Movie Review: Barbie in A Christmas Carol

Barbie in A Christmas Carol a.k.a Barbie: A Christmas Carol
Mattel Entertainment, Rainmaker Entertainment, USA, Canada, 2008. 

Free adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. 

Barbie and her little sister Shelly are going to charity dance ball but Shelly (Kelly in American version) doesn't want to go. Barbie tells a story about selfish singer Eden Starling who lived in the Victorian Era England. She had a goofy cat Chuzzlewit. Barbie performs the role of Eden, which is a bit more unusual role as usually her characters are nicer. Eden is a pompous diva who mistreats her best friend Catherine (played by Barbie's friend Nikki) and cancels her staff's Christmas vacation. At night his ghost aunt Marie appears and proclaims that she should learn to be unselfish or else. 

Barbie and Shelly

Eden Starling

Catherine Beadnell

Spirit Of Christmas Past shows that Eden had a harsh childhood. Spirit Of Christmas Present shows what her workers think about her and Spirit Of Christmas Future shows what will happen if Eden continues with her selfish ways.

Christmas is canceled

Chuzzlewit

The ever so cheery Spirit Of Christmas Past made Eden show a Meh face:

Here I am again outside of the main target audience, reviewing a movie for little girls. But why not. "A Christmas Carol" is an often filmed classic story, the 1936 version is reviewed here, the modern version with Bill Murray here and the Muppets version here. The character played by Barbie is edgier than usually, so the character gains a bit more dimension. It is also explored why she became like the way she is. Some darker parts of the original story have been softened and some comedy has been added. The cat has funny scenes and Eden's workers and Christmas Spirits are quite fun too. The songs have some prettily sung carols. Barbie's version retains the original heart-warming message although some details are changed and there are some adorable orphans too. For the target audience it is a nice first introduction to Dickens' classic tale.

Adorable orphans

Friends again

Rating: Good

Voice actors: Kelly Sheridan, Morwenna Banks, Melissa Lyons, Prudence Edwards, Leanne Araya, Kandyse McClure, Shauntia Fleming, Kathleen Barr, Pam Hyatt, abitha St. Germain, Lisa Roth, Gwynyth Walsh, Kelly Bixby, Amelia Henderson, Michael Ann Angone, Fabrice Grover, Tim Fett, Shannon Chan-Kent, Luke Smith, Anthony Fett, Melissa Lloyd, Morgan Roff, Terry Klassen, Chicago Children's Choir
Director: William Lau

Movie Review: Stalking Santa

Stalking Santa 

Ka Bang Entertainment, Cosmic Pictures, USA, 2006.

For thousands of years people have asked: Is Santa Claus real? Santologist Lloyd Darrow, Ph.D. (Chris Clark) has dedicated his life to prove that Santa really exists. His research does not make much money so his faithful wife Barbara (Lisa Clark) has to work for the two of them. Is he a dedicated scientists or a weirdo who stalks department store Santas and people who look like elves? 

Barbara and Lloyd

Clarence

Evidence from ancient Egypt

Many are skeptical about Lloyd's research but is there a conspiracy to hide the truth? Lloyd and his intern Clarence (Daryn Tufts) are mocked but they are determined to find the truth. The crucial experiment on Christmas Eve will reveal if their hard work has been fruitful or not.

This is fairly unknown indie comedy that I found from video rental store surplus shelf I was not expecting much but the film was a very positive surprise. It is a fun mockumentary that parodies the conspiracy theories and UFO-documentaries. It is smarter and funnier than many big budget comedies in these days. Funny dialogue and dry humour is in the style of combining "The X-Files" with "Office" series. Narration by William Shatner gives an authoritative edge. However it could have improved as a bit shorter film. It is a recommended Christmas comedy to watch if you can find it.

The truth is out there and hey, let's be careful out there!

Rating: Very good

Starring: Chris Clark, Daryn Tufts, Lisa Clark, William Shatner, Simon Taylor, Sierra Squires, Ed Mangum, Jed Knudsen, Hans Kelling, Marion Bentley, Timothy Lineback, Travis Eberhard, Marty Patch, Jake Suazo, Bern Kubiak, Phil Shepherd, Matt Mattson, Brett Merritt, Carolyn Smith, Tony Larimer, Mary C. Larimer, Miles Valentine Clark, Yim Su, Ricardo L. Perez, Alex Krova, Jonathan Baty, Hannah McFarland, Joel Bishop, Thomas A. Louisiana, Chris Kendrick, Gavin Bentley, Jennifer Erekson, Kristen Erekson, Mark Hatch, Lita L. Giddins, Rob McFarland, Jeffrey Blake, Marc Raymond, Darryl Woodward, Nancy Woodward, DeLoy Herzog, Jimmy Chunga, Casey Scott, Kay Trujillo, Draker T. Anderson, D. Jay Cook, Ron Bird, Debbie Worthen, Dan Rascon, Bryson Webb 

Director: Greg Kiefer

Movie Review: Krampus (2015)

Krampus (2015)

Legendary Pictures, Zam Pictures, Universal Pictures, USA, 2015.

Enough for now for the peaceful Christmas movies. Bring on Krampus!

A jaded family prepares for Christmas. They barely survived the Christmas-rush, but then tiresome relatives come to visit. Survival-nut Howard (David Koechner), bossy Linda (Allison Tolman), their tomboy daughters and always grumpy Aunt Dorothy (Conchata Ferrell) get into mother Sarah's (Toni Collette) nerves. Redneck Howard scorns wimpy father Tom (Adam Scott). Likewise fed up is little Max (Emjay Anthony). After his cousins ruin his letter to Santa, he rips the letter. Blizzard surrounds the house and people start to die or vanish. 

Max

Sarah and Tom

Aunt Dorothy and Linda

German-born Grandma Omi (Krista Stadler) knows that when the spirit of Christmas is lost, Christmas demon  Krampus comes to punish everyone. Krampus (Luke Hawker) and his evil elves bring killer toys to naughty children. The strifing families try to fight back but it is not so easy against a supernatural foe.

Howard

Elves

Omi and Krampus

Horror-comedy starts quite dark and has "Gremlins"-style creepy fun, it is bit darker though but avoids the gore as the age rating in the USA was PG-13. The funniest dialogue comes from always drinking Aunt Dorothy. The story looks like the heir of Joe Dante's horror comedies and Grandma Omi's flashback is presented with Burtonesque animation.  Evil gingerbread men, teddy bears and Jack-in-the-box attack the unlucky folks. Pleasant amount of the monster effects are made using traditional masks or puppets, with occasional use of CGI. As an alternative Christmas movie it is not a long shot from Santa Claus-horror in "Rare Exports (2010)."

Rating: Good

Starring: Emjay Anthony, Adam Scott, Toni Collette, Stefania LaVie Owen, Krista Stadler, Conchata Ferrell, Allison Tolman, David Koechner, Maverick Flack, Queenie Samuel, Lolo Owen, Sage Hunefeld, Leith Towers, Curtis Vowell, Luke Hawker, Seth Green, Breehn Burns, Justin Roiland, Brett Beattie, Mark Atkin, Amy Brighton, Trevor Bau, Ravi Narayan, Felicity Hamill, Sophie Gannon, Kelly Lily Marie, Clare Odell, Gareth Ruck, Ivy George, Teddy Klaue, Tik Tok, Collin Dean, Pascal Ackerman, Skye Broberg, Jessie Carson, Thor, Adam McArthur, Jon Bailey, David W. Collins, Gideon Emery, Chi Jiajia Lim, Eric Lopez, Alexander Polinsky 

Director: Michael Dougherty