Kakaku：400 saved$4.00
McArthur
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (It works just fine for me.) 『So I bought this towel for taking to the gym. It is big enough to cover the parts that need to be covered, and it is thin enough that I can fold it up and it pretty much fits where ever I need it. It is thin, but I don't think it is poorly made and the colors are great.』
(Very cheaply constructed) 『The review prior to mine was indeed CORRECT. It is NOT a beach towel. Wanted to give this as a gift. NO WAY. It is thinner than my kitchen hand towels. I sent it back and ordered one that was 100% cotton. I am hoping that one will what you'd expect a beach towel should be.』
(NOT a beach towel!!!) 『I returned this item unopened but it was very obvious from the package (clear wrap bag) that this was a VERY thin, light weight towel. Bath towel yes, but not for beach or pool, in my opinion. The dimensions might be the right size but it was too thin.』 『The brightest printed towel around. Can be used at the beach on a picnic at home or as a wall decoration. These towels will bring laughs adventure and fun and will last for years to come. Easy Care. Machine Wash and Dry. 1 beach towel 30x 60 Includes clear packaging. Weighs approximately 1LB each. Super quality 100% Cotton. Officially licensed Towel.』
Kakaku：300 saved$3.00
Libbey
Usually ships in 1 to 2 days IPhone 3G used's review (Great but would handwash) 『I have these in the freezer waiting for a cold beer. I would give them 5 stars except that when you place them in the dishwasher, the concave bottom collects water making it necessary to hand dry them.』
(Awsome glasses!!!) 『I bought these glasses (along with the Waring Pro ice crusher) for my wife's birthday after she told me ,while we were at a Stewart's Rootbeer stand, how as a child she and her family had an ice crusher and how she loves frosted mugs. So, I looked around online and found these glasses. They're really great. There isn't an annoying seam (like I've read on other mug reviews) and they're nice and thick. They arrived in perfect condition with no chips or cracks. And, you can't beat the price. I highly recomend them. These glasses(frosted) + crushed ice + Sterwart's rootbeer = total happiness!』
(Great Mugs) 『The packaging is not very protective, but Amazon did a great job packing the shipping box. I think the days of customers receiving broken mugs are over.
These are great mugs -- everything I wanted. I recently had one take a 1.5ft fall from a shelf to a wooden table and it survived without a scratch on it. This is the best $15 I spent on glassware ever.』
(Very Nice Mugs) 『I use these mugs to server frosty drinks in my cafe. My customers love them. They've also held up well from the rigors of hand washing and cafe use. Will certainly buy them again as needed.』
(Great mug!) 『This is a top quality mug for little money. The people at Libby should be proud of thier product. I will continue to purchase items from this company.』 『Holding 16 ounces each, these heavy mugs are shaped for serving beer in traditional style. They're made of thick glass, so you can frost them in the freezer and then use them to keep beer cold to the last swig. Though the mugs' insides are perfectly round, the exteriors have 10 facets. Perfect for root beer floats as well as beer, the mugs measure 9-1/8 inches high and 3-3/8 inches in diameter. They're durable and dishwasher-safe.--Fred Brack』 『These beer mugs are made of thick glass and hold 16 ounces each! They are dishwasher safe and perfect for freezing to serve ice cold beverages.』
『These deliciously scented and colored pencils are made from rolled sheets of newspaper instead of wood--you can even see the layers of newspaper when you sharpen them! Recycled newspaper is tightly rolled around colored centers then hardened so they feel like wood pencils, but are better for the environment.』
Kakaku：599 saved$5.99
Decca
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (DVD/CD inconsistency) 『The DVD was terrific. Unfortunately the CD was just a subset of the concert selections on the DVD. Why?-- misleading. One of the missing is the terrific duet w/ Heather Headley-- Vivo per Lei which I would like to include in my music library but can't find anywhere』
(Must have!!!!) 『This is the best andrea bocelli dvd, featuring many famous musicians. I enjoyed it very much!!!』
(Absolutely stunning....) 『Thank you to all the other reviewier's commets. They were right. This dvd is a pleasure on the ears and eyes! He sounds so good here. The place where this concert took place is beautiful. It is so perfect (to me) that it starts around sunset. I guarantee you will love this dvd!』
(Great Performance... lovely voice....magical concert) 『I try to avoid watching concerts for the fear of being distracted from the music by lights, fashion, and fake dramatics. Watching Bocelli's concert definitely changed my mind about television viewing of concerts.
