Red One (2024)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I'll admit I haven't used my Prime account very often for movies as most things we're interested in watching we have on Fandango at Home (previously Vudu). In this case though, Red One is currently exclusively on Amazon or in theaters, so why not take advantage of the Prime benefits we're already paying for and stream the movie from the comfort of our own home. Online reviews aren't very kind to this one, but more than a few call out that critics may a bit off on their ratings as those who give it a chance seem to genuinely enjoy the film. While there's a fair amount of action and monsters, it's done in fair humor and played up to be different and yet a lot of fun. This is a very different take on your more traditional Christmas movies, even those that focus on Santa himself. Here Santa (aka "Red One") is kidnapped on Christmas Eve. Now it's up to ELF (Enforcement, Logistics, and Fortification) and MORA (Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority) to find Nicholas and restore order in the North Pole in time for Christmas. While most of the myths we see come to life are understandably from winter lore, including Krampus and Gryla, we do see other creatures and hear about a few others along the way as well. Especially with this being live action and the amount of material out there, it's rather impressive how they managed to create something entirely unique and fun. Even the acronyms are right on the nose, lending to more than a few one-liners that earn a chuckle along the way.
Showing posts with label genre: christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label genre: christmas. Show all posts
December 28, 2024
Red One
December 24, 2021
Christmas in the Heartland
Christmas in the Heartland (2017)
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Somewhat reminiscent of The Parent Trap, where two characters swap lives for a period of time. In this case, there is no ulterior motive to get their families back together, though it seems they may just have that same effect by the end of the story. Neither is particularly thrilled about being sent "home" to relatives they don't really know for the holidays when they meet on a plane and realize they're heading to the same place for the same reason.... only they like the sound of the other person's holiday much better than their own. Some chaos always joins the mix with a switch up like this, and while the resolution may not be perfect, it seems the majority end up with more than they could ever have hoped for.
December 23, 2021
White Christmas
White Christmas (1954)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is one of the old classic Christmas movies that has really aged well for its time. The story still is well done, especially for the time period in which it is supposed to take place, as well as the music still being engaging and fitting for the rest of the story. There are more than a few mix ups and misunderstandings in the mix of the entire thing, but in the end of course, it all works out for a wonderful Christmas.
December 26, 2016
Christmas in Haggerty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
My first copy of this book was actually a gift at a book signing where I met Betsy Brannon Green. My second copy was a gift from a friend when the first one was slightly damaged while she borrowed it. This is a very short and sweet, yet sometimes melancholy Christmas story with the favorite characters from Haggerty. Kate is struggling with the fact that she can't have any more children while being pushed to do family history (though her own is already finished) and Miss Eugenia has her own loneliness issues. Mark seems the most ambivalent of the group and even Miss Annabelle admits to going along with many of Miss Eugenia's plans just to humor her sister (amusing considering the way the two of them often snipe at each other in public). As a short story, this is very easy to read in a brief sitting once you get going on it.
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December 25, 2016
The Itsy Bitsy Snowman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Similar to The Itsy Bitsy Spider, just changed to fit a snowman. This was a book my daughter picked out for baby brother. Good rhyme and cute pictures make for a fun yet simple children's book.
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December 22, 2016
5-Minute Christmas Stories
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is another of our Christmas advent books. We only read one story for bedtime and saved the others for story time today. This book contains 12 different stories, each only 5 minutes long. Perfect for the attention span of small children. Each one features different Disney characters, adding another bit of fun. What child doesn't enjoy Disney? The stories are the following:
1. Mickey & Friends: Santa's Little Helper
2. Wall-E: A Gift for Wall-E
3. Peter Pan: Christmas in Never Land
4. Alice in Wonderland: A Present for the Queen
5. 101 Dalmatians: Snow Puppies
6. Monsters Inc.: Christmas in Monstropolis
7. Winnie the Pooh: Merry Christmas, Winnie the Pooh
8. Sleeping Beauty: Aurora's Homemade Holiday
9. Lady & the Tramp: Christmas Traditions
10. Cars: Mater Saves Christmas
11. Pinocchio: A Meowy Christmas
12. Cinderella: A Perfect Party
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December 19, 2016
Frozen: A Frozen Christmas
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This is basically the same as Frozen: The Christmas Party from the Step Into Reading series. The descriptions are a little different, and this is in a simplified board book form. Seriously though, look at the artwork.... it's the exact same. Slightly different order and there are a few missing in this book from the other one, but what is there is duplicated. No originality on this author's work at all. My daughter still enjoyed it because it was Frozen, plus Christmas, plus glitter everywhere. I wasn't impressed. This is one that will probably be stealthily finding a new home in the future since we have the other book as well.
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December 17, 2016
Frozen: Olaf's Night Before Christmas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another new Christmas book for our advent reading this year. This book starts off similar to the famous Christmas story by the similar title, but it changes to fit the narrator (Olaf) and how he might see things for a Frozen Christmas. The story still rhymes, and the story is still simple for small children. The overall content and meaning is much the same. Still, enough has been changed that it doesn't feel like just the same old thing and kids who love Frozen especially get a kick out of it. As a bonus, this book came with a read-along CD that Olaf is supposed to narrate as he tells this story. We haven't listened to it yet, but it's on the list for later this week already.
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December 16, 2016
Little Blue Truck's Christmas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Another of our Christmas advent books this year, this is a jumbo print board book. The reason becomes obvious when you reach the back page - where the Christmas tree literally lights up. Overall, the story is simple and cute. There's actually a big emphasis on counting you can capitalize on with small children as the trees are picked up and then delivered one by one. The book itself feels very sturdy, which is great for little hands.
