A Charlie Brown Christmas

Rating:
Summary: Best Charlie Brown holiday show!
Review: "A Charlie Brown Christmas" should be seen by everybody by now. It's an unforgettable and memorable Christmas cartoon that has Charlie Brown as director the school Christmas play. The problem is with the rest of the gang, because they all think, especially Lucy, that is a "big commercial racket that's run by a big eastern syndicate". I, Josh, think not! When Linus, adresses evryone in center stage after Charlie Brown delivers his world-famous line, I fully agree with him! The rest of the Peanuts finally shape up and decorate the once next-to-a-twig tree. Lovely and essential!

Rating:
Summary: Year After Year .... A Christmas Treasure!!
Review: "A Charlie Brown Christmas", originally aired in 1965, is simply a PERFECT television program! It can make you laugh, and cry, and think! I watch this program at least once every Christmas season, and have never failed to enjoy it immensely! It's similar to Christmas itself ... it's there to be treasured each and every year! There are so many little things we remember, and love, about this standout cartoon: Snoopy's "1st Prize" for his decorated dog house .... Linus' "meaning of Christmas" .... the great piano music score .... and, of course, Charlie Brown's poor little under-nourished tree! ("Maybe all it needs is a little love," exclaimed Linus. He was right!) MERRY CHRISTMAS, CHARLIE BROWN!!

Rating:
Summary: Truly an evergreen...
Review: ...and I'm not talking about Charlie Brown's tree.
I really can't remember when I first saw this special. Couldn't have been the debut year of 1965, as in those pre-cable days, our antenna couldn't pull in a CBS station. More likely would've been circa 1971 or 1972, long enough for this to have been firmly established as a holiday staple.
At that age, eleven or twelve, I would've been well past the age where I might've sat in toddler awe at some of my favorite comic strip characters coming to life. And celebrating my favorite holiday, no less.
Despite my "advanced" age, I still thoroughly enjoyed the show, even if my ability to appreciate it was substantially limited to Snoopy's antics and Schroeder's exasperation in finding a version of "Jingle Bells" suitable to the reigning fussbudget, Lucy Van Pelt.
As my age truly advances, it becomes even more enjoyable to find more layers to the cartoon. Much as the Warner Brothers classic cartoons were not truly written for children, but for the writers' own amusement, a more adult view of Charles Schulz's work reveals that this really isn't kiddie fodder.
In a way, Vince Guaraldi's score illustrates the point perfectly. Out in front is the "Linus and Lucy" theme, a bouncy tune to which any age can be-bop along. Contrast that with "Christmastime Is Here"; the lyrics are cheerful, joyful, perfectly descriptive of a child's delight at the season's arrival.
And yet, the tune belies the sentiment. It is nearly hopeful, yet somber, knowing it's missing something but not sure what that might be. Just like Charlie Brown's dilemma throughout everyone else's festivities.
The only real disappointment on this disc would be the bonus feature "It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown", which looks more like a series of largely unrelated continuity-independent vignettes from the 1980's Saturday morning "Charlie Brown and Snoopy", slapped together to form the illusion of a featurette, than a coherent story deserving of co-starring with the original.
Nonetheless, having the original on DVD alone is worth the investment. Definitely a must-have.

Rating:
Summary: Of all the Charlie Browns in the world...
Review: ...he's the Charlie Browniest!! I love Charlie Brown, and this Peanuts special is the best one of them all!! If you ever get to feeling like you've forgotten what Christmas is all about, sit down with your kids and watch. Linus will gently remind you that it's not about trees, or presents, or plays. It's about the birth of a baby that gave the world hope. No one has ever said it better! Merry Christmas Charlie Brown!!



Rating:
Summary: I Feel Depressed...
Review: ...if I don't get to see this each year. I've been watching it since I was knee high to a grass-hopper. Snoopy and the gang are great but what really made this is the Vince Guaraldi Music.

Rating:
Summary: The true meaning of Christmas, for kids
Review: A Charlie Brown Christmas is my personal favorite Christmas movie for children of all time. The movie is entertaining and funny, just as the peanuts movies always are. Mostly, though, I love the fact that this movie pulls no punches when dealing with the over commercialization of a sacred holiday. Indeed, the movie comes together with Linus quoting from sacred scripture after Charlie Brown asks in frustration what the true meaning of Christmas really is.

If you are parent who wants an entertaining Christmas movie for your kids that doesn't attempt to gloss over the true meaning of Christmas by using gushy messages about peace on earth and family togetherness, but gets right to the point of Christ's birth, consider a Charlie Brown Christmas. You won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: What more can be said
Review: A Charlie Brown Christmas is so much a part of the holiday season. I can't even imagine a year would go by with out seeing this classic. It is a lesson on the true meaning of Christmas, while showing how that meaning is lost, due to the comercialism that is now associated with the holiday. I have seen this so many times I can recite it word for word. I have a 1 year old daughter and want to make sure that this becomes a tradition for her as well. Make it a tradition for your family as well.

Rating:
Summary: the TRUE "true meaning of Christmas"
Review: A lot of people think the "spirit of the season" or the "true meaning of Christmas" is that people should be generous and charitable. Although people should remember the less fortunate at all times of the year, including Christmas, the true reason for this Christian holiday is to remember the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Linus recites the Christmas story from the Bible, explaining to Charlie Brown that the birth of Christ is what Christmas is all about. "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is one of the only cartoon Christmas specials that I know actually discusses the TRUE "true meaning of Christmas." I enjoyed watching this cartoon as a child and I'm sure my own daughter will enjoy it, too.

Rating:
Summary: Still brings tears to your eyes!
Review: A TRUE Christmas classic. There are lots of great Christmas movies and TV shows that are fun to watch each year, from CHRISTMAS VACATION to THE GRINCH. But there is something special about Charlie Brown's take.

First of all, it's the only mainstream Christmas classic that actually DARES to bring the story of the birth of Jesus to front and center!! When Linus takes centerstage and quotes the bible for us, you can almost feel the air suck out of the room. It's a moment of simple drama that can really bring a tear to your eye. Linus, without saying a harsh word, essentially tells everyone to "shut up and remember the meaning of this holiday!" It's a beautiful moment.

There's plenty of amusing stuff too. The pitiful tree...Snoopy's hijinks, etc. It's not laugh out loud funny, of course, but sweet and innocent. These are kids who live in a world without adults...and don't seem to need them either! It's always a nice 22 minute trip down memory lane. Every adult should own this...if only to take minute to journey back to childhood. And kids need to keep seeing this. I'm glad it has remained a classic.

The animation is no great shakes, of course, but the style is executed marvelously. The voice acting, on the other hand, leaves nothing to be desired. The kids involved have done a terrific job. The music, ever present, is great, as we've come to expect from any Peanuts special. All in all, this is a MUST OWN DVD.

(I do wish there were more extras available. Other than a 2nd Christmas special...it's okay, but no classic...there is nothing. Can't believe there isn't some little documentary or something out there.)

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful and Moving Special, but I noticed...
Review: All the previous reviews kind of say it all about this special but in reading them, I did notice one thing.

Charlie Brown's depression is reacted to by Linus who says that he (Charlie Brown) is the only person he knows who could "take a holday like Christmas and turn it into a problem."

Actually, Charlie Brown is like countless others who find the holidays difficult and painful--a time where lonliness and need is keenly felt. So Linus is actually of no help to Charlie Brown here and is actually wrong!!! Interesting that Linus is the one who later presents the true meaning of Christmas to the Charlie and the others...