It's hard to select the best song, but the great performance of "CANTO DELLA TERRA" with Sarah Brightman, "VIVERE" with Laura Pausini and "LA VOCE DEL SILENZIO" with Elisa surely stand out, so much so that they became my favorite night lullabys. Maybe it's only me, but I couldn't help noticing that Brightman and Bocelli are old friends that very much enjoy working together. Also, while watching VIVERE, I just couldn't help but noticing how Bocelli's face lit up when hearing Pausini's voice, a great performance that looked to me like love making in highest form.
Only a musical giant like Bocelli can be humble enough to get that number of talents to share the spotlight in his concert like Kenny G, Heather Headley, Chris Botti, and Lang Lang. Elisa and Lang Lang were given the opportunity of using Bocelli's stage to perform their own works, which added more to the glorious concert and just reinforced my view of Andrea Bocelli's humility and generosity.
Discovering talents like Lang Lang and Elisa in this concert is a great pleasure to add to the enjoyment of experiencing Bocelli's "Live in Tuscany" enchanted night. 』
(ANDREA BOCELLI - VIVERE - LIVE AT TUSCANY DVD) 『I'll forever treasure this DVD masterpiece. Its a feeling of being there at Tuscany, Italy. Many thanks to the producers and also AMAZON for marketing this product.』 『ANDREA BOCELLI - VIVERE LIVE IN TUSCANY (DVD AUDIO)』
Kakaku：500 saved$5.00
Walt Disney Video
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (AMAZING BOOK, HORRIBLE MOVIE) 『As a mother of two kids (ages 8 and 6), I have read nearly all of the Roald Dahl books multiple times in the past few years. We all love his writing - his stories are usually quite dark and yet offer a lot of humor, warmth and love as well. James and the Giant Peach is a wonderful story and well worth reading with your children. Mind you, there is the usual dose of Dahl meanness and nastiness but it is great story with many wonderful characters, budding relationships, and ultimately a very happy ending.
I was thus incredibly disappointed when we borrowed this DVD from our local library. The screenwriter took far too much liberty in changing things. I found it crude and insulting to the memory of Roald Dahl. If you have read the book, you know, for example, that the two horrible aunts are "disposed of" by the peach quite early in the story. In this movie, the aunts live on and actually follow poor James and his friends to New York City. Unbelievable.
Do read or listen to James and the Giant Peach (along with Matilda, the BFG, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) but skip this movie. If you do want to see a Roald Dahl movie, you would be much better off with either Matilda or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Mind you, neither of these is as good as the books they portray, particularly the latter, but they are still pretty good movies.』
(Please Release This On Blu-ray !) 『I really enjoyed this movie
However since I upgraded to a widescreen TV, this letterboxed edition just doesn't cut it anymore. The picture only fills a tiny little area in the middle of the screen.
Disney, please remaster this great movie and release it on Blu-ray. With extras...』
(Roald Dahl and Tim Burton) 『When I first heard Tim Burton was making a film of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, I knew the mesh of styles was a very natural fit. The same thing applies here.
However, I believe this was based on a short story. So the folks responsible for this film padded it with musical numbers -- I hate singing in my movies -- and still wound up with only 80 minutes.
