"A Charlie Brown Christmas" Comes to the iPad

[SandynJosh]

Bah.. Humbug!!!

I must be the only person on the planet that never cared for this Charlie Brown special. The animations are terrible, the music is like Chinese water torture and the plot line so thin you could read newsprint through it.

Bah...Humbug...Good Grief!!!

 

[malnar]

I don't think our kids would really get into this one. It seems like some of the classic kids' entertainment of my youth is already considered "uncool" by the 8-9 year olds of today. (They think the new Muppet Show movie coming out is going to be "stupid" and don't see anything funny about the 3 Stooges either.)

My daughter's 6 and she can't wait until Charlie Brown Christmas is on, and was upset at missing The Great Pumpkin because we couldn't find it on the schedule. I think it's the older kids that don't care for it, especially if they didn't start in on it young like she did. Now it's just part of the holidays for her, it seems. She's also interested in the Muppets, so I'm thinking it's the age thing.

 

[Dr Kevorkian94]

I want it

 

[marc11]

I must be the only person on the planet that never cared for this Charlie Brown special. The animations are terrible, the music is like Chinese water torture and the plot line so thin you could read newsprint through it.

Bah...Humbug...Good Grief!!!

Maybe you weren't played with when you were a kid, or maybe you do not have kids or both, but shows like this, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph etc harken back for a lot of us of a happier time when we were kids. These specials, along with things like the Hess Truck commercials reminded us that Christmas was almost here. It added to the excitment that bult up over the weeks between Thanksgiving and Crhistmas, to the point where you almost exploded with anticipation.

(for those of us that celebrated Christmas, so this doesn't ring true for everyone of course)

And now, for my kids, the joy comes again, I see it in them, how excited they get, the joy the season brings to them, it is a tradition for us.

It isn't about the quality of the show, it is about the message in the show, the meaning of the holiday season, the joy and happiness the season brings....if are an adult and celebrate Christmas and do not get that, it is too bad, you are missing one of the last true joys of childhood. (and yes, I get my kids a Hess truck every year too, have since the day they were born)

 

[mtbdudex]

Has it been properly sanitized for political correctness? I'm always stunned to see that this is still allowed to be broadcast on TV.

You mean this little bit of timeless magic?

"And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid ... And the angel said unto them, "Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings o great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord."

"And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men."

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." - Linus Van Pelt

Hmm, what's politically un-correct with the above??

 

[Wayfarer]

Anyone else come here to look for the obligatory "why is this on the front page?!" comment.

It's nowhere to be found. I'm shocked.

 

[KnightWRX]

I must be the only person on the planet that never cared for this Charlie Brown special. The animations are terrible, the music is like Chinese water torture and the plot line so thin you could read newsprint through it.

Bah...Humbug...Good Grief!!!

Vince Guaraldi's A Charlie Brown Christmas is the most sold Christmas album there is. What's wrong with piano music ?

The animation is standard 1965's Peanuts fare, the plot line is typical Christmas "Joy and Happiness".

 

[davepilgrimus]

Remember the Christmas tree in this film that drooped with the ornament. I had a tree like that once. Great film. Such a classic and something you need for the holidays because it is such a classic.

 

[SandynJosh]

Vince Guaraldi's A Charlie Brown Christmas is the most sold Christmas album there is. What's wrong with piano music ?

The animation is standard 1965's Peanuts fare, the plot line is typical Christmas "Joy and Happiness".

While that album may be the most sold, it doesn't make it good music. I find it irritating, not inspirational. That said, it doesn't bother me that other people, especially kids, enjoy the program. I'm just a bit surprised at myself for not finding anything in the program that I find enjoyable.

 

[KnightWRX]

While that album may be the most sold, it doesn't make it good music. I find it irritating, not inspirational.

It's Christmas music. Something tells me you'd be irritated whoever had made it. It's very good piano work by Vince and that is why it is the most sold album. It is good Christmas music.

That said, it doesn't bother me that other people, especially kids, enjoy the program. I'm just a bit surprised at myself for not finding anything in the program that I find enjoyable.

Why bother posting in a thread about it then ?

 

[Kadman]

This app should cost five cents and when you buy it, they should play the sequence where Lucy goes nuts over the sound of the nickel in the can.

 

[cara0910]

I must be the only person on the planet that never cared for this Charlie Brown special. The animations are terrible, the music is like Chinese water torture and the plot line so thin you could read newsprint through it.

Bah...Humbug...Good Grief!!!

The music is like Chinese water torture? You MUST be kidding. Vince Guaraldi is fantastic, and I put the whole charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack on every winter for some nice tunes.

...And this coming from an atheist Jew.

----------

Has it been properly sanitized for political correctness? I'm always stunned to see that this is still allowed to be broadcast on TV.

Instead of saying, 'have you seen it?' when the vast majority clearly doesn't consider it political incorrect, can you please explain what, specifically, you find so offensive? I'm not saying there's nothing to be offended about, but I'm honestly curious and would love to hear what you have to say.

 

[DouchGod]

The whole political correctness censorship thing is getting over the top people just need to respect each others views and be more tolerant.

We cannot make the entire world PG13 for everyone.

