NekoHomey Purely Joyful Movie!

Invaderbank The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Isbel A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Delight Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

ojaymontreal We originally saw EOJBC on CBC (public/commercial)in Canada, as they were co-producers. What's not to love about Emmet and company? We have a stuffed toy otter which we named for him. And have a few VHS copies which we watch every Xmas, with Kermit, who we think of as a Muppet version of Alastair Cooke, when he used to introduce the "Masterpiece" dramas on PBS. The songs by Paul Williams are spot on, and think of the "Nightmare" number as a spoof of all hard rock genre bands, except that it beats all the real live bands for quality of performance. The whole show is timeless magic. One of the most touching moments is when Alice (Ma) Otter tucks Emmet into bed and gives him a goodnight kiss. There are many memorable quotes, and as others have noted, some gems("...fall off the dock" maybe considered too malicious) have been deleted. This is one case where the movie is a great improvement on the book (which we bought), thanks to Jim Henson and the wonderful cast.

MartinHafer Back in 1977, just after "The Muppet Show" debuted but before "The Muppet Movie", Jim Henson decided to make a project to help them work out the kinks for the upcoming movie. "Emmett Otter's Jug-Band Christmas" is that project--more ambitious than the show but not a full-length theatrical release like the movie. While the show isn't as as refined as later work (you can see strings when some of the characters move) but they did try some DIFFERENT techniques and styles of puppets. For the most part, it's quite sweet and successful--and mostly it's really, really cute. My only reservation about this sweet show is that there is A LOT of singing and it might have worked better with less. Heck, with just a few less songs I would have given this one a 9--but the songs tended to disrupt the story and seemed, at times, like filler.As for the story, it's a reworking of the O. Henry story "The Gift of the Magi". However, instead of a husband selling his watch and a wife selling her beautiful hair to buy presents for each other, it involves poor Emmett and his mother trying to win a talent show so they can buy each other nice presents. Naturally, it doesn't work out as they expect--but it's all quite charming, nonetheless. Well worth seeing--particularly if you are a kid or a kid at heart.

crow1701 In all of his work, Jim Henson seemed to always concentrate on the quality of the story, and not the frills and thrills that so many movie goers are now addicted to. To me, Jim was a hippie in many ways, and I mean that with the sincerest praise. He seemed to grow up in a time when imagination was blooming and people were breaking the bonds of tradition. In his short life, he allowed himself to explore his imagination as far as he could take it. It is a shame he left us so early.In this short film, he uses the simple premise of a mother and son's love. It is feelings that most of us can identify with. Emmett and his mother are poor and the things they work for are sometimes only used as a means of getting something else they need to work with. This film touches how those who have been stripped of most of their possessions still find it in themselves to laugh, love, and care for others around them.I recently bought this for my daughter and was so familiar with the lines that even after 20+ years ago, I could tell what was cut out from the DVD version. There is a simple scene in this film that makes your heart ache, and as I watched it, I was feeling like I was 12 again, having tears in my eyes and a big lump in my throat. Emmett and his mom are thinking about how they are going to get a Christmas present for each other, and both are thinking about the only two truly valuable things left in the home: a washtub and a tool chest. Each are willing to sacrifice these things to get the other a present. It is such a powerful scene, even in a children's movie, you will see the heart of the film shining through.Jim Henson's spirit lives on and as long as there are great storytellers in the world, his vision for humanity will be seen by those lucky enough to find it.

johne-18 Yes, same thing, couldn't wait for HBO to show this every year, do they still? Would like to own a copy.Yes, same thing, couldn't wait for HBO to show this every year, do they still? Would like to own a copy.Yes, same thing, couldn't wait for HBO to show this every year, do they still? Would like to own a copy.Yes, same thing, couldn't wait for HBO to show this every year, do they still? Would like to own a copy.Yes, same thing, couldn't wait for HBO to show this every year, do they still? Would like to own a copy.Yes, same thing, couldn't wait for HBO to show this every year, do they still? Would like to own a copy.Yes, same thing, couldn't wait for HBO to show this every year, do they still? Would like to own a copy.Yes, same thing, couldn't wait for HBO to show this every year, do they still? Would like to own a copy.Yes, same thing, couldn't wait for HBO to show this every year, do they still? Would like to own a copy.Yes, same thing, couldn't wait for HBO to show this every year, do they still? Would like to own a copy.