DVD Verdict reviews: HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS, THE SIMPSONS CHRISTMAS 2, and more!

Today, DVD Verdict posted reviews of BEYOND CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS IN
CONNECTICUT, CHRISTMAS WITH CROSBY AND KATE, THE FIRST SNOW OF WINTER,
HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS, JUDY COLLINS: CHRISTMAS AT THE BILTMORE ESTATE,
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM SINATRA AND CROSBY, NINE DOG CHRISTMAS, and THE
SIMPSONS CHRISTMAS 2:


BEYOND CHRISTMAS (reviewed by Diane Wild, overall score 83/100):
"Did they really delve into the vaults and get unused footage? No. They
cut the scenes and packaged them as an extrakind of like a doctor taking
out your appendix and then wrapping it up as your Christmas present."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/beyondchristmas.php

CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (reviewed by Sandra Dozier, overall
score 65/100):
"This is also one of Tony Curtis's better performances in his later
years, where he is allowed to indulge the manic physical comedy that
makes his performances so enjoyable."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/ch...onnecticut.php

CHRISTMAS WITH CROSBY AND KATE (reviewed by Bill Gibron, overall
score 32/100):
"If you don't mind the atonal caterwauling of a famous singer's
offspring, or some incredibly underwhelming caroling, then you may
actually enjoy this excursion into mediocrity. But anyone looking for a
fine first Noel should, perhaps, dig a little deeper into the universal
DVD catalog."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/ch...crosbykate.php

THE FIRST SNOW OF WINTER (reviewed by Rob Lineberger, overall
score 84/100):
"Though it runs a scant 28 minutes, The First Snow of Winter has
more heart (and packs in more adventure) than most animated tales
twice as long."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/firstsnowwinter.php

HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS (reviewed by Bryan Byun, overall score 85/100):
"As cheesy as Bob Hope's holiday specials were, there's something about
how unashamedly artificial they were -- artificial without being cynical
-- that is sorely missed these days. An old-fashioned spirit of pure
entertainment suffuses even the later, groan-inducing installments; it's
not so much polished product as a grown-up version of a grade-school
Christmas pageant, performed with deceptively casual goofiness and good
cheer by Hollywood royalty."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/hopeforholidays.php

JUDY COLLINS: CHRISTMAS AT THE BILTMORE ESTATE (reviewed by Amanda
DeWees, overall score 93/100):
"At Christmas time, most of us like to surround ourselves with familiar
things, from our childhood stockings and tree ornaments right down to
the carols and songs we grew up with. This lovely performance, taped in
1997 at the magnificent Biltmore estate in Asheville, North Carolina,
improves on tradition by showcasing the familiar songs with a
beautifully familiar voice: that of Judy Collins, who released her first
album in 1961 and has been going strong ever since."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/ju...nsbiltmore.php

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM SINATRA AND CROSBY (reviewed by Paul Corupe,
overall score 73/100):
"It's all pretty standard Christmas special stuff, barely directed (by
Sinatra himself) and tied together with a plot outline probably written
on a cocktail napkin."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/ch...atracrosby.php

NINE DOG CHRISTMAS (reviewed by Dennis Prince, overall score 80/100):
"Curiously, disc distributor Warner Brothers may have realized the yellow-
snow factor in this one, as they're offering Nine Dog Christmas in a
special gift box that features a plush dog toy and a burst that reads
'DVD inside -- full length movie.' That's never a harbinger of quality
entertainment."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/ninedogchristmas.php

THE SIMPSONS CHRISTMAS 2 (reviewed by Elizabeth Skipper, overall
score 70/100):
"One Christmas collection was understandable, but two is just lazy.
Instead, I want a fans' choice best-of collection. Take a poll and start
releasing the top 20 episodes in single-disc installments of five
episodes each. Give me something I want and something I can afford all
wrapped up in one disc. I've been good; I've watched The Simpsons
religiously since the very first episode. Haven't I earned it?"

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/si...christmas2.php

Mike Jackson
Editor & Webmaster, DVD Verdict
www.dvdverdict.com

DVD Verdict