CommentsXp Best movie ever!

RipDelight This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Taraparain Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

BelSports This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Horst in Translation ([email protected]) This Muppet Christmas special from 1987 makes for an entertaining 47 minutes and that comes from somebody who's never really been too big on the Muppets. It had parts that really make me laugh and others that didn't really engage me at all. One of its strengths is certainly that it really includes almost everybody from the Muppet universe. It's a valid criticism for many Christmas specials that they leave out certain beloved characters, but not so this one. Whoever you favorite Muppet is, they will be included.I especially liked the cinema scene where they watch a video from when they were baby Muppets together. It touched me to watch them sing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". From the emotional perspective, I also liked how Kermit kept worrying about Miss Piggy, although I've never really been a fan of her and how the cook enters his view of Big Bird as the Christmas meal after they sing together. Maureen the mink, the interaction between the two dogs and some other scenes provide nice comedic value and as a whole I recommend this short film. It has some nice Christmas numbers (the only one I didn't like was the rock version of Jingle Bells, should have gone on like it started with the two frogs singing) performed by the gang that will certainly get you into the mood for the holidays and I loved how harmonic the ending was. Recommended.

crazydude1989 When I was 11, I first saw this special (on the VHS release that is). And that was back in 1999-2000. I couldn't stop watching this special! Then I acquired the DVD in 2001. Then I found out my mother taped it when it aired on Nickelodeon in 1992. I was shocked to find out that the DVDs that I had been watching all this time had been edited because the music rights had been only secured for television, and not for home video release. If only they could acquire the full rights to all the songs and re-release the original special that only aired in 1987 and 1988. How could they just think about money, rather than this priceless Christmas gem? ANYWAY, I love "Muppet Family Christmas." It features practically every Muppet known to man, from Kermit, Fozzie, Gonzo, Rowlf, Miss Piggy, Animal and the rest, to the cast of Sesame Street. Even Doc, Sprocket the dog, and the Fraggles make an appearance! Most of the Muppets in this special don't even exist anymore. Fozzie decides to surprise his mother at the farmhouse for Christmas, who was going to spend the holidays in Malibu. It's not only Fozzie who shows up, but all of the Muppets! Soon a blizzard hits. All the Muppets are safe and warm (and definitely crowded) inside the farmhouse except for Miss Piggy, who has been doing last minute shopping, and hasn't gotten there yet, and Kermit had been worried sick. But Doc decides to go out in the blizzard and search for her. Then Kermit and Robin discover a Fraggle hole in the basement, and it leads them into Fraggle Rock, and they meet some Fraggles. The Fraggles tell them about their Christmases, how they've been exchanging a Fraggle Pebble 37 times. They give it to Kermit, who gives it to Robin, (who later gives it to Grover.) Miss Piggy finally arrives, and makes her entrance (and slips on the icy patch, which had been a running gag throughout the whole show) And the Muppets sing a medley of carols, which sums up the holiday goodness of this wonderful special.I am lucky that my mother taped this, probably the last time it ever aired on TV during the holidays. Had I not watched that tape, I would be watching the edited version! All the edits still do make the show make sense, except for one--when the Muppets are watching home movies of their very first Christmas together, (look out for a special live-action Muppet Babies cameo,) it shows them singing Santa Clause is coming to Town, and right after, Animal bursts through the screen. Yet in the edited version, it cuts right to Animal bursting through the screen, and Doc saying "boy, that was fun!" How could it be fun if it was like, two seconds??? LOL.Fortunately, if you're lucky, you will have an old VHS tape with the original airing (or the 1989 "almost uncut" edit.) Back in the wonderful Jim Henson era of the Muppets. He even makes a cameo appearance!

wile_E2005 In my opinion, this ties with "Christmas Eve on Sesame Street" for being the best Muppet Christmas special out there. I have a copy tapes off of Nickelodeon, so it's ALMOST uncut, but it's better than the DVD print out now.You get to see many classic Muppets from the Muppet Show, with their original performers (Jim Henson, Richard Hunt, Frank Oz, and others). The show is also chock full of classic Sesame Street characters, too! Elmo is here, but thankfully, he has no lines. A bunch of rare, forgotten Sesame characters are here, too, including Simon Soundman (a guy who can make sound effects), Sherlock Hemlock (a Sherlock Holmes-wannabe), Forgetful Jones (a cowboy with bad memory), and even Guy Smiley! (OK, so he's not that forgotten, but he was retired when Jim Henson died.) :( But this is still a great way to see many old Muppets (just as "Christmas Eve on Sesame Street" is a great way to see Mr. Hooper).Also, the live-action Muppet Babies are SO CUTE! Their voices are the same as on the "I'm Gonna Always Love You" song in "The Muppets Take Manhattan," but I prefer the cartoon voices for them better, even though the cartoon makes Gonzo sound like a girl. :P I also think that the REAL star of this special is Jerry Nelson, a talented veteran Muppet performer whom has worked with the Henson company since 1970. He gets to do many of his Muppet Show characters, including Robin the Frog, Emily Bear, Lew Zealand, Crazy Harry, Camilla the Chicken, and Floyd Pepper. But he seems to be more well-known for his Sesame Street work, for this special also features Herry Monster, Count Von Count, Biff the Construction Worker, Fred the Wonder Horse, Simon Soundman, Sherlock Hemlock, and a few others. He also performed Gobo Fraggle on "Fraggle Rock." He seems to be a man of many voices, and he has also done announcers on those shows, too.Anyways, I recommend it to all you Muppet and Sesame Street fans, but make sure you don't get the DVD or VHS version!

deepars57 I just wish they'd re-release this on DVD. Can only find originals and copies on ebay for over $45. My copy on VHS is good but you just don't get the clarity that you see on DVD. I love the fact that Muppets meet the Sesame Street gang. Have watched this every season since my kids were toddlers and that was over 20 years ago. How does the public change the marketing of movies. Or is this a Jim Henson glitch? Wish I could find out. Just not ready to spend the big bucks on ebay. The story line is a blizzard on Fozzie's farm and Miss Piggy is on her way to the festivities. It's just comical to see the "cook" see the size of Big Bird and think "how do I roast That". Just an all round great holiday film.