Customer Reviews

The Father Christmas and Snowman (Double Feature)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Grab some hot cocoa, a warm blanket and each other and snuggle up for this annual Christmas favorite!

The Snowman / Father Christmas double feature DVD is great for families with children of all ages. Short but sweet, each of these shows are roughly 24 minutes in length, making them perfect for parents who don't want their kids parked in front of the tv for hours.

The colored drawing effect of The Snowman will delight viewers while the relaxing soundtrack makes one forget there is no dialogue. Its simplicity nurtures the imagination.

Father Christmas, narrated by none other than Santa himself, has a more modern cartoon feel to it but manages to bring the viewer back full circle to The Snowman with a scene borrowed from it called "Snowman's Party". Go along for the ride in Santa's flying camper as he vacations in France, Scotland and even Las Vegas!

If you want a wholesome Christmas DVD that the whole family can enjoy year after year, you've found it. ENJOY!

When I first saw the Snowman, I was just enthralled with the style and care taken in the animation. Not to mention the charming story. When, later, I learned that there would be a sort of Snowman part 2, I was very happy indeed. Father Christmas was hillarious. Partly because of the story of the hard working Father Christmas' time off. But also because of the brilliant voice talents of Mel Smith. Smith, a very well know actor and comedian in Europe. But Mel Smith's Voice has been removed from the Americanized version shown on the DVD. A Los Angelino has been brought in to soften and re-direct the story. Makeing the brithish accent more accessable by an american audience and making the comic story of a slightly grumpy Santa, who just wants to have a nice vaction, thinner and more geared toward America's sterilized "children in a vacum" nature.

I was very disappointed in this change. This has gone from being a classic Christmas comedy for the whole family... to watered down pap suited only for those 5 and under. If the video version still has Mel Smith, I urge you to get that. Or just watch it during it's seasonal run on local PBS stations. Where they're not afraid to treat an artist's work with the respect it deserves and not change it to suit their likes. This, in my opinion in exactly tragic as Colourizing films.

It's still a great show, they haven't figured out a way to tamper with the great animation... But it's not as great as it was before some misguided executive decided to make it "better".

I had never seen "The Snowman," but took a chance on it because of the low price. Wow! I'm so glad I did. "The Snowman" is one of the most beautiful cartoons I've ever seen . . . In fact, the word "cartoon" doesn't do justice to this lovely film, which has the feel of a moving colored-pencil drawing. The music is whimsical and shimmering, and I sometimes play it without even watching the film. Even with the continuous music, the film has a silent feel to it because of the absence of dialogue. The only words are in the one lovely vocal song, "Walking in the Air," sung by a boy treble, haunting and beautiful. This has become one of my favorite holiday DVDs, and I'd recommend it to anyone who still finds magic in Christmas. (On the other hand, I can't recommend the DVD's second feature, "Father Christmas." It's irreverent and depressing, showing Father Christmas on vacation on a sunny beach; one of the most un-Christmasy things I've ever seen.)

For some inexplicable reason, this version of "Father Christmas" has William Dennis Hunt as the voice of Father Christmas instead of Mel Smith. In addition, the dialog has been Americanized (e.g. "chips" replaced with "fries") and the lyrics "another bloomin' Christmas" have been changed to "another merry Christmas". I'm glad I have the Mel Smith version on VHS.

I was very disappointed with the version of "Father Christmas" on this DVD. For some inexplicable reason, someone chose to re-record the voices, replacing Bob Hoskins with William Dennis Hunt. To make matters worse, they also chose to Americanize and sanitize it, replacing "chips" with "fries" and changing the song "Another Bloomin' Christmas" to "Another Merry Christmas". I'm glad I have the original version on VHS.

Wow! What a wonderful addition to our DVD collection! Being the parent of a 2 year old, I am very selective in what I allow my daughter to watch. Both these stories are delightful but I particularly appreciated the simplicity of the Snowman because of it's absence of dialogue and beautiful music. It encouraged my daughter to tell me what the story was rather than the average video which leaves little to the imagination. A definite must-have for year round viewing!

Growing up watching The Snowman and Father Christmas, I never thought much of it. The past few Christmas' I haven't seen them and it just doesn't feel right. It's a definite must have for a classic Christmas feel. It makes you feel young again, reminding you of what being a kid at Christmas felt like.

I grew up with this film, (the Snowman) although Father Christmas has the same classy effect, the Snowman has the soundtrack and loveliness about it. The thing that strikes me about this film is that it's a silent film though I don't remember it that way; I put it down to the great use of sound effects.

Anyhow, I would recommend this film to anyhow, especially as its Christmas time and in the great DVD format.

Excellent relaxing bedtime Movie. My daugher recieved it for Xmas last year. She watched it every night for 2 weeks . I tried packing it away;. not a chance, she watched it throughout the whole year once or twice a week.

The Snowman is beautifully done. It reminds us all of the true magic of Christmas. I highly recommend it.