Holiday Purchasing Guide August-November 2008

News and upcoming titles being released August through November 2008 for the holidays.

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UPCOMING TITLES

Santa Claus: The Movie The film starring Dudley Moore and John Lithgow is being re-released with new packaging. Street Oct. 21, prebook Sept. 18; DVD $14.98

BBC/Warner

The Private Life of a Masterpiece: Christmas Masterpieces (DVD $19.98) This program reveals the stories behind religious-themed works of art; Lovejoy: Christmas Specials (DVD $24.95) Ian McShane reprises his role as the antiques dealer in a pair of holiday specials from the popular comedy series. Both street Oct. 14, prebook Sept. 9

Classic/Genius

The New Christmas Classics Includes the following holiday specials: George of the Jungle: Jungle Bells, Casper’s Haunted Christmas and Gumby’s Season’s Greetings. Street Oct. 14, prebook Sept. 2; four-disc set $27.93

Disney

Nightmare Before Christmas Special Edition A digitally restored version of Tim Burton’s twisted story. Street Aug. 26, prebook now; two-disc set $32.99, gift set $179.99, BD $39.99

Fox

Strawberry Shortcake Holiday Dreams Collection Three Strawberry Shortcake adventures in a specially designed gift pack: Berry Merry Christmas, Big Country Fun and Let’s Dance, including five holiday cards. Street Oct. 7, prebook Sept. 10; DVD $26.98

Genius

The Flight Before Christmas Despite suffering from severe vertigo, a reindeer boy dreams of flying like his father, whom he has never met. Street Oct. 28, prebook Sept. 16; DVD $19.97

Hit/Lionsgate

The Christmas Toy This Emmy-winning program shares the secret lives of toys as they come to life on Christmas Eve when no one is watching; Snow Days Barney, Thomas the Train, Bob the Builder and Fireman Sam star in holiday-themed episodes. Both street Nov. 4, prebook Oct. 8; DVD $14.98 each

Image

A Shari Lewis Christmas Three Christmas specials from The Shari Lewis Show in addition to one special for Hi Mom. Street Oct. 14, prebook Sept. 16; DVD $9.98

Nickelodeon/Paramount

Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Snow Princess This direct-to-DVD adventure features Dora, Boots and the Snowflake Fairy in their quest to save La Princessa Sabrina. Street Sept. 30, prebook Aug. 19; DVD $19.99

Max & Ruby: A Very Merry Christmas Collection (two-disc set $26.99) Two holiday-themed DVDs plus a book; Wonder Pets: Save the Nutcracker (DVD $16.99) The Wonder Pets holiday release features the movie-length episode “Save the Nutcracker,” set to the music of Tchaikovsky, and three new-to-DVD episodes. Both street Oct. 7, prebook Aug. 26

Porchlight

Adventures From the Book of Virtues: A Christmas Carol for Annie Annie, Zach and the gang celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with the title story and “The Gift of the Magi: A Story of Generosity”; LeapFrog Presents A Tad of Christmas Cheer, The Family Holiday and Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn’t Happen Three Christmas titles re-released. All street Oct. 7, prebook Sept. 3; DVD $14.98 each

Sesame/Genius

Elmo’s Christmas Countdown Stiller the Elf (Ben Stiller) is worried that he destroyed Christmas, and it is up to Elmo and Abby Cadabby to help him find the true meaning of a Christmas miracle. Street Oct. 28, prebook Sept. 16; DVD $14.93

Shout/Sony BMG

The Johnny Cash Christmas Specials 1976-79 These late-’70s Christmas specials capture Cash at a high point, leading up to his Country Music Hall of Fame selection in 1980. Street Oct. 7, prebook Sept. 16; four-disc set $49.98

Shout/Vivendi

DIC Animated Christmas Blast The season can be celebrated with this collection of five holiday-themed episodes from animated TV series: The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog: Sonic Christmas Blast, What-A-Mess: Santa What-A-Mess, A Hollywood Hounds Christmas, Bump in the Night: ’Twas the Night Before Bumpy and Jingle Bell Rock. Street Sept. 9, prebook Aug. 12; two-disc set $14.99

The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet: Christmas With the Nelsons A collection of episodes that feature the family together during the holidays, taken from the 14-year run of the series. Street Sept. 16, prebook Aug. 19; DVD $9.99

Timeless

The Red Skelton Holiday Collection Authorized by the Red Skelton Estate, this re-release includes some of his funniest and most memorable Christmas specials. Street Oct. 7, prebook Aug. 26; three-disc set $29.98

VCI

A Christmas Carol (two-disc set $19.99) Alastair Sim’s tour-de-force performance as the ultimate miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, has made this re-released version of Charles Dickens’ story into one of the best-loved Christmas films of all time; The Sights & Sounds of Christmas: The Complete Collection (DVD $19.99) Christmas scenes come to life with the music of popular songs and traditional carols; The Sights & Sounds of Christmas: Sing-A-Long (DVD $19.99) Viewers can sing along to favorite Christmas songs and carols. All street Nov. 4, prebook Oct. 3

Vision

Advent Calendar 2: Christmas Carol Edition This re-release celebrates the wonders of Bethlehem, revealed in the stories of songs and carols. Street Sept. 1, prebook Aug. 1; DVD $14.99

First Look spreads the love

First Look Studios has a pair of Christmas-themed movies to warm hearts this winter. The Prince & Me: A Royal Honeymoon is the third installment in the series of films about the fictional Prince of Denmark who marries an American girl. Christmas Caper, which aired on ABC Family, stars Shannen Doherty as a professional thief who decides to mend her ways. Customers looking for movies to entertain preteen and teen girls should be particularly happy with these. —Cindy Spielvogel

First Look

The Prince & Me: A Royal Honeymoon Newlyweds Queen Paige and King Edvard find they can’t really get away from everything on their honeymoon; Christmas Caper While babysitting over the holidays, a thief (Shannen Doherty) discovers there’s more to life than crime. Both street Oct. 28, prebook Sept. 23; DVD $24.98 each

Gaiam unwraps Christmas movies

Three films from the annual ABC Family 25 Days of Christmas block will be released for the holidays by Gaiam. The ABC Family original movies are targeted to families, especially for those with hard-to-please older kids. Starring Melissa Joan Hart and Mario Lopez, Holiday in Handcuffs was ABC Family’s highest-rated Christmas movie to date, with 6.7 million viewers. The other two movies, Snow and Snowglobe, each had about 4 million viewers. Awareness of the titles should increase with additional exposure from the popular 25 Days of Christmas block in the coming holiday season. —C.S.

Gaiam

Holiday in Handcuffs A ne’er-do-well thirtysomething (Melissa Joan Hart) attempts to appease her family by kidnapping an attractive man (Mario Lopez) to present as her boyfriend during Christmas; Snow Tom Cavanagh is a new kind of Santa Claus who goes on a reindeer rescue mission that takes him on a journey to save Christmas; Snowglobe When an antique snowglobe is given as a gift, a magical world where it’s always Christmas appears. All street Oct. 7, prebook Aug. 26; DVD $14.98 each

Holiday Inn reopens in color

Universal Studios Home Entertainment’s holiday-themed offerings include one of the oldest films being released for the season along with one of the newest. Holiday Inn, the 1942 film starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire that includes the Irving Berlin song “White Christmas,” was a precursor to Crosby’s 1954 White Christmas. This latest release of Holiday Inn is in a gift pack containing the original black-and-white version along with a new colorized version, plus the soundtrack on CD. Also coming from Universal is the latest movie in the Barbie franchise. Barbie in A Christmas Carol should be just as popular with young Barbie fans as the earlier releases. —C.S.

Universal

Holiday Inn Special Edition This three-disc gift set includes the original black-and-white and new color versions of the film, plus the complete soundtrack on CD. Street Oct. 14, prebook Sept. 9; three-disc set $26.98

Barbie in A Christmas Carol This animated adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens tale includes new renditions of Christmas carols and more. Street Nov. 4, prebook Sept. 30; DVD $19.98

A return to the family classics

Among the many holiday releases coming from Warner Home Video are two of the most enduring family TV specials, being released yet again: A Charlie Brown Christmas and the original, animated version of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The Charlie Brown special is being released in a set that also includes the Peanuts’ Halloween and Thanksgiving specials. How the Grinch Stole Christmas will be available in a set with nine other specials, many of which also are perennially popular: The Year Without a Santa Claus Deluxe Edition, Rudolph’s Shiny New Year, Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey, Frosty’s Winter Wonderland, ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July, The Leprechauns’ Christmas Gold, The Little Drummer Boy Book II and The Stingiest Man in Town. Also coming from Warner are new editions of the Rankin-Bass Jack Frost and the family film A Christmas Story. Rounding out the offerings from Warner is a set of more of the studio’s classic holiday films, being released under the title Warner Bros. Classic Holiday Collection Vol. 2. —C.S.

Warner

Peanuts Holiday Collection: It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and A Charlie Brown Christmas Remastered versions of the three specials are packaged with a CD of Peanuts holiday songs, plus two digital download songs on each DVD. Street Sept. 23, prebook Aug. 19; three-disc set $44.76

Classic Christmas Favorites (four-disc set $39.72) This gift set includes nine Rankin-Bass Christmas specials plus the Dr. Seuss holiday classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas Deluxe Edition; Jack Frost Deluxe Edition(DVD $19.97) The Rankin-Bass animated version has been remastered for this deluxe edition about the crafty cold-weather elf. Both street Oct. 7, prebook Sept. 2

A Christmas Story Ultimate Collector’s Edition Commemorates the 25th anniversary of the film from humorist Jean Shepherd. Street Nov. 4, prebook Sept. 30; repackaged two-disc set $26.99, two-disc set with additional items in holiday tin $39.99, BD $28.99, BD gift set $49.99

Warner Bros. Classic Holiday Collection Vol. 2 Includes All Mine to Give, Holiday Affair and It Happened on 5th Avenue, along with bonus disc Blossoms in the Dust, which is available only as part of the collection. Street Nov. 11, prebook Oct. 7; four-disc set $29.98, DVD $19.97 each

Holiday Purchasing Guide August-November 2008

First Look spreads the love

Gaiam unwraps Christmas movies

Holiday Inn reopens in color

A return to the family classics

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