And that is the ONLY reason I dropped this down to three stars. Everything works, and quite well. 』
(Great Innocent Fun) 『I saw it twice in theaters when it first came out. This is a wonderful story of courage that should be read to a child first then show them the DVD to bring their imagination alive.』
(Roald Dahl is the greatest!) 『This dvd is excellent for all ages. Roald Dahl is the best story teller and the dvd does a good job staying in sync with the book, as movies go. I am showing this to my Kindergarten class 15 min per day. They are loving it. Dont hesitate to purchase this if you are young at heart and enjoy the lighter side of life.』 『Roald Dahl's modern classic for children becomes a delightful combination of live action and stop-motion animation by the team that madeThe Nightmare Before Christmas: director Henry Selick and producers Tim Burton (Batman) and Denise Di Novi. The story concerns young James (played for real and through voice-overs by Paul Terry), who is orphaned and left in the charge of two cruel aunts (Miriam Margolyes, Joanna Lumley). Rescued by a mysterious fellow (Pete Postlethwaite), James ends up inside a giant peach, drifting over the Atlantic Ocean in the company of a gentleman grasshopper (voiced by Simon Callow), a fast-talking centipede (Richard Dreyfuss), an anxious earthworm (David Thewlis), a matronly ladybug (Jane Leeves), and a sexy spider (Susan Sarandon). The collection of actors and their creepy-crawly alter egos are a delight, especially when some of the song-and-dance numbers (tunes are written by Randy Newman) get everyone going.--Tom Keogh』 『Follow the journey of a lonely young boy who finds some unusual new friends and unexpected adventures when he climbs inside a giant peach and sets sail for new york city. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 03/02/2004 Run time: 90 minutes Rating: Pg』
Kakaku：999 saved$9.99
RCA
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Unreal!) 『I dare any Foo Fighter's fan to watch this concert video without getting a major case of goose bumps! If you've ever had the distinct pleasure of seeing Dave Grohl and company perform live, you will cherish every moment of this show. Wembley is a very grand, and fitting venue for one of the greatest live rock bands out there today. And after an hour and a half of non-stop, blood-pumping live jam, they bring out Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones for the encore...are you kidding me??! Gotta go...I'm still watching!』 『Studio: Sony Music Release Date: 11/18/2008』
IPhone 3G used's review (The Wizard of Oz) 『this is a wonderful film and i like it alot, the only thing to complain about is there is alot of singing!! but other then that, it has such beautiful color when Dorathy first steps out of her house, into OZ.』
(pleased) 『we had the movie at one point, but it was lost. my kids love the movie and watch it all the time.』
(A Timeless Classic) 『Who does not love Dorothy Gale, her adorable dog, Toto, and her lovable and musical friends, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion? Were we not all dazzled by the extraordinary color change from black, white, and sepia, to a brilliant display of the new technology of Technicolor, altering the entire mood of the film? The Wizard of Oz is beloved by many, and remembered by all. Personally, I grew up watching and adoring this movie and singing all of the unforgettable, catchy tunes. I have even dressed up as Dorothy for Halloween. This is a timeless classic, portraying a story of perseverance, friendship, and self sufficiency among other things. The tale of the four friends' journey and triumph over the wicked witch to get what they needed; be it home, a brain, courage, or a heart has been inspiring people since 1939. To me, the movie seems to personify the triumph of good over evil, as well as perseverance. As the story starts out, Dorothy simply wants to keep her dog, and be independent. However, she ends up finding herself in a great deal of trouble, seemingly far from home, and feeling extremely dependent. This shows just how childlike, and human her character is, and how she has "the grass is always greener on the other side" type of attitude. However, she and her four-legged companion, Toto are obviously quite easy to get along with, as she makes friends almost everywhere she goes. Each of these new friends, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion all want something both relatively simple, yet incredibly complex. They want only small things, though those very things mean a great deal to each of them. Only a truly loving, intelligent, or courageous person would wish for a heart, a brain, or courage. Others would wish for more material things, and I think this shows what truly good people each of the characters were. Dorothy only wants to get back home to Kansas, her family, and her familiar life. The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion, want a brain, a heart, and courage, respectively. Throughout the movie, they travel many miles, and overcome many obstacles just to see the wizard. Narrowly escaping evil trees, a flame throwing witch, and sleep-inducing poppies, they finally arrive in Oz to meet the infamous Wizard. Only the magical, ruby red slippers of the deceased wicked witch of the east identify Dorothy as being legitimate in the eyes of the citizens of Oz. After having the wizard reject her first request, she is sent on another mission. During