My Magic Elf » Christmas Family Movies

Shrek the Halls

Clare Swindlehurst — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 10:06:05 +0000

Despite its 22-minute run time, Shrek the Halls (originally written as a half-hour TV special), is packed with plenty of laughs and holiday cheer. The animation is rich, and the character interplay among all the folks we know and love--Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Puss in Boots--endearing and spot-on. Shrek wants to throw the "perfect Christmas" for Fiona and the kids, but as an ogre, has no Yule experience. So he starts at the local bookstore, where a winsome clerk (voiced by Marissa Jaret Winokur) quickly sizes up Shrek's hapless situation and pronounces: "I know all about Christmas, and I have just the book for you: 'Christmas for Village Idiots.'" Shrek becomes so focused on doing the holiday "by the book" that he fails to notice the magic and comradely chaos unfolding all around him. Fiona, for instance, has some neat tricks for making holiday decorations (watch how she turns a festively striped snake into the perfect candy cane). The kids are happily frolicking with the kids of Donkey and everyone else in the village--but the commotion is too much for Shrek, who snaps. Will his ogrely hissy fit ruin Christmas--and make him overlook the meaning of Christmas that can't be found in a book? Even viewers who might guess the answer will enjoy the trip, including competing versions of "A Visit from St. Nicholas," better known as "The Night Before Christmas." Puss's version: "He was dressed all in fur / From his head to his paws / And he stood there heroic, / A real Santa... Claws." And the film is full of cute references to holiday classics like "It's a Wonderful Life" ("Excuse you for what?" barks Shrek after one of his kids does a dainty Fiona belch knockoff). Even bit players get big laughs, like the three German pigs, ready to have a Christmas Eve sleepover. One points out to his brothers: "Look! We are pigs, ja? Und we are in a blanket, ja? It's funny, ja?" Ja! Warning to parents: There is one scary, almost gruesome scene that involves Santa Claus, but it's over quickly and then the film is back to its funny and heartwarming purpose. Extras include an animated sing-along "Twelve Days of Christmas" featurette as well as several holiday games to keep the tykes engaged after the last present is unwrapped. --A.T. Hurley

Shrek the Halls

Clare Swindlehurst — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:30:30 +0000


Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 11/04/2008

Shrek the Halls

Clare Swindlehurst — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 18:47:33 +0000

Shrek the Halls

Clare Swindlehurst — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 10:44:55 +0000


Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 11/04/2008

The Polar Express (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)

Clare Swindlehurst — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 19:50:28 +0000

Destined to become a holiday perennial, The Polar Express also heralded a brave new world of all-digital filmmaking. Critics and audiences were divided between those who hailed it as an instant classic that captures the visual splendor and evocative innocence of Chris Van Allsburg's popular children's book, and those who felt that the innovative use of "performance capture"--to accurately translate live performances into all-digital characters--was an eerie and not-quite-lifelike distraction from the story's epic-scale North Pole adventure. In any case it's a benign, kind-hearted celebration of the yuletide spirit, especially for kids who have almost grown out of their need to believe in Santa Claus. Tom Hanks is the nominal "star" who performs five different computer-generated characters, but it's the visuals that steal this show, as director Robert Zemeckis indulges his tireless pursuit of technological innovation. No matter how you respond to the many wonders on display, it's clear that The Polar Express represents a significant milestone in the digital revolution of cinema. If it also fills you with the joy of Christmas (in spite of its Nuremberg-like rally of frantic elves), so much the better. --Jeff Shannon DVD features The most intriguing feature on the two-disc DVD is probably the six-minute sequence featuring a new song performed by the two engine-room characters, Smokey and Steamer. The animation is crude and the song is nothing special, but it does preserve the dual performances of Michael Jeter (he played both characters), who passed away during filming. One of the striking aspects of The Polar Express is its use of motion-capture technology to turn real actors into animated characters, and that is examined in a significant portion of the five-part 11-minute featurette, in the "look at" Tom Hanks's multiple performances, and in an Easter egg that offers a side-by-side comparison of the actors in their motion-capture suits with the finished film in the "Hot Chocolate" number. There's also a live performance of Josh Groban singing "Believe" followed by an interview segment with him and composer Alan Silvestri, author Chris Van Allsburg providing a five-minute capsulization of his career, a PC game demo, and a kids' set-top game. The version of the film on DVD is the standard theatrical version, not the 3-D version seen in IMAX theaters. --David Horiuchi The World of The Polar Express The book by Chris Van Allsburg The Soundtrack The Magic Journey (Polar Express the Movie) (book) Stills from Polar Express (click for larger image)

