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Santa Claus - The Movie (20th Anniversary Edition)
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Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
Find all by Starz / Anchor Bay
Directed By: Jeannot Szwarc
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Theatrical Release: November 29, 1985
Average Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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Retail Price: $14.98
Online Sale Price: $7.49
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Starring: Dudley Moore, John Lithgow, David Huddleston, Burgess Meredith, Judy Cornwell
This is the delightful story of a master toymaker who discovers a magical kingdom of elves at the North Pole. There he is entrusted with wondrous, special powers – to become the world’s most beloved patron of Christmas…Santa Claus! And there he meets Patch (Dudley Moore), and eager-to-please elf who becomes mixed up with a dastardly toy tycoon’s (John Lithgow) plans to take over Christmas. And so begins Santa’s greatest adventure of all – to rescue his faithful elf and to save Christmas for all the children of the world!
User Submitted Santa Claus - The Movie (20th Anniversary Edition) Reviews
November 25, 2008
Santa, Superman, Dudley Moore, and bad child actors.
There is a reason why "Santa Claus: The Movie" is entitled that way. It's because it was made by the same people who produced "Superman: The Movie." And that's not where the similarities between the two films end. In fact, "Santa Claus" has the same story outline as "Superman" because they were partly written by the same persons. Like "Superman," the first part of "Santa Claus" details the history of Santa- where he came from and how he became Santa. Also like "Superman," the second part of the film has the hero overcoming the nefarious schemes of an evil mastermind- in "Superman" it was Lex Luthor, who wanted to blow up the west coast, and in "Santa Claus" it was B.Z, the owner of B.Z. Toys, who wants to bury Santa as a competitor.
If the producers and writers of "Santa Claus" thought that by recycling elements of "Superman" and putting a Christmas spin on them would give them another box office success then they were sadly mistaken. "Santa Claus: The Movie" was a huge flop and critical fiasco. It did, though, get a second life when it was placed on heavy rotation for cable tv and undemanding kids watched it over and over again (and who then grew up and gave it the five star reviews one sees here!)
"Santa Claus" the movie isn't awful, but it's pretty darn bad. What does it in is its "painted-by-the-numbers" plot, an absolutely pathetic third act, and one of the worst performances by a child actor ever. Overall, the adult cast members are not bad. David Huddleston actually makes a pretty good Santa and he does his best with the material. (However, fans of "The Big Lebowski" will probably be amused at the sight of him "ho ho hoing" his jolly way across the screen instead of screaming: "The bums lost! My condolences!") Dudley Moore as Santa's top elf, "Patch," was a fairly big star when this movie was made (much bigger than Huddleston) so he gets a lion's share of the dialogue and scenes which is odd in a movie entitled "Santa Claus: The Movie." (I've heard that Dudley Moore became increasingly morose in his last years over how his once hot career completely fizzled out. It's sad because the man had talent. However, he is partly to blame due to bad career choices such as playing "Patch" in this bomb.) Rounding out the major adult characters is John Lithgow- hamming it up with extreme glee as "B.Z" the villianous toymaker. It appears that Lithgow was instructed to outcamp Gene Hackman's "Lex Luthor" from the "Superman" movies and he more than accomplished that task!
The first part of the film is the most watchable- when it focuses on Santa, his elves, and the North Pole it's fairly entertaining in a cheesy, schmaltzy way. However, it goes completely over the edge when it moves into its 2nd act and introduces one of the most annoying kid actors in the history of film- Christian Fitzpatrick's "Joe." Oh, "Joe" how I loathe thee! Joe the poor kid lives on the street and doesn't buy all this Santa stuff. So Santa and a rich little girl (also played by a terrible kid actor) have to show him the true meaning of Christmas while saving it from the dastardly B.Z! It's probably impossible to adequately explain how terrible Fitzpatrick's performance truly is in this movie. The fact that this and one other film are his only acting credits is ample proof that he had no place in front of a camera. The scene with him eating is one of the most repulsive things I've ever witnessed put to film.
This is NOT a Christmas classic- just because it was shown fifteen times a week on HBO back in 1987 and you caught it on thirteen of those occasions doesn't make it a classic. It's simply a painted-by-the-numbers, cheezoid 80's piece of crass Christmas commercialism and not much more.
September 18, 2008
Great holiday movie for the whole family!
I love this movie, Dudley Moore and John Lithgow are fabulous and so is the rest of the cast! I got it for a reasonable price, especially since no one anywhere had it. Thank you.
August 24, 2008
"I want to live at the North Pole"
If the North Pole was anything like it is portrayed in this movie, I want to live there. The scene when Mrs. Claus had to choose green or red for the first Santa suit was awesome. He put that red coat on and you could almost hear a choir singing! And when the reindeer and sleigh took off for the first flight it was breathtaking. Five big stars for this movie. It is my favorite Christmas movie now. I have even bought it for friends so they could get as excited watching it for the first time as I did.
June 16, 2008
Just Like I Remember
I haven't seen this film in such pristine glory since it's initial release in 1985 while I was stationed in England as a 21 year old Air Force airman, and it took me back to that simpler time in my life. The effects hold up very well in this new DVD (unlike previous video and television versions which looked like they were recorded straight from a TV monitor), especially the full shots of the sleigh team in flight. The only (minor) problem I had was with the film's continuity during one scene: during the chase to the North Pole, the six reindeer are at an incredible speed cutting thru the sky, but when Santa stands up in the sleigh shouting encouragement to his team, his loose-hanging coat DOES NOT flap in the wind--AT ALL!!! That has always bothered me; maybe they can do a Director's Cut sometime and fix that! LOL. In any case, the movie overall will stand as a Christmas classic, or just a feel-good injection whenever I need a pick-me-up!
January 20, 2008
Santa Claus
Still a great movie. Not as great as I remember, but Dudley Moore is great in it. Makes a nice change from the stuff normally on tv at Christmas.
January 18, 2008
Just as I remembered!
I ordered this movie because it was one of my favorites growing up and I wanted my son to see it! He loved it, just as I did when I was a little girl! The enhancements were wonderful!
January 11, 2008
The best Christmas movie EVER!!!
I remember watching this movie when I was a little girl after it first came out. It was and always will be my favorite Christmas movie. There's just something about it that takes you back to when you were a child. This is the way children should think Santa Claus lived. It's perfect!
January 10, 2008
Santa Movie
The dvd was in good form and worked perfectly. However, the service was disappointing. I paid for shipping to be 11-16 days and it was 24 days. I wasn't happy seeing I wanted it before Christmas and got it only on Christmas eve.
January 9, 2008
Santa Claus: the Movie
I thought the sound quality was poor. I had to turn it way up to be able to hear the voices but it made the background noises too loud.
January 3, 2008
Childhood Memories
This product was great! I remember watching this movie when I was a kid. The shipping was quick and efficient, no problems!
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