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December 15, 2016
The Polar Express
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
We got this award winning book as a deal from my daughter's school book fair in hardback. The artwork is beautiful and the story is a classic. I remember hearing it as a child myself, though I did not have a copy of the book. We've since seen the movie as well, which has a lot of added details to flesh it out into a full length film. Still, it's a fun story. The kids loved the train and my daughter kept asking questions about Santa and belief making the bell work at the end. She's only four, so I can only imagine the questions she'll come up with or the comments she'll make as we keep reading this over the years for her and her brother.
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The Christmas Kitten
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
My daughter's pick for her special advent book as it came with a kitten plush. What they don't tell you is that this is sort of an Elf on the Shelf in disguise idea.... read this story early in December when "kitty" is supposed to show up at the house to keep track of how naughty or nice the children are. The cat is then supposed to disappear on Christmas Eve with Santa only to return again the next year. Yeah.... don't think that's happening. She'll either get tucked in with the Christmas ornaments or just stay with the rest of the stuffed animals. The second is more likely since said cat also comes with a bell attached, making it difficult to move her without hearing it. The story itself is cute, and the art is pretty. It's simple and pretty straight forward, which is good for kids. I guess at least it's a stuffed cat and not a lure to actually adopt a kitten, which is what I was slightly afraid of at the start of the book when it says the cat will come to live with the children. Well, okay then. We already have two cats; that's enough.
'Twas the Night Before Christmas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was my daughter's pick for baby brother's new book on the Christmas book advent. It came with a little reindeer plush as well. This is the classic Night Before Christmas rhyme with beautiful artwork to help tell the story. The kids both loved it.
December 11, 2016
Paw Patrol: The Night Before Christmas
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This is essentially the same story as the Holiday Helpers book, just with less words and lift-flaps added in a board book style. The story is told very concisely and simply in a rhyming method that makes it fun for the kids. Some of the lift-flaps make sense along with the story line, but most of them are just cute little Christmas decorations to give it the 24 total flaps for the countdown to Christmas. The kids loved it, so that's good. Not something I'd want to read every day, but it's cute and feels pretty sturdy, especially for a lift-flap book.
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December 8, 2016
The Wild Christmas Reindeer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was originally one of my books as a child and this is the first year I've been able to read it to my own children. At first glance, you might think it's a more difficult children's book as the text is in a larger paragraph. However, there is typically only one "larger" story section per two-page spread in the book. This, and the flow of the story, make it a much easier book overall. The artwork is simply stunning, and has always stood out. While the story is about preparing for Christmas, most specifically about gathering and training the reindeer, it's really more about the effort and emotions Teeka displays and learns as she goes through the process. The Christmas ending is just kind of the bonus icing on the cake.
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December 7, 2016
Disney Princess: Winter Fun for Everyone!
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A little more lengthy when it comes to the story than Sweets & Treats, which has a similar set up to this book. Still, it is a cute and fun book for small children. All the glitter certainly didn't hurt with my little girl. My son wasn't so enamored of it, but he was also cranky and wanted his bed more than his bedtime story. With only 3 princesses highlighted, it isn't the most inclusive of the Disney Princess books, but it's still more than sufficient for it's purpose and length.
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Paw Patrol: A Very Puppy Christmas!
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I somehow missed that this is largely a coloring book when ordering it online. Still, it is cute and relates completely to the Christmas Paw Patrol episode, as does the Holiday Helpers book. There are an insane number of ornament and card extras in this book as well. My daughter would need her own tree for the number of cardstock decorations she now has between this and the few in her most recent Frozen book. If nothing else, this is a great activity book for children, especially during the holidays.
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December 6, 2016
Paw Patrol: Holiday Helpers!
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was one of our new books for our Christmas book advent with the kids. Our daughter loves Paw Patrol, so it was an instant hit for that reason alone. It follows the Christmas TV episode when Santa gets caught in a blizzard and needs the Paw Patrol to help fix his sleigh, find the fallen gifts to deliver, and round up his reindeer. Cute and familiar for any young Paw Patrol fan to follow along with. As a bonus, the book also included stickers, a poster, and gift tags. That's a pretty fancy collection for a small holiday book.
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December 5, 2016
Care Bears: Share Bear's Christmas Wish
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is a cute little Care Bear story featuring around Share Bear. As usual, Share is so busy helping everyone else that none of her own to-do list gets done. Lucky for her, the Care Bears are all about caring and helping, even poor Grumpy Bear. A good, simple story for children about the helping others and how it isn't the things that matter so much for the holidays, but the people (or bears) who make it great.
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December 3, 2016
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Rudolph Helps Out
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is a cute little short board book about Rudolph helping with Christmas preparations. It follows the animated movie, including the elves and other reindeer, so it is best if you have seen that as well. My kids have been too young to watch it previous years, so it is on our list of Christmas films to watch this year. We'll have to pull this back out again after so the character references make more sense. Either way, they are already singing about Rudolph in school, so it still got a smile.
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December 2, 2016
Frozen: The Christmas Party
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This ended up being the first book unwrapped for our Christmas book advent this year. Lucky pick as it was the book my daughter most wanted to start with (I think because it was also the most recently acquired and fresh in her mind from wrapping). The story is cute, simple, and fun, though the ending does not follow the flow of the rest of the book. It also focuses on sisters, which my daughter does not have. She does have a brother though, so I told her we could replace "sisters" with "siblings" for the same meaning. The little paper ornaments in the back are a cute as well. She wanted to make them right then, but we didn't have any ribbon or string to tie them with, so we'll need to find something for that I suppose. Her copy also came with a snowflake necklace that she wants to wear all the time. It is very cheaply made however, especially the chain as I've already had to fix that twice from the links coming apart.
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