this process, Dorothy is captured, and nearly killed by the still living witch, as her friends cunningly plan her successful escape. In one fell swoop, Dorothy takes down the witch dynasty for good, melting the Wicked Witch of the West with a bucket of water, allowing Dorothy to take her broom back to the wizard. These loyal friends went to great lengths to save and help her, and each other, showing one of the great themes of the movie. The witch's broom satisfies the wizard, though his returned gift of 'magic' is slightly less impressive than had been expected, necessitating a new form of magic. Self sufficiency and self actualization are major themes of the film, and are rather evident, especially in the end. As a conclusion, Dorothy and her companions find they could have gotten along without the wizard's help all along. All they really needed was confidence, and to appreciate what they already had and took for granted, which they discovered without any real assistance from the wizard, besides perhaps a few encouraging words. Each person eventually found their respective desires within themselves, as they could have all along, though the true test was to dig deep to find each of them. Good triumphing over evil is a prominent theme of the movie, as well as the innocence of childhood, and friendship. The four friends unconditionally love and protect one another, and go to great lengths to do so. Dorothy's obvious innocence kept her from always seeing things as they were. She did not expect anyone could be so wicked, as the witch and many others were. Also, the story, that we eventually learn Dorothy dreamed up, is somewhat obviously just that; a child's dream. In hindsight, the costumes of the characters were both realistic, and just fake enough to make out who the characters represented in the young girl's life. I always found this to be a rather interesting fact. During her entire stay in Oz, Dorothy never seemed to realize her new friends were indeed the same as her old ones from Kansas, though when she wakes up back in her bed, she knows that each of them were also in her dream. This shows that each of them have parallel mannerisms with their previous characters. Even the score for the film is fantastic. As a musician, and a child who grew up singing "If I only had a brain," I quite appreciate the musical aspects of this glorious movie. Each of the songs portrays the individual parts of the movie, as well as the film in its entirety. While there are many different themes and melodies, from "Over the rainbow," to "We're off to see the wizard," to the unforgettable theme of the Wicked Witch of the West, they all eventually tie in together, and apply to the whole movie. Each scene has its own music, and therefore its own mood, and identity, but is also somewhat similar to others. For example, as Dorothy discovers each of her new friends, in turn, the song alters just a bit. It changes from "if I only had a brain", to "if I only had a heart", and then the same for "the nerve". The quartet also sings many songs, such as "We're off to see the wizard" in many different scenes, though it is essentially the same song. All in all, the Wizard of Oz is an excellent movie, on of the best ever in my opinion. The joyous music and life lessons that it brings can do nothing but make one smile, unless of course you were afraid of the flying monkeys. With the expert cast, headed by the talented Judy Garland, an amazing display of Technicolor, unforgettable music, and four loyal companions, the Wizard of Oz is rightfully one of the most beloved movies of all time. 』
(Wizard of Oz Collectors edition) 『Very pleased with this product! This collection has all the back ground history of making the "Wizard of Oz" movie.』
(totally satisfied) 『My 4 year old daughter is in love with this movie. We had an old copy on video tape that was on it's last leg. The DVD is a wonderful way to preserve an old happy childhood favorite to pass on to the next generation. I also bought it used and it was in perfect condition and arrived in a short time.』 『When it was released during Hollywood's golden year of 1939,The Wizard of Ozdidn't start out as the perennial classic it has since become. The film did respectable business, but it wasn't until its debut on television that this family favorite saw its popularity soar. And whileOz's TV broadcasts are now controlled by media mogul Ted Turner (who owns the rights), the advent of home video has made this lively musical a mainstay in the staple diet of great American films. Young Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland), her dog, Toto, and her three companions on the yellow brick road to Oz--the Tin Man (Jack Haley), the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), and the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger)--have become pop-culture icons and central figures in the legacy of fantasy for children. As the Wicked Witch who covets Dorothy's enchanted ruby slippers, Margaret Hamilton has had the singular honor of scaring the wits out of children for more than six decades. The film's still as fresh, frightening, and funny as it was when first released. It may take some liberal detours from the original story by L. Frank Baum, but it's loyal to the Baum legacy while charting its own course as a spectacular film. Shot in glorious Technicolor, befitting its dynamic production design (Munchkinland alone is a psychedelic explosion of color and decor),The Wizard of Ozmay not appeal to every taste as the years go by, but it's required viewing for kids of all ages.--Jeff Shannon
