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Reviews
Alice in Wonderland (1985)
a wonderful adaptation of a classic
I saw this movie years ago with my then 5 year old and we loved it. I thought Natalie Gregory was wonderful as Alice. Usually Alice is played by girls who appear to be about 16 years old. Alice is supposed to be 7 and Natalie Gregory was 9 when this was filmed. The movie is in two parts with the second called "Alice Through the Looking Glass"
The supporting cast includes many old time actors such as Carol Channing, Steve Allen, Jayne Meadows, Ann Jillian, Martha Raye, Imogene Coca and more. It was a delight just to see them again. They were all marvelous in their roles, especially Ann Jillian as the Red Queen. I've always liked her in anything she's done.
The movie did veer from the book in several areas but most movies do. Most of the songs were good but one or two kind of dragged. However it really did not take away from the enjoyment of the movie. I loved the costumes.
Overall this is a fun movie to watch and a wonderful adaptation of the classic story. I highly recommend it.
A Christmas Carol (1984)
One of the best versions
I enjoy all the versions of this story but this one is my all time favorite. George C.Scott gives a depth to the Scrooge character that the others do not give. The movie shows more about why he becomes so bitter. The changes in Scrooge appear gradually as he encounters the different ghosts and the incidents that they show him.
This movie has the best Tiny Tim by far. He is the right age rather than being played by someone who is almost a teenager as in the other films. Anthony Walters still has all or most of his baby teeth.
David Warner is wonderful as Bob Cratchit. He is such a versatile actor. He portrays a man who clearly loves his family. He plays the role with dignity neither as a wimpy man cowering under Scrooges'thumb but as a man who gracefully puts up with it because he has a family to provide for. Susannah York and the other actors do a fine job of bringing the characters to life. Edward Woodward is the best Ghost of Christmas Present I've ever seen. Most often he is played as a jolly Santa type character. In this he shows anger at Scrooges attitudes and really makes Scrooge reconsider.
The costumes and the sets really bring the London of Dickens time to life. A wonderful movie.
Scrooge (1951)
a great classic
My family and I used to watch this movie every Christmas Eve on TV for years. For that reason it is special to me. I love the story and I never get bored with it. The actors were great, especially Alistair Sim and Hermione Baddely (who was also wonderful in Mary Poppins and some episodes of Little House on the Prairie)
I read the book by Charles Dickens and this does follow it pretty closely with a few changes. The casting of the younger versions of the older characters was believable. My main criticism is the casting of Tiny Tim. He looked to be an average sized eleven year old boy who was almost as tall as the woman playing his mother. He wasn't tall for his age but he could hardly be called "Tiny Tim". The actor who played him was eleven when he played the role. He did a good job but they should have cast an actor no older than eight or nine and no taller than 4'.
Overall a great film to watch.
Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
a wonderful movie
I first saw the 1970's version of this on TV. I had not yet seen the 1947 version until after I saw this one. I liked all three versions but I really like this one the best. I usually don't like remakes because they tend to totally change the story or they just add some unnecessary dirty words, nudity, violence or sex scenes.
This remake was very good. I don't see why people are so against it. There are many versions of A Christmas Carol and yet few seem upset by that.
I liked the dollar bill evidence much more than the post office evidence near the end. I loved the scene in which the citizens of NY city showed their belief in Santa Claus. I also felt that the reason why Kris Kringle struck out at the man was much more realistic in this version than in others.
Maureen O'Hara is one of my favorite actors. ( yes the screen actors guild uses the term actor meaning "one who acts" for males and females. ) The 1947 version is well acted and charming. The 1994 version is a movie that stands on it's own and is delightful.
The Polar Express (2004)
I really hated this movie
I do think Tom Hanks is a good actor. I enjoyed reading this book to my children when they were little. I was very disappointed in the movie. One character is totally annoying with a voice that gives me the feeling of fingernails on a chalkboard. There is a totally unnecessary train/roller coaster scene. There are some characters and scenes that seem scary for little children for whom this movie was made. The North Pole scenes with Santa and the elves could have been cute and charming. There was absolutely no warmth or charm to these scenes or characters. It usually doesn't work to make a short children's book into a feature film. This movie totally grates on my nerves.
A Christmas Story (1983)
funny movie
I watch this every year and I always enjoy it. This movie was not meant to be totally realistic. The characters and the incidents in the movie are often exaggerated. However that is the way it is supposed to be. It does have some great nostalgic moments. The only scene I disliked was a messy eating scene. I fast forward through that.
I thought the cast was very good especially the parents and the boy who had the lead role.
There were many 9 year olds in the 1940's who still believed in Santa or who were starting to doubt but not ready to give it up yet. The character of Ralphie was the oldest child so had no older siblings who might spoil the belief for him. There was no TV then. Kids were allowed and encouraged to remain kids for longer. This was just after the great depression so perhaps parents wanted to prolong the happy, innocent child hood.
This movie is not meant to be taken seriously. It is meant to be fun and it is fun. I recommend this along with other movies based on Jean Shepherd books to anyone who wants to just watch a fun Christmas movie.