DVD Reivew: Muppets Letters To Santa

In the past two Muppet TV specials, the Muppets have acted wildly inappropriate and just haven't had the same magic. Have they hit that hillarity this time? Almost. Almost my friends, but...DANG!! They come so close here it's amazing.

Gonzo and pals go off to the post office to dleiver their letters to Santa. However, a mishap there leaves their letters unsent. So, Kermit, Fozzie, Pepe, Rizza and Gonzo head off to the North Pole to give the letters to Santa before it's too late.

The Muppets act much better here. However, they aren't too tame that they don't give a single laugh. They still give off many a-chuckles including a funny bit with Sam the Eagle and letters and Fozzie's jokes (including the return of Wakka Wakka). It's a little too long, but there is still much fun to be had in the Muppets as this movie shows.

Rating: 7.9 out of 10 or B+

SYS

TV Review: Prep and Landing

Disney Animation is really coming back. In December 2009, they shall mainly be remebered for the smash hit The Princess and the Frog. But they will also have a mention for the clever Prep and Landing, the next great Christmas classic waiting in the wings.

In this special, Wayne (Dave Foley) is an elf who has done his job as a Prep and Landing elf too long. Sure he helps Santa bring toys by making sure houses are safe, but it's time for change. However, his partner gets a rpomotion that he wanted. Worse yet, he has a new peppy partner named Landy. Together, they encounter a new home that has a problem. A big problem...

Wayne is a fun character rist and foremost. He may be a jerk, but as Santa says at the end: 'Everyone slips on the naughty list very once and a while." Plus, the show is funny. The reindeer launch is a paeticular highlight since it plays like a rocket launch. The two main reinderr are also funny, espicially their reply on how they'll make it through a snowstorm: "By laughing all the way!"



The Prep and Landing missions are also creative. The Ginerbread controls really are fun to watch and all the elves working to get Santa to each house really makes your heart flutter.

Prep and Landing is wonderful and joins many other classics during Christmas. I have said it before, but it bears repeating: Disney is back and better than ever!

Rating: 9.1 out of 10 or A

SYS

DVD Review: Shrek The Halls

Shrek and I have a mixed relationship. The first Shrek was brilliant. So was the second. But the third...ugh. What went wrong? That threequel was one of the worst films of 2007. So when a Christmas special was announced, I groaned. And now it's been on the air for 3 years and I have watched and enjoyed all of those times. So what went right?

The story (Shrek wanting a perfect Christmas for his family) is easily relatable and fun to watch. Of course, the secondary characters come through brilliantly, with Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) getting one of the best scenes and the Gingerbread Man telling a Santa horror story really bringing down the house.

Shrek may need some extra fuel to get past 4 installments, but it's hard to deny the whimsy of this film and the kindness it gives. It's no Rudolph or Prep and Landing, but it's still a great Christmas treat.

Rating: 8.3 out of 10 or B+

SYS

DVD Review: The Year Without A Santa Clause

The Year Without A Santa Clause is one of the best Chirstmas specials and the very defenition of classic. With great songs and loveable characters, it's not hard to see why this has become the classic it is.

Santa feels weary and feels as if no one cares about Christmas anymore. Mrs. Clause sends off two elves, Jingle & Jangles, to see if X-mas is still alive in peoples hearts. Soon, they have to meet Mother Nature to settle Christmas cheer once and for all!!!

The rela stand-outs here are The Miser Brothers who have one of the greatest Christmas songs in creation (they were so popular that they got their own TV special A Miser Brothers Christmas which was quite average). They have great personalities and have great dance moves to boot. They aren't the only reason this special is brilliant (the young boy who comes into play later on in the special is also great). Still, they are a major part as to why this special succeds as a whole.

Overall this is a sure-fire winner with great animation and a real X-mas spirit that'll stay with you all month long.

Rating: 9.4 out of 10 or A

SYS

The Worst Holiday Special Ever

Just watch this. If you make it the whole way, I'll pay you.

SYS

Blu-Ray Review: How The Grinch Stole Christmas Deluxe Edition

The Grinch is one of the many staples of the holiday season. Of course, Dr. Seuss couldn't have predicted that it would be so famous. And yet, today it is still one of the most watched Christmas specials in America, getting 10 million viewers last Monday.

In this classic, The Grinch hates all the Who's down in Who-Ville because of all of the commotion and noise that CHristmas brings. So, he sets out to steal it all only to learn that Christmas may be just a little bit more.