DVD features TheWizard of OzDVD released in 1999 was loaded with extra features, but it's now safe to throw away that version in all its cardboard-package glory in favor of this new two-disc edition. First things first: All the bonus material from the earlier disc is there (with one small exception). That includes the Angela Lansbury-hosted documentaryThe Making of a Movie Classic; the outtakes and deleted scenes, including Judy Garland's "Over the Rainbow" reprise and the home-movie recording of "The Jitterbug"; the sketches and stills and composer Harold Arlen's home movies; the audio underscores and radio programs; the 1979 interviews with Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, and Jack Haley; and other items too numerous to mention. (Some text introductions to the features have been replaced by narration by Lansbury, for whatever reason.) Brand-new to the 2005 edition is a sharp restoration using Warner's Ultra Resolution process and an accompanying featurette on how it's done. The technicians also discuss how the sound was remixed, though that would have been more effective had it included surround-sound demonstrations (the featurette is in 2.0). Other features on the new set include a commentary track by critic John Fricke supplemented by vintage cast interviews (he offers a lot of trivia, and debunks the myth that Shirley Temple was ever close to getting the Dorothy role); profiles of nine cast members and clips of other movies they appeared in (including Toto); a lightly animated 10-minute storybook again narrated by Lansbury; 2001 and 2005 behind-the-scenes featurettes; and a 1950 Lux Radio Theater broadcast. Oh, and if you were still wondering about the missing material mentioned above--the 1999 disc included one-minute excerpts of three early treatments ofThe Wizard of Oz. Those excerpts are not included in the two-disc special edition, but the third disc of the three-disc collector's edition includes thecompleteversions of those treatments and more.--David Horiuchi』
IPhone 3G used's review (Not specified as a previous rental) 『But plays well. The back has a near puncture hole in it. I'm glad I wasn't giving it as a gift... would have looked like I really skimped.』
(Ver en vivo y opinar) 『Pude observar el espectaculo en Nueva York cuando se presentaba en Broadway el año 2000. Ya tenía el video y estaba maravillado por la excelencia y calidad en su totalidad de la puesta en escena; no puedo mas que decir que ambos espectaculos (video y en vivo) son ESPECTACULARES, quizás el sentir la música en vivo hace tener mayor emoción de estar observando la magnificencia de la danza, orden, prestancia, agilidad y música.
No es posible comparar lo vivido con lo que se ve en video, pero cualquiera de las dos cosas que ocurran primero, no demerecen lograr lo segundo.』
(Asleep At The Wheel) 『Recorded at The Point in Dublin - THE ORIGINAL staging after the incredible response to the Eurovision performance when Ireland was the host country. Even includes Michael Flatley and Jean Butler from the Eurovision performance. This is where it all started. Good enough for VHS, but where is the DVD? 』
(Fantastic!) 『I danced growing up [tap, jazz, ballet] but I had never seen anything quite like this. It's fantastic. Added to the specacularly talented dancing cast is superb choir, orchestra and solo vocalist music. The story this 'variety' show tells has beautiful flow. Both the line and feature dancing is mesmerizing. My whole family loves this, from my littlist niece [only three] to my grandmother. My own kids have now developed an interest in dancing, something I could never coax them into, because of this. This Show also has made me a Michael Flatly fan for life. My favorite is the flamenco duet.』
(Release on DVD PLEASE!!) 『I remember the tape from when I was a little kid and i have always LOVED IT. I'M WAITING FOR IT TO COME OUT ON DVD!! I love this soo much and even though I am Puerto Rican, I still found an appreciation for this music and i absolutely LOVE the dancing. Come on AMAZON RELEASE IT ON DVD!』 『Riverdance--The Showis a cultural phenomenon that defies criticism for the enthusiastic and leaves everyone else scratching their heads. The wonderfully talented cast, headed by the Riverdance Irish Dance Company, bewitchingly spins (and stomps) its Celtic folk choreography featuring numerous breathless solos by Michael Flatley (since departed) and Jean Butler. The mellifluous Riverdance Orchestra boasts Davy Spillane, who coaxes plaintive lamentations out of a peculiar instrument that resembles a bagpipe in a metal leg brace. For Enya fans, there is the sound-alike choral group Anuna, who casts a similarly New Age-style vocal spell. Also thrown into the mix are such disparate folk traditions as American gospel and Spanish flamenco. Though it's only 70 minutes long, Riverdance is repetitive by half. But judging from the ecstatic audience ovations and the continued foot-stomping during and after the curtain calls, too much is still not enough.--Richard Natale』
IPhone 3G used's review (. . . not just for Christmas) 『This wonderful family values oriented film really isn't a Christmas story (but yes, inbedded in the plotline is, of course, the "Christmas Box"). Without once again retelling the story (other reviewers have done that nicely), I'll just add my take . . .