Shrek the Halls/Shrek the Third (Full Screen Edition)

Clare Swindlehurst — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 01:23:01 +0000


Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 11/04/2008

A Stained Glass Christmas with Heavenly Carols (Widescreen) [Blu-ray]

Clare Swindlehurst — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:34:21 +0000

This unprecedented Christmas release features high definition views of the world's most beautiful stained glass Nativity artwork, holiday scenery and churches accompanied by more than 150 minutes of the season's most treasured Christmas songs by choirs, symphonies, and soloists - all in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and shot in 1080i HD. This release features two soundtracks - one of 25 selected Christmas carols and the other of highlights of Handel's Messiah. SOUNDTRACK ONE: CHRISTMAS CAROLS 1. Joy to the World 2. Silent Night 3. The First Noel 4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 5. O Come, All Ye Faithful 6. Away In A Manger 7. Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring 8. Sans Day Carol 9. Mary Had a Baby 10. Bring a Torch Jeneatte & Isabella 11. O Holy Night 12. I Saw Three Ships 13. Unto Us Is Born A Son 14. Good King Wenceslas 15. Nativity Carol 16. Ave Maria 17. In Dulci Jubilo (Christ Was Born For This) 18. O Come, O Come Emmanuel 19. Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem 20. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear 21. Here We Come A Caroling 22. Greensleeves (What Child Is This?) 23. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 24. Angles We Have Heard On High SOUNDTRACK TWO: HIGHLIGHTS FROM HANDEL'S MESSIAH 1. Hallelujah! 2. Overture 3. Comfort Ye 4. Every Valley 5. And the Glory of the Lord 6. Thus Saith the Lord of Hosts 7. But Who May Abide 8. Behold! A Virgin Shall Conceive 9. O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion 10. He Shall Feed His Flock 11. I Know that My Redeemer Liveth 12. For Unto Us a Child is Born 13. And Suddenly There Was With The Angel a Multitude 14. Glory to God 15. Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion 16. His Yoke is Easy 17. Behold! The Lamb of God 18. All We, Like Sheep 19. Hallelujah! 20. The Trumpet Shall Sound 21. Amen

Mr Magoo’s Christmas Carol [Blu-ray]

Clare Swindlehurst — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 05:12:46 +0000


Studio: Uni Dist Corp (music) Release Date: 11/16/2010

The Polar Express Presented in 3-D

Clare Swindlehurst — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 19:49:31 +0000

Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure

Clare Swindlehurst — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 16:02:33 +0000

When Swiper tries to swipe the Christmas Star from Doraâ��s Nochebuena Party, he lands on Santaâ��s naughty list. To get back on the nice list, Dora must help Swiper travel to the past, the present, and the future to discover the true spirit of Christmas. Will you help too? Filled with original songs and exclusive extra scenes, this all-new Christmas special, exclusive to DVD, will become a holiday favorite for the whole family!

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My Magic Elf » Christmas Family Movies

Shrek the Halls

Shrek the Halls

Shrek the Halls

Shrek the Halls

The Polar Express (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)

Shrek the Halls/Shrek the Third (Full Screen Edition)

A Stained Glass Christmas with Heavenly Carols (Widescreen) [Blu-ray]

Other visitors found this post when searching for

Mr Magoo’s Christmas Carol [Blu-ray]

The Polar Express Presented in 3-D

Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure