The Nightmare Before Christmas (Blu-ray, Disney, $39.99) — Tim Burton may not have been the actual director of this stop-motion animation classic (that honor goes to Henry Selick) that begs the question: What would happen if Halloween bred with Christmas? Because Mr. Burton’s 1993 film has all the hallmarks of his gothic sensibility, one wonders what Christmas was like in the Burton household.
As Mr. Burton, who also served as producer, mentions in an introduction to the Blu-ray version of the movie, the high-definition picture really lets you see the textures of the materials used to bring Halloweentown and Jack Skellington to life. Also included on this impressive collection are Mr. Burton’s classic shorts “Frankenweenie” and “Victor.” This package is truly a must-have for anyone who loves not only the main feature, but also Mr. Burton’s unique vision.
Holiday Treats: 8 Heartwarming TV Classics (Paramount, $12.98) — Calling all eight of the Christmas-themed episodes on this list “classics” is probably stretching the truth a little. (Is the episode of “Taxi” in which Danny DeVito bankrolls a no-limit poker game against his ne’er-do-well little brother really an all-time great?) Still, there’s plenty to enjoy in this neat little collection.
The Andy Griffith Show,” and families are brought together in pretty much all eight installments. As far as Christmas morning viewing goes, it beats a yule-log video.
The Peanuts Holiday Collection (Charlie Brown said it in 1965, and it still rings true. Christmas is overcommercialized (although this cash-strapped year might be different). However, this precocious analysis is hardly the only reason to buy the “Peanuts Holiday Collection” for your children.
The biggest and best reason is that this collection (“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas”) presents one of those rare opportunities when parent and child actually can enjoy a movie together.
In other words, story lines and animation are rewarding whether you’re 5 or 35 years old. There’s also the great jazz soundtrack. Written and performed by pianist Vince Guaraldi and his trio for the timeless animated special, it’s like cream-cheese frosting on a moist pumpkin cake. Divine.
Classic Christmas Favorites (Warner Home Video, $39.98) — The only real star of this collection of mostly animated Christmas stories is the 1966 “Boris Karloff’s powerful voice as the Grinch and Dr. Seuss’ terrific text help make this animated classic a Christmas must.
The collection also includes the “The Leprechauns’ Christmas Gold,” “Pinocchio’s Christmas” and “The Stingiest Man in Town,” which are new to DVD, along with “Frosty’s Winter Wonderland” and “Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July.” Then there’s the gigantic dud “A Year Without a John Goodman. Nowhere on the cover does it say this is the live-action version. The cover even has a picture of an animated Heat Miser.
At a running time of 393 minutes, though, this collection’s still a pretty good value — even if you throw out 120 minutes of Mr. Goodman and gang.
Strawberry Shortcake Holiday Dreams Collection (Home Entertainment, $26.98) — This three-DVD collection features “Berry Merry Christmas,” in which Strawberry Shortcake and her cute gal pals learn that the best gift of all is the gift of friendship.
Not so fast, though. First, Strawberry “goody-two-shoes” Shortcake gives her talking horse some advice on gift giving (making sure the gift is appropriate; e.g., don’t give a horse a dog bone) and she also tells Santa she doesn’t need any gifts.
Yeah, right.
She lives by herself in a strawberry house, and she wants us to believe she doesn’t need any cash? Jokes aside, though, this is a very cute gift for the pink- and princess-loving preschool set.
Snow Days and Pingu’s Thomas the Tank Engine and Angelina Ballerina, is a perfect holiday gift for the preschool set.
In other words, there’s something for both Jacob and Emily as Thomas the Tank. The two, while transporting a Christmas tree on the Island of Sodor, deal with fellow bullying engines - and Angelina breaks the gender barrier while trying out for the hockey team.
An even better gift, though, is “Pingu’s South Pole Adventures.” For some reason, this Swiss-created clay-animation film about an adventurous, slapstick penguin family (whose language is reminiscent of that of the Swedish chef in “The Muppets Show”) appeals to 6-year-olds as much as 2-years-olds. A recent critique from a 6-year-old after viewing “Pingu’s South Pole Adventures”: “I hope they never stop making ’Pingu’ because it’s superfunny.”
Care Bears: Flurries of Fun (Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, $29.98) — This collection is puzzling. The cover shows Care Bears in a winter wonderland, but none of the episodes features snow? Then again - snow or no snow - there is no saving the inane plots and characters of this animated aimed-at-preschool show.
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