This is a story about loneliness, workaholism, generosity, grief, love and family (both by birth and by association). A made for TV film, but is very, very well produced and executed. Rich sets and scripting. Great photography. Great direction.
The casting is right on. In my opinion, Richard Thomas can only play one character -- but that works in this film where he is the sensitive but ambitious and busy Richard Evans (Husband&Dad). Annette O'Toole (Evans' kinder and gentler side)and Kelsy Mulrooney function as Mom and daughter quite adequately.
Please allow me spend a few lines to talk about Maureen O'Hara. She plays the elderly, wealthy Mary Parkin, who employs the Evans family as live-in personal help. Although in my 50's, I never really was aware of Maureen O'Hara other than name recognition. I knew her as a faceless black&white film starlet, from a generation or two senior to my own. However, I know who she is now. WOW! She dominates this movie. She speaks paragraphs without ever talking (a talent she uses often in this film). Endearing, aloof, loving, hateful, distant, and still sensually attractive . . . she can do it all in spades and displays it even in this simple family story. A supreme performance.
I cringe at using the term "heart-warming", but it's a term that describes this film well. Easy to enjoy this one.』
(Great Christmas movie. The all time Best!) 『We bought this tape and wore it out in 4 years. Got the DVD now!』
(Ms. O'Toole Is A Wonderful Underrated Actress!!!) 『This is my favourite Christmas movie because it has Ms. Annette O'Toole in it who I believe should have become a Major Star. She co stars with Richard Thomas who she worked with in Stephen King's "It" and they do have a lot of on screen chemistry. Richard is a workaholic whose marriage is suffering and it is only when he becomes friends with Maureen O'Hara (who is one classy actress) that he begins to prioritize his life. This is pefectt family Christmas fare for everybody to enjoy. Love is indeed Eternal.Gee. That's the first time I ever got sentimental in one of my reviews and I have written over 350 of them!!!』
(Wonderful) 『I'm sometimes not a fan of these kinds of movies, but this one was special. Richard Thomas(John Boy) and his co-stars do an excellent job putting the spirit of giving in context with work and family. It's a wonderful message movie for the entire family. With so much violence and pornography on the screen these days, it's very refreshing to hear that movies like these can still have an impact and can be successful.
The first gift of Christmas was a child, and beyond that, love from God. Nice message.
Jeffrey McAndrew author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"』
(Heart Warming Christmas Tale With Mystical Overtones) 『"The Christmas Box", based on the well respected book by Richard Paul Evans offers in some ways an interesting alternative to alot of the traditional viewing offered during the festive season. While the story contains a number of expected yuletide elements like learning to give rather than receive and to show love to your neighbours despite their faults, it offers an interesting spiritual element that is not applicable to any one religion. This does succeed in making you think differently about the holidays and those people around us that we see everyday. The almost"supernatural"element to this movie as depicted in a reaccuring dream where angels beckon also gives this charming little story an extra element of originality as for a large part of the film it is not clear as to why this is occuring. The Christmas Box of the title which is another element that reappears throughout the story, is the item that ends up explaining most of what has been occuring and ties in all the threads of the story leading to its suitably touching conclusion.
