It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie 2010 DVD Review

It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
2010 Widescreen Edition DVD Review








Ryan Dosier - Universal just released It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie on DVD again today. It is being called a "Digitally Remastered" "Widescreen" release and comes with two discs, one of the movie and a few bonus features, and one that includes nine holiday songs. Let me preface this review by saying that this is a very odd release... for more than a few reasons. Let's go through them, shall we? For one, no one at all predicted a release of an unknown 2002 Muppet Christmas special that isn't owned by Disney being released. 


Second, this release is billed as being "Digitally Remastered in Widescreen for the First Time Ever!" and, well, it certainly is! A few inches is added to the right and left side of the screen and those trademark black bars are tacked on the top and bottom of the screen. Is it enough to make a noticeable difference? Let's put it this way... I had to put in my other DVD of the special to really see the difference. Here, see for yourself...



The old, fullscreen presentation.



New, larger, obviously improved widescreen presentation. Notice Dr. Teeth and Robin are now fully in frame, and another chicken (along with the Muppeteer under it) can now be seen.



This release is also getting a very odd special treatment from Universal. The DVD comes in an O-Sleeve and the packaging has an awesome design to it. It's only ten bucks at Wal-mart, so go get it if you don't already own it... but should you get it if you don't already own it? I have no idea. If you're a Muppet completist and you love It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie like I do, then yes, go spend a measly ten bucks and pick it up. The new, apparently digital remastering looks fantastic and the widescreen is nice. It's especially fun in group shots like the Muppets having their meeting in the theater seats and the whole "Moulin Scrooge" number.



The weirdest part of this release, however, is the totally pointless and very, very strange second disc. As I mentioned earlier, the second disc is a 9-song music CD filled with Christmas music. You would expect this to be Muppet Christmas music, right? Well... you're wrong! So terribly, terribly wrong... terribly because what is in place of Muppet music is terrible. The CD has nine songs sung by some random, nameless, bad-voiced guy just pushing out Christmas music for a quick paycheck. Universal really pushed the envelope with this CD.



But aside from that this really is a nice DVD. The bonus features included are deleted scenes and bloopers--all of which can be found on the 2003 DVD as well. Oddly enough, each of the deleted scenes and bloopers have retained the "Inside Pepe's Studio" watermark at the bottom right hand corner. This is odd because Inside Pepe's Studio isn't mentioned once on this DVD. Seems like they were just too lazy to take off the logo... or the clips don't exist without it. Either way, all of the deleted scenes and bloopers were included on the 2003 DVD--including the hidden Easter Egg scenes.

Overall, I do recommend this DVD. It's not the best release from the Muppets... but for a DVD released by a studio other than Disney, it's pretty impressive. The box art is wonderful--especially the big group picture on the back--and the menus are a LOT less annoying than the 2003 DVD. Thankfully nothing moves or talks to you... there's just a nice instrumental of "Deck the Halls" that plays over the menu.



Should you buy this DVD if you already own the 2003 release? Well... that's entirely up to you. As a Muppet fan, I'm obligated to say yes--especially since it's only $10 at Wal Mart--but as someone who understands lack of cash flow... I'd say just think about it or ask for it for Christmas or something. If you don't get it, you're not missing too much, but if you do you've got a shiny new Muppet DVD to add to your collection! And... a crappy Christmas CD to microwave!













The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier
Source URL: https://jimhensons.blogspot.com/search/label/It%27s%20a%20Very%20Merry%20Muppet%20Christmas%20Movie
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It's a Verry Merry October Christmas Release

Greetings, Muppet fans! Ryan Dosier here with a friendly reminder for you all... Tomorrow, October 12th, Universal is releasing a new, (apparently) 2-disc DVD release of It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie. Nobody seems to know what that second disc might contain--or even if the set will contain a second disc at all. If any of you Muppet fans out there manage to find this DVD tomorrow, be sure to send me an email at ryguy102390@gmail.com. We'd love to know what's on that mysterious second disc and also where you managed to find the DVDs. I know I'll be scouring my local Wal-Mart and Best Buy for it!

To pre-order this DVD, be sure to check out Amazon!











The Muppet Mindset by Ryan DosierSource URL: https://jimhensons.blogspot.com/search/label/It%27s%20a%20Very%20Merry%20Muppet%20Christmas%20Movie
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News Update: September 2, 2010

NEWS UPDATE: September 2, 2010

The Muppet Show Comic Book has won the Harvey Award for Best Original Graphic Novel Publication for Younger Readers! This exciting award was given to The Muppets against their stiff competition from the likes of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and 3-2-3 Detective Agency. HUGE congratulations to our friends at BOOM! Studios for the win, and even bigger congratulations to the uber talent that is Roger Langridge, writer and illustrator of The Muppet Show Comic Book. The picture at right was drawn by Langridge after winning the Harvey Award. For the complete list of Harvey Award winners and nominees, check here!

After some digging on Amazon.com, it was discovered that Universal Studios will be releasing It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie on DVD once again on October 12th. According to the Amazon page, the DVD will present the movie in widescreen (for the first time ever on Region 1 DVD), but it also says that it will be a 2-Disc DVD set, so who knows whether either is true? Either way, this is a very exciting release and we'll be sure to keep you updated on bonus features and more as the information surfaces!

Some more digging on Amazon.com has revealed that the new Muppet Monopoly Collector's Edition set has been released. The game was released by USAopoly and costs $34.99 on Amazon. But the really exciting thing about the game is that there appears to be NEW Muppet poser puppet images used on the box cover. Check out the likes of Rowlf, Scooter, Gonzo, Camilla, Pepe, Fozzie, Swedish Chef, Animal, and Miss Piggy on the box art below and see for yourself!








Finally, the biggest news of the week, The Muppets are officially casting for the new Muppet movie! The announcement and call for auditions and actors has been circulating through the Los Angeles and Hollywood trade papers this week and also, Autidions for Disney has posted the official call on their website. Here are the main highlights...

• Shooting is scheduled to start in Los Angeles this month and go through November, 2010, with a release date of December 25, 2011.
• Big names apparently already attached to the project include Ben Stiller, George Clooney, and Jason Segel.
• If you're an actor in California with a head shot and a resume, they want you to audition!!
• The plot centers on the Muppets' reunion as they try to save The Muppet Studios in Hollywood from evil business tycoon Tex Richman. They'll have help from human friend Gary (probably Segel).
• They are going to need TONS of extras.
All VERY exciting stuff, huh? Well, you know what this means... in just a few weeks, we'll be witnessing the official start of the filming of a brand new Muppet movie!!! As always, keep your eye on The Muppet Mindset for all the latest updates!














The Muppet Mindset by Ryan DosierSource URL: https://jimhensons.blogspot.com/search/label/It%27s%20a%20Very%20Merry%20Muppet%20Christmas%20Movie
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