Miracle on 34th Street
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Movie Reviews of Miracle on 34th Street
Movie Review: Zesty And Fun - A Modern Version Of The Classic!
Summary: 4 Stars
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1994) is an updated version of a classic film that has a lot of heart but not quite the charm of the original. Definitely a good Holiday film for the whole family, it has a certain message for kids to keep the Christmas Spirit and ideology alive.Directed by Les Mayfield (Encino Man, Flubber) it tells the tale of Santa Clause being set up for failure. Does and or should the world believe in him. Thanks to the efforts of a small non-believing girl...the magic of the season prevails!
Starring Sir Richard Attenburough (Jurassic Park, Hamlet) as Father Christmas himself, he is left with wits and efforts of lawyer Dylon Mcdermott (The Practice, Twister, Steel Magnolias) to save his life and gain him his freedom before Christmas. The skeptic, Elizabeth Perkins (Cats & Dogs, The Flintsones) who plays the department store promotions manager who hires and then has to fire Santa himself becomes a tough cookie for her daughter, played by Mara Wilson (Mrs. Doubtfire, Matilda), to convince he IS real.
This also has a great final performance of the late J.T. Walsh (Pleasantville, A Few Good Men) and as the judge who must decide the fate of Santa, Robert Prosky (Mrs. Doubtfire, The Chamber) gives a phenomenal performance for his small role.
A great Holiday film for the whole family to watch. Give it a chance - it may bring some Christmas Spirit into your day! (1-2-03)
Movie Review: Surpisingly good remake!
Summary: 4 Stars
In New York City, a stranger named Kriss Kringle (Richard Attenborugh) who claims to be Saint Nick steps in as a new Santa Claus for the department store after the old Santa got drunk. He seems to be a celebrity around 34th street thanks to giving advice to other people if the store doesn't have it to go to other stores, skeptical mother Dorey Walker (Elizabeth Parker) and child Susan (Mara Wilson) both befriend him yet have a hard time to believe he actually is Santa Claus. Dorey's lawyer boyfriend Bryan (Dylan McDermott) begins to defend Kris in court after him being accused of beating up a former department store Santa.
Unneeded but surprisingly good remake of the timeless 1947 masterpiece! John Hughes who co-wrote and produced this remake did a good yet dark job of bringing the fable once again. It's different but fresh from the original even though the court-room sequence in this one isn't as well made as the original's, this one co-stars William Windom, Robert Prosky and J.T. Walsh as i do believe it does respect the original in a good manner.
This DVD has good picture and decent sound with trailers to other fox releases.
Movie Review: A movie for movie buffs to debate
Summary: 4 Stars
This remake with slightly different plot twists, modernized dialogue and a much faster pace definitely gives us movie buffs something to argue over at IMDB. Each one has its place in the representative period of time. As a baby boomer, though, I have to spend my DVD cash on the original.
"Miracle on 34th" has been remade before this one, as a TV version with David Hartman as the lawyer in 1973 - many normally discerning viewers liked that one too. Fundamentally, the basic story is calls out to almost all of us. We should be thankful that more Christmas movies aren't remade...well, never mind because they all are (I can't wait for Charlie's Angels to have "A Wonderful Life.") Teens and younger may prefer the faster pace of the 1994 version, but I thought the original had more sincerity, more nostalgia (I remember Gimbel's!), much more heart...and the real Santa Claus.
All versions of the movie are based on the book of the same name by Valentine Davis - I highly recommend it. It's an easy read and there's a reason we all feel so fondly for one version of the movie or another.
Movie Review: Good message, but did they have to go and make it a PG flick
Summary: 4 Stars
Now, first off, I haven't seen the original, so I may like that more, I don't know. I'm planning on watching the original now that I've seen this one, because the overall message of the movie I just loved. What a wonderful message to child and adult alike. But why do they feel the need to add tasteless humor and foul language to ruin such a wonderful movie. Did the drunk santa's pants HAVE to fall down and expose his rear?? Did he HAVE to use the term Numb N--s? Did Dylan MacDermots character have to say, "I just bought some mistletoe, why don't we go to my place and try it out" And those are just the few that come to mind. I know there were a couple of other phrases and comments that my husband and I thought were just not needed. I mean, they certainly don't add to the plot. Come on now!!!!Why do they insist on ruining such a family oriented movie like that!??! Either find an edited copy for children, or check out the original. (I haven't seen it, but I'm sure they don't say numb n--s)Movie Review: overall as good as the original
Summary: 4 Stars
Attenborough is a very satisfactory replacement for Gwynn in this remake, and the little girl is better than Natalie Wood (my biggest complaint about the original is Wood's performance; she's annoyingly precious). The romance is a little flat, but it was in the original, too. Perkins just isn't as good as O'Hara, (hardly anyone is), but McDermott is better than the telephone pole that played the lawyer in the original (it's no accident that John Payne wasn't a big star). And the "trial" makes a little more sense than in the original, although I sure missed William Frawley (aka Fred Mertz) as the judge's political advisor.Overall, I think that this is a very satisfactory remake. It doesn't quite reach some of the high points of the original, but it avoids enough of the lows to make it just fine. And my kids like it better, probably because it's in color and has a more modern feel. It's become a family tradition to watch it on Christmas Eve, and I rather look forward to it every year...