The Grinch's popularity can be traced mainly to Chuck Jones, who directs the outing. His animation department certainly evokes the original books drawings nicely and yet gives them Chuck's flavor. It looks nice and feels good as well. Of course, the solitary song in it (Your A Mean One [Mr. Grinch]) is a delightful tune and one that has remained a song that is impossible not to remember and has a nice rhyming pattern to go with it to boot.

The Grinch really does a splendid job and holds much better than you might think. If there is a defenition of a classic, The Grinch is one of them!!

Rating: 9.3 out of 10 or A

SYS

Muppet Christmas Comeback

If you like the Muppets, read this article. It talks about all the things the Muppets are doing recently, including a recrod-breaking viral video and a JAy Leno and Jimmy Fallon appearence.

There's also a great contest where you can create a Muppet and it'll be in a video with Kermit and Fozzie. I love the Muppets, so I'm glad they are making a comeback. I didn't know they got that honor in People magazine, but I'm glad they did.

Oh, and Muppets: Letters To Santa is on tonight. It's on NBC at 8/7:00 central. I'll be watching it and have a review up for it soon.

SYS

DVD Reivew: Classic Holidays Collection

This is how you know the holidays have arrived. When you notice that holiday specials have started to pop up. However, say one holiday special you love isn't on TV or you hate commercials (like I do) Then you need to go check out this DVD. It comes loaded with 4 great classics, one decent show and 2 okay specials. Below, I've included the titles of each and a small description and review:

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer: Rudolph is exiled from the North Pole because of his red nose. He joins Hermey, an elf who wants to be a dentist and Cornelious who's looking for silver and gold. However, tragedy befalls the earth in the form of a snow-storm. Could Rudolph perhaps save the day?

I love this special more and more each year. Laughs come a plenty (Love the oddity of Hermey's job choice. Dentist? Wow.) The animation sparkles as well and you just wish they could produce more clay than just 2 every 3 years. With music that's also fun to listen too, I really feel like this is the epidemy of X-mas specials and one that set the standard for more Christmas shows to come.



Frosty The Snowman: Using a magicians hat, children bring a snowman by the name of Frosty to life. On his trip to the North Pole, Frosty encounters an evil magician and learns about love and Christmas.

Frosty never gets old thanks to his optimism and undying joy. It's probably one of the few non-clay Christmas shows, so it really stands out in vivid memory. Unlike many villains today (like in G-Force or Fast & Furious) the villain's motive is clear and understandable. A true classic.

Cricket On The Hearth: An old toymaker and his daughter are visited by an old cricket who brings them peace and happiness. Based on Charles Dickens tale.

Just barely the weakest of the bunch (the second weakest is below), it's still fair. However, when you watch it right after Rudolph and Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, you really get the feeling this is a slipshod job on the creators part. A forgettable outing.

Frosty Returns: Frosty comes back (With the voice of John Goodman)! However, this time he is in Beanboro and meets a new friend by the name of Holly. Together, they must save snow from Summer Wheeze, a new gas created by Mr. Twitchell (Brian Doyle Murray)



Here's the second weakest one. I wish they'd make a real sequel to Frosty (they sort of did though with the infinitly superior classic Frosty's Winter Wonderland). This dosen't have a lot of fun in it and has a very cartoonish Tex Avery quality to it. It doesn't work well and overall hurts the program very much.

Santa Clause Is Coming To Town: Ever wonder how Santa came to be? Wonder no more!! This special covers the who, what and how of Santa in this classic.

Here's another masterpiece, including the famous song Pot One Foot In Front of The Other. It's certainly a wonderful show that makes a lasting impression. A superb special.

The Little Drummer Boy: A shepard from the East follows a star that leads him to the greatest event in makind history: the birth of Jesus.

This is an ok one. It isn't the worst on the set but it is the middle road certainly. There's not much to be happy about in this one and that's something that is needed in Christmas specials. A decent outing.

Mr. Maggo's Christmas Carol: Mr. Magoo portrays Scrooge in a play in this special retelling of Charle Dickens immortal story.

The first ever animated special has arrived and it's one of the best on the disk. Mr. Magoo certainly does a fine job here and this show has a ton of heart to it. By the end, you understand Scrooge's transformation and feel for him. Yet laughs still come in nice doses. This one is a sure-fire keeper.



A nice showing of specials. However, I wish they had traded Cricket and Frosty Returns for The Year Without A Santa Clause and Frosty's Winter Wonderland. Still, this is a nice showing and a nice buy if you have the cash.

Rating: 8.4 out of 10 or B+

SYS