DVDizzy Forum

my thoughts: pretty good eye candy, especially for a made for tv special, but it lacked substance. Which I could forgive if it was was funnier, but it just wasn't. The whole concept of Christmas specials though don't interest me anymore though. They often have interesting ideas about how it all works, but everything else falls flat. Looking like a full length feature is about the only thing this had going for it for me.

It was what I expected. As others have said, it was enjoyable and the visuals were first-rate, feature film quality, but it was very formulaic/predictable and could have used a full hour.

I LOVE Christmas specials, but they're not all that special anymore, just like most animated features now that they're all CGI and look too similar. Everythings more about sass and cool visuals rather than pure charm and magic. And I think when the subject of Christmas is the focal point, people are looking for more of an old-fashioned charm. When it comes to CGI, I think Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas caught that best so far, but even it had some of the things I don't care for. Frankly, I'm tired of Santa's support team being presented as some military stealth group with the latest gadgets and all, and I'm tired of funny talking reindeer. When it comes to Christmas, especially the characters from the North Pole, that's when I never tire of seeing things done very old-fashioned. If I ever do a Christmas special, I definitely want to go oldschool with it. Not that I would rule out CGI (that may be all the execs will accept right now), but story-wise... And, yeah, I'd love it to be hand-drawn.

For what it's worth, I really liked it. I thought it was cute, and an interesting story of how Santa is able to deliver all those gifts! Great animation! I think it would have been even better had it been longer.

It was really good. I just wish it was longer, so that we could have more funny moments. I particularly liked the reindeer.

Brer Brandon wrote: The dog they encounter at the beginning looked like they must have used the same model from Bolt.

I was thinking that too, even before I watched the show.

I watched and recorded it, but I hope when it repeats, we don't have a snow storm here. The local ABC station had weather related information scrolling across the bottom of the television screen.

From what I actually watched, i liked.

Really? Where do you live? I mean, it was that way tonight in my area too.

And I agree that it was a bit rushed in feel, but it's definitely one of the best Holiday specials I've seen. One of them.

I really liked it (more then Bolt lol). It was awesome to see feature animation on a production of this size and I was cracking up at Thrasher! The HD picture quality was amazing. My only complaint is its length. It was too short and should've been an hour special (amounts to just over 40mins of animation).

Awww man I loved it too, and I don't even celebrate Christmas! I'm a sucker for Christmas movies, I really wised it was an hour long too! This was really good, and I hope they release it on DVD with bonus features!

Brer Brandon wrote: The dog they encounter at the beginning looked like they must have used the same model from Bolt.

I was thinking the same thing, Brandon.

Id be willing to bet most of the characters are modified rigs of bolt and maybe meet the robinson's character models, thats how they got this made as quickly as they did, and looking as good as it does. They did a lot of recycling and tweaking.

Margos wrote:I must say, I agree with Brer Brandon. I did like the story, but I think it could have been better developed, maybe if it had been a little longer. Did anyone else sincerely question the logic of the whole operation, though? I mean, it seems like they were going through a lot for a single house, which appeared to be the only house in the area that Santa visited. Oh, and on a minor point... why did they have to name that boy Timmy? Isn't that, like, the most typical Christmas-special child-name ever?

I kinda was thinking the same thing. When the snow-storm crisis came into play I kept thinking to myself "why not bring in Rudolph"?! I think any kid watching this special would've used that logic too but I guess the writers couldn't figure out a better way to add more suspense to the story.

I guess I should be diagnosed with ADD because the scrolling snow closings distracted me a little too. I didn't get an ideal viewing, but what I saw was pretty good. Like others have said, the <i>Mickey's Christmas Carol</i> nod was a definite highlight. I like that the Christmas special appears to be coming back... I wish there was more magic in them, but I think a lot of that comes from nostalgia and simplicity, the latter of which isn't going to be channeled and the former of which will require a whole bunch of years.

Luke wrote:I guess I should be diagnosed with ADD because the scrolling snow closings distracted me a little too. I didn't get an ideal viewing, but what I saw was pretty good. Like others have said, the <i>Mickey's Christmas Carol</i> nod was a definite highlight. I like that the Christmas special appears to be coming back... I wish there was more magic in them, but I think a lot of that comes from nostalgia and simplicity, the latter of which isn't going to be channeled and the former of which will require a whole bunch of years.

Luke, I'm kind of the opposite of you but I at the same time I get what you're saying. I've seen specials like A Charlie Brown Christmas or Rudolph on TV so many times that I'm getting kinda tired of them. I wish instead of airing the same big Christmas hits over and over again that ABC would bring back some old but rarely seen Christmas specials. At least I have A Garfield Christmas on DVD but I would love to see the other old Rankin/Bass Christmas specials that the networks really dont air anymore.

It kinda makes me wish I had cable so I can get my fill with ABC family.

I thought it was pretty funny how the scrolling "Snow Storm Warning" alert appeared when the snow storm started in the special.

Has anybody seen the little short film about Tiny on the Disney website? Pretty cute, though I only chuckled. And I don't think that was Sarah Chalke's voice doing Magee's voice. I guess they made the short after they had already finished recordings for Prep & Landing.

I really enjoyed it!

I loved Sarah Chalke's character. She has such wonderful comic timing in her voice. It's noticeable on Srubs as well. Totally cute and funny.

One of the reasons I felt the special was too short is it never really explored Lanny's character. The opening titles said Lanny & Wayne starring in, with Lanny's name first, and that made me think the story was going to explore both characters. Instead, they just used Lanny as a plot device to develope Wayne, which is good, but it left me wanting more. It had 14 million viewers last night and was the highest watched christmas special this year, so hopefully they'll greenlight a sequel that explores Lanny.

Also, for anyone who missed it. ABC is making Prep & Landing available online via streaming on their official website:

http://abc.go.com/watch/prep-and-landin ... oliday2009

...and on Hulu:

http://www.hulu.com/disney-prep-and-landing

They are both high quality 480p streams and I previewed them and they look good (ABC's stream claims HD but its obviously not any higher quality then Hulu). Check them out now as ABC is taking them down after January 1.

toonaspie: ABC Family airs many of those rarely seen Rankin/Bass specials during their 25 Days of Christmas. The only problem is, unless its Santa Claus is Coming to Town or Year without a Santa Clause or Rudolph's Shiny New Year, they are aired very early in the morning. This weekend they are airing The Little Drummer Boy Book I and Book II, but they are on at 6 AM my time.

I've seen "Prep & Landing" back on Tuesday and it was a great special. I love this film, but I hope it will consider to have a DVD release in the future. Kudos to ABC for airing this great holiday special.