 

[gadgetmacfreak]

Remember the Christmas tree in this film that drooped with the ornament. I had a tree like that once. Great film. Such a classic and something you need for the holidays because it is such a classic.

You mean like this one?! :

http://www.target.com/p/Charlie-Brown-Christmas-Tree-18/-/A-11278170

I laughed when I saw this replica.

 

[hayesk]

While that album may be the most sold, it doesn't make it good music. I find it irritating, not inspirational. That said, it doesn't bother me that other people, especially kids, enjoy the program. I'm just a bit surprised at myself for not finding anything in the program that I find enjoyable.

It's also one of the most critically acclaimed Christmas albums of all time. If you don't like jazz music, that could explain it. Regardless, the moral of the show is timeless and relevant even today. But no, you don't have to like it.

 

[SeaFox]

You mean this little bit of timeless magic?

"And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid ... And the angel said unto them, "Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings o great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord."

"And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men."

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." - Linus Van Pelt

Hmm, what's politically un-correct with the above??

If Linus's speech was about Paganism and the Winter Solstice, would you feel it was just as politically correct then?

 

[KnightWRX]

If Linus's speech was about Paganism and the Winter Solstice, would you feel it was just as politically correct then?

There is nothing politically incorrect about the special and if Linus' speech was about Paganism and the winter solstice, it would be complete besides the point and out of place in the special.

The special is about finding your own Christmas experience, regardless if you think Christmas is a christian holiday about the birth of Christ or if you think it's a crass commercial pagan ritual of gift giving. The important thing is not celebrating the religious aspect or being forced into the commercial aspect, it's to be with people you enjoy being with and sharing some good times together.

The Linus speech is the extremist counter to the extremist commercial positionning the other peanuts are taking that Charlie Brown isn't agreeing with.

 

[SeaFox]

There is nothing politically incorrect about the special...

Except that it can be interpreted as marginalizing non-Christian religions.

and if Linus' speech was about Paganism and the winter solstice, it would be complete besides the point and out of place in the special.

I thought the special was about the 25th of December. Christ was not born on December 25th the last I heard. However there are many more holidays that time of year is known for. I especially like the last one listed there.

The special is about finding your own Christmas experience, regardless if you think Christmas is a christian holiday about the birth of Christ or if you think it's a crass commercial pagan ritual of gift giving.

To proclaim gift giving "crass" and "pagen" in relation to Christmas is a very interesting viewpoint to take. I can think of three wise men who would disagree with you. Also, you're using pagen in a context like it's an insult, showing a bias in your response.

Note: SeaFox is not pagen.

The important thing is not celebrating the religious aspect or being forced into the commercial aspect, it's to be with people you enjoy being with and sharing some good times together.

Which many of those other traditions involve (feasting, spending time with family, etc). So how is Linus talking about the Winter Solstice "out of place"?

I'm only asking a question to mtbdudex. Quite often people don't recognize something as being politically incorrect if it's something they agree with.

 

[KnightWRX]

Except that it can be interpreted as marginalizing non-Christian religions.

Those don't celebrate Christmas anyhow... Christmas is a Christian holiday. You even state so yourself later in your post. Charlie Brown is obviously thinking of it in a narrow "Christian, birth of Christ way" counter to the other children's "Pagan gift giving commercial holiday". Both extremes come together in the end to show that the holiday is much more than either, it's simply about being together.

In a way, it's very politically correct in that it points out that Christmas is not just a commercial hack job and it isn't just about the Birth of Christ. So it achieves quite the opposite of marginalizing non-Christian religions and if you interpret it like you've just put it, I got bad news :

You missed the entire point.

Which many of those other traditions involve (feasting, spending time with family, etc). So how is Linus talking about the Winter Solstice "out of place"?

Because it would ruin the whole point of the duality of extremist views being presented so that you can reconcile them into a proper middle ground ?

You basically want the whole special rewritten so it would be neutralistic from the get go. If you do that, you remove the whole duality conflict that the special is based on and thus there's no reason to even have it in the first place. If Linus makes a speech about winter solstice, then Charlie Brown can't have is "Doesn't anyone know the true meaning of Christmas anymore!" outburst, which conflicts with the other kids penchant for the commercial aspect. There is no "Get an aluminum tree Charlie Brown" anymore, there is no small natural tree, etc...

I'm thinking you did miss the whole point. I suggest a rewatch.

I'm going to bypass your point about the 3 mages and their gifts. That has nothing to do with what we celebrate today in the tradition of Saint-Nicholas (the inspiration for Santa-Claus) and the start of winter (pine trees decorated, feasts before the hard times and gift giving from Hallmark).

 

[SeaFox]

You basically want the whole special rewritten so it would be neutralistic from the get go.

That is what being Politically Correct is all about. A viewpoint that is crafted to be as as inclusive, vague, and universally acceptable as possible. Even to the point of distorting things factually. The fewer people you appear to be against, the fewer voters you alienate.

A truly "politically correct" speech by Linus may not even have been possible in this special as one of the hallmarks of Judeo-Christian religions (as they are actually practiced by society) is to deny the validity of any alternate beliefs systems. So Linus couldn't very well have talked about the Christian holiday of Christmas along with the other ones mentioned back there on Wikipedia, as the Bible