Christmas In The Clouds
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.35 You Save: $4.64 (52%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $2.92 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Christmas In The Clouds
Movie Review: Sweet and funny
Summary: 5 Stars
I really like this movie. So different from the hollywood junk released at Christmas. Very real and wonderful native american actors.Movie Review: Christmas In The Clouds
Summary: 5 Stars
A fun, feel-good movie, great for watching during the Christmas season.Movie Review: A Light and Sweet Christmas Treat
Summary: 4 Stars
Yes, Christmas in the Clouds is set at a resort owned and operated by Native Americans, but as another reviewer noted, it's a universal story. (You will miss a wonderful treat if you let dated, stereotypical ideas about "Indians" put you off.) It also has the great good fortune to have been shot entirely in Utah, primarily in the gorgeous Wasatch Mountains at and around Redford's Sundance resort. (Locals and frequent visitors should get a kick out of seeing familiar venues.)
It's also a simple, formulaic story, but nevertheless, absolutely charming. The resort employees are all praying desperately for snow, and equally desperately for a good rating from the anonymous travel guide reviewer who is about to arrive unannounced for an evaluation visit.
From there on, if any plot aspect can be misunderstood, misrepresented, or misinterpreted by the characters, it is. If anything can possibly go wrong, it does. But the subtly funny characterizations transcend the predictable--yet not ridiculous--twists and turns of the plot, offerinig chuckles and even a laugh or two (the sub-plot of the romance novel is quietly hysterical).
The wonderful (and in my opinion, sadly underutilized) Graham Greene steals every scene that he is in, as the lugubrious chef forced to create, prepare, serve, and promote dishes that involve *shudder* dead animals.
My one quibble was the casting of Tim Vahle as Ray Clouds on Fire. He doesn't look like a Native American, nor was he believably cast as one. Although he was perfectly enjoyable as the beleaguered resort manager, valiantly juggling resort business and a personal life that's suddenly and (to him) inexplicably gone terribly wrong, I'd have prefered someone who is a Native American, or who at least is "ethnic" looking enough to pass for one.
All in all, I love this movie, and expect to enjoy it many more times in the future. If you're looking for broad, slapstick comedy, forget it. But if you love subtly funny, gem-like characterizations by even the smallest members of the cast, Christmas in the Clouds is for you!
Movie Review: A family holiday must see!
Summary: 4 Stars
"Christmas in the Clouds" was first featured at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival. This film is light hearted comedy built in the tradition of Native American storytelling. The film had a limited release at the theatres, so I did get a chance to see it. After seeing the DVD rental, I definitely will add this to my collection.
Ray Clouds on Fire (Tim Vahle) comes back to his Tribe's reservation after personal struggles off the reservation. He is hired as the General Manager of the Tribe's ski resort. Joe (Sam Vlahos) is Ray's father who is exchanging letters with his pen pal Tina (Mariana Tosca) from New York. When Tina comes for a visit at the same time as a well known travel guide (M. Emmet Walsh) a case of mistaken identity develops into hilarious scenarios.
Ray tries to rally the troops to put on a good show for the travel guide so the resort can get a great review write-up. That's when the laughs start. But there is a relationship brewing on the horizon. And some tender moments are ahead. Not to be too serious though, funny characters are introduced throughout the film. Earl the vegetarian chef (Graham Greene) and Mary (Sheila Tousey) make a noticeable standout.
Robert Redford's Sundance ranch is the beautiful backdrop for this film. The film captures the resort brilliantly and character is built smoothly. There are many Native American supporting actors that blend well in this film; Wes Studi (Himself), Shirley Cheechoo and Warrior Mouse. I have to make a special note for Inuit singer Karina Moeller of Pamyua who makes a special appearance that might make you shed a tear or more.
This is great family holiday movie. It is not just a Native American movie but a movie that everyone can relate to. The one thing that could have been developed better is the time lapses. But I still would like to see more films from writer/director Kate Montgomery. The DVD contains the Trailer, Reviews and Rewards and Photo Gallery.
Movie Review: Nice Story, Nothing Over the Top Fantastic, Would watch again
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a nice little romantic comedy. Nothing really over the top fantastic sticks out at me, a few very clever lines, and a warrior mouse, but it was a very nice story and it was enjoyable. And thanks to Graham Greene very amusing.
Joe has a pen pal, Christina. Ray is Joe's son, he runs the (Apache) tribe's resort and is expecting a hotel reviewer to come to the resort. Christina - aka Tina decides to go incognito and meet Joe. Joe is an elderly man, Christina is a young women, Tina thinks Ray is Joe, Ray thinks Tina is the Reviewer. Graham Greene is the resort chef who is a vegetarian and thinks everyone else should be too. His scenes are utterly delightful.
The movie has a number of other very memorable characters. It was sweet, it was funny, and it was heartfelt and fairly realistic. I did find myself tearing up - like most of the cast - when Silent Night was sung in a Native American language. It is a very enjoyable movie to watch, a little of everything.