The Christmas Toy
by Eric Till
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Dave Goelz, Kathryn Mullen, Marsha Moreau, Richard Hunt, Zachary BennettDirector: Eric Till
Brand: Lions Gate
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: AC-3, Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 48 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-11-04
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Lyons / Hit Ent.
Movie Reviews of The Christmas Toy
Movie Review: Kermit has been cut out of the picture... again!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I recall this film well and we already own the old British release but the fact that Disney has not allowed Kermit to appear on this dvd is yet another example of how Henson's creative spirit is ultimately usurped by the market place. We all remember how much overlap there was between Henson's worlds; Fraggles would appear in Muppet films, Sesame Muppets appeared along side Fraggles and Muppets and this conveyed the most important thing in Henson's world, the family unit, his family was reflected here and what Disney and Hit should know by now, is that one product will support the other; these are old films, just waver the rights and someone take note, the Muppet franchise works at it's best when the Muppet family supports each other. These are old films, just leave them alone ..... by editing this film they have spoilt it, Kermit and the cast end the story in a huge sing song and musically, they have butcher the ending.
What made the magic of such Muppet specials is that they were part of the Muppet family and as an audience we were invited in to this family and made to feel apart of it. That was the magic of such work and I find it hard watching this version now, it just doesn't gel well for me. The Christmas Toy was released on to dvd in England as an extra bonus feature along with The Muppet Family Christmas dvd (in 2001 as a Columbria/Tristar release), so the original is out there still, if only second hand.
I am not a Henson purist at all and Jim Henson was a man who understood the balance between art and business, however he isn't around now and cutting up these old films spoils something of that creative spirit. I will be careful as to the Henson dvd's I buy in the future, now knowing the legalities which prevent imaginative work enduring intact and live with my childhood memorabilia as it is because that time when Henson's stories ruled the airwaves will not return again with the same level of panache and enlightened idealistic rebelliousness. It is for us to create now.
Summary of The Christmas Toy
Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 11/04/2008 Run time: 48 minutes Rating: NrSimilar DVD Movies
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