Veteran television actor Richard Thomas plays rising young businessman Richard Evans who with his partner has set up a ski shop business. The business is thriving and begins to take up more and more of his time and energy much to the dismay of his wife Keri (Annette O'Toole) and his young daughter Jenna. Things go from bad to worse with Richard coming home late every evening and Keri sees her marriage beginning to unravel. She takes matters into her own hands as she sees the family coming apart. She answers an advertisement in the local paper for a live in couple to help out with maintenance work and home duties for an elderly widow Mrs. Parkin (veteran actress Maureen O"Hara), who lives in another part of town. Despite Richard's reluctance to get involved they get the job and move to their new home. Mrs Parkin, first comes across as a cold and stern older woman and Richard and she clash on a number of occasions. However strange things begin to happen soon after their arrival that in particular haunt Richard. He hears strange music coming from the closed up attic where he finds a lovely old antique Christmas box filled with old letters, and he also begins to have recurring dreams filled with the same music, of floating angels that appear to him and beckon for some unexplained reason. Slowly Mrs. Parkin warms to Kerri and her daughter and begins to take an interest in all their lives. Soon she is allowing them to call her Mary and takes a grandmotherly approach towards Jenna, insisting that Richard forget his work for one afternoon and accompany them to buy a beautiful Christmas tree for the house. She both mystifies and intrigues Richard now as she continues to ask him the same puzzling question,"What was the first gift of Christmas?". Following Mary one day on one of her excursions from the house Richard discovers the truth about Mary's past when he sees the grave of her long dead little daughter and finally understands that the letters in the attic are not adressed to an old love but instead to her sadly departed daughter. Mary however is suffering from a heart illness and prior to Christmas she is hospitalised and eventually dies but not before reuniting the shattered little family that came to her unhappily months before and passing onto Richard what the answer to her repeated question to him was which was simply...... Love. The finale sees the family enjoying the real gift that Mary has passed onto them at Christmas which is the universal one of putting family before profit and love for one's family and friends above all else.
The message of this film is a truly beautiful and timeless one and is delivered convincingly by the wonderful cast of this television movie. Richard Thomas is the central character of the story and he is excellent as the hard working businessman with all the best intentions in the world who however has lost sight of the things in life that are really important. Veteran Hollywood actress Maureen O'Hara came out of a twenty year retirement for this part and her presence and sure delivery is the heart and soul of"The Christmas Box", story much the same as her wonderful work was in that earlier Christmas classic"Miracle on 34th Street"in 1947. She works especially well with Richard Thomas and their love hate relationship in the story gives the film it's whole focus. Despite this film being a Christmas story their work together is never simply sentimental or obviously set on having them as rivals from the first scene. The writing and direction by Marcus Cole gives their relationship a sharp realistic ring to it despite the mystical elements present in the story. Annette O'Toole is also excellent in her role as Richard's loving wife who finds herself drawn to Mary and who witnesses the poignant attachment that Mary forms with Jenna who in a way becomes the young daughter that Mary tragically lost all those years ago.
In short"The Christmas Box", is a typical story of hope always existing in at first glance not very promising circumstances. While the story does focus on Richard's family learning from the more experienced Mary I believe the learning here was a two way street with Mary herself learning that at no matter what age you are it is still possible to love and to move on from earlier tragedies you may have experienced. Mary's death near the film's conclusion is not entirely a play to the audiences heart strings I believe but instead is a clear sign that Mary was ready to rejoin her love ones and that a life without love is no life at all."The Christmas Box", presents all this message in a very beautiful but straightforward manner which makes it totally satisfying viewing during the festive season. The acting by Richard Thomas and Maureen O"Hara in particular puts this Christmas story a cut above most of the television fare we see today so enjoy the simple joys of memorable"The Christmas Box".』
