS releases, this collection pays full homage to the original releases including the font used on the DVD covers as well as photo covers to let viewers know which is a cartoon and which is animagic. The most famous reindeer of all is the most famous Christmas special of all. This is a great DVD with the almost-complete "Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer" special. Over the years, this special has been edited down to make room for more commercials. This version restores most of the lost footage, only clipping the shots of Yukon Cornelius firing his gun into the air. There is a nice introduction by Arthur Rankin as a feature, as well as the alternate versions of a few songs and scenes. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and "Little Drummer Boy" is the best value DVD of the set, with two full specials. These are both highly enjoyable, with excellent performances and animagic. Great DVD "Frosty the Snowman" is the bad apple DVD. While the original special is a delight and wonder, the non-Rankin/Bass special tagged onto this DVD is a real bomb. Cheap in every manner of the word. I predict you will watch it once, out of curiosity, and then never again. Still, you can't go wrong with the original Frosty. All in all, a great way to own all of these hits. This is just a small portion of the Rankin/Bass catalog, and I say keep 'em coming!
Rating:
Summary: Legendary
Review: Just what I've been looking for and all bundled together. Can't ask for much better than that. I think it really hits you when you're watching these shows with your young children and it hits you that you were in their position a while ago watching with your parents. These are classics that'll never go away. Thanks for bundling them all up for me :)I wanted all 5 anyways. Just helps a little bit more.
Rating:
Summary: A Christmas Favorite
Review: Oh my gosh! Great little pack of movies! Good price, very enjoyable! My advice: Just buy it!
Rating:
Summary: rudolph the rednose reindeer
Review: the dvd version of this classic brings the children from past to present together for a whole family holiday treat
Rating:
Summary: I LOVE THESE MOVIES
Review: These movies are great.Their is nothing bad in them at all. I saw them the first time when I was really little and loved them ever since!They are great for kids.Adults love them also!These movies are great for all ages!
Rating:
Summary: Christmas is not complete without this collection!
Review: This box set contains some of the most timeless and unforgettable Christmas specials: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming To Town, The Little Drummer Boy, Frosty the Snowman and Frosty Returns. I can remember watching these specials since the beginning and they have become a regular Christmas tradition. The only difference now is that I can watch them whenever and as much as I want to instead of waiting for them to air on television. Twenty-seven dollars was a fair price and it is definately a high-quality product that I will enjoy anytime I want to.
My personal favorite on this collection is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. I have probably seen it more than any other Christmas special. We all know the basic story of how Rudolph's red nose gets him much ridicule from the other reindeer and how it is his nose that saves Christmas, but until you have seen this version you are missing out on the best telling of the story. The stop-motion animation style is classic, the songs will stick in your head forever, and you will probably find that it is a Christmastime must. In my opinion it is the best of the Rankin-Bass specials. Next I would recommend Santa Claus... It is another classic that tells the story of how Santa came to be and why he makes the trip once a year to give presents to good children. Next is The Little Drummer Boy. I admit that this one is my least favorite of the specials included, although others will likely beg to differ. It is still very good but in my opinion it isnt as much fun as the aforementioned specials. It tells the story better than I have ever heard it though, so I still recommed seeing it very much. Finally we are treated to Frosty and Frosty Returns, two more classic must-haves. I especially like the first Frosty the Snowman and it is always a lot of fun to watch. Of course it tells the story of how the children made Frosty come to life, ultimately dealing with the fact that Christmas is really more about the giving.
In conclusion, if you are a big fan of Christmas then I recommend owning this box set. The price and packaging are just right and the quality of the specials included are better than you will see on tv. You can try and catch them on tv the few times they are, or you can make a good investment that the whole family will enjoy.
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