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Reviews
The Town Santa Forgot (1993)
A Cure for the Toy-Crazed in the Holiday Season
Three years before the "Tickle Me Elmo" craze, a selfish, greedy boy gets what toys he covets via sucking his thumb or thowing a tantrum. His parents gave up on him, purchasing no toys. In response, he writes a half-mile list to Santa, but when he receives it, a mishap occurred one Christmas Eve, thanks to a location found on a church-sized map. That taught the brat a lesson he'll never forget: letting each girl and boy not only look for the interests of his or her self, but for those of others too, such as the residents of an impovershed small town who received the brat's toys.
Jeremy Creek stars in "The Town That Santa Forgot," a holiday classic in which it should be included in the Buy Nothing Day coverage on television. It has an implied moral that love and giving (or, additionally for Christians, Jesus) is the reason for the season, not the Invaders From Outer Space or a rocking horse. Narrated in the style of Dr. Suess, this will tug your heartstrings and (for those predicting a toy craze and those with kids) teach the life skills of being more altruistic.
A perfect 10/10!
Johannes Passion, BWV. 245 (1725 Version) (1996)
Wonderful Performance of Bach's S. J. P
I've seen this program on EWTN, as part of the "In Concert" series. I recently taped this so I can be caught up in the religious performance for years to come. Stephen Cleobury has placed his effort to conduct the St. John Passion (1725 version) wonderfully. The King's College Choir sings like angels combined with saints. The soloists are out of this world! I find John Mark Ainsley a very dramatic Evangelist.(Nte how he draws his vowels in some of his recitatives!) I like the other soloists as well as Ainsley. Stephen Richardson's Jesus sounds like a wise chap. Stephen Varcoe vocalizes in the same gusto as Ainsley, but he sings Pilate and the bass arias. Catherine Bott sings in a warm tone in her arias. Paul Agnew sings a higher timbre than Ainsley, but he has a bit of expression. Last but not least, I LOVE the appealing alto voice of Michael Chance. He's my favorite countertenor! Overall, the soloists are glorious! The Brandenburg Consort, directed by Roy Goodman, brings the concert together. The female players are donned in red, as in their televised concerts. The strings, continuo players, and woodwinds blend well with the famous male choir. What an enticing performance! I give this 10/10 stars!
The Rescuers (1977)
An Excellent Movie with an Excellent Song
When I heard "Someone's Waiting for You" on one of the karaoke parties, it makes me want to download the original SO BADLY!!!! Whether it's either one of the two, it invokes memories of watching "The Rescuers." This Disney jewel was one of my childhood postcards. They even heightened the trite villain-kidnaps-innocent plot oh-so beautifully. The mice were sent to Devil's Bayou via a message in a bottle submitted to the Rescue Aid Society, where Penny was held captive by her egotistic nemesis, Madame Medusa. The villain uses her for personal needs, such as helping her hunt for a diamond in the Devil's Eye. The animation was enchanting, yet cartoon-y to some people.
The most heart-rendering scene is, of course, the enchanting balcony part. The most lovely element that can tug your heartstrings even more is the song, "Someone's Waiting for You." This made me misty-eyed during this part when a teary Penny overlooks a Southern swamp when aid from Bianca and Bernard is en route. How melancholy! I also liked the magic and rainbows of "Tomorrow is Another Day," too. I regard "Someone's Waiting for You" as one of the "must-listens" of musical hits from Disney classics! (Oh, and by the way, this song is featured in Disney's Greatest Lullabies, complied a decade after the movie's release!) I give this motion picture 9 out of 10 stars, because some things can irk some social groups a hair bit
Tom and Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl (1950)
The "Bat" in the Bowl
I'm a BIG classical music buff, and "Hollywood Bowl" is one of the best Tom and Jerry cartoons that entice people like me. The music of it was wonderful! If you classical music-illiterate folks have no inkling of who wrote the glorious music, this is the overture to a little opera named "The Bat" (Ha, ha; funny name for an operetta, huh?) by Johann Strauss the Younger.
Tom and Jerry were conductors who conduct the orchestra of cats. Jerry wanted assistance to Tom, but he denies it. This is better than any other T & J cartoons! If you love classical music, watch this; it'll laugh your baton off!
A Capitol Fourth (2004)
What Patriotic Music!
No Independence Day celebration is complete without uplifting musical numbers, famous people, and pyrotechnics. "A Capitol Fourth," America's birthday gift of music since 1981, has it all under the star-spangled sky of Washington D.C. I love to gaze at the tube seeing the National Symphony Orchestra under Erich Kunzel's baton, musical celebrities, a fine choir, Barry Bostwick the host, and a variety of military musical groups providing a feast of patriotic music. 2005's the "silver year" of this glorious concert (25 years old, but a bit too early...), so I'm up to it. If you either can't make it (because the West Lawn of the Capitol is crowded or traffic weighs on you), can't watch (or do) the fireworks, or simply too busy to celebrate the Fourth of July, this concert's for you! Add this 1 1/2 hour wonder to your Independence Day traditions if you can!!! A effect 10/10 for a patriotic PBS special!
The Fairly OddParents: School's Out! The Musical (2003)
Brilliant!!!
I watched this wonderful special with one of my cousins and it was absolutely great! The songs fit the wondrous plot used in it, especially the boredom about the tedious life in Pixie World and the world which was turned into an environment based on Flappy Bob's Learn-A-Torium ("Unfundimentals," my personal favorite) and the heart-rendering duet with Cosmo and Wanda ("As Long as I'm Floating With You"). The plot is about a former clown/lawyer putting ten-year-old Timmy Turner and his peers inside his Learn-A-Torium, in response to the complaints from their parents for their reckless behavior. But the 37-year old esthabishment is actually an evil plan manipulated everything, something Flappy Bob and the adults didn't known about. I urge you to watch this, whether you're a musical buff, kid, or a cartoon junkie!!!
The Reppies (1996)
My Favorite Christian Show!
I first saw "The Reppies" when I saw an episode when the drummer Derango (the green Reppie with red hair) got out of shape in "Come and Get It." Every Saturday on TBN (or other Christian channel airing it) I watch this wonderful show. I especially liked Lobo, the eldest of the Reppies. I also liked Tessa, the tan girl who plays the keyboards and wears purple shorts with her teal blouse. Razz the guitarist and Bumba (a frog-like creature who sometimes play the bass or harmonica)are scrumptious to see and hear too. Miss Summerhayes the British nanny, Buster, Mr. White the manager, Uncle Mickey, and Jessica are the best human characters no kids' shows can compare! It is filmed at the wonderful Tampa Theatre in 1996.
My rating is a 10/10 for life skills implied in this show and the excellent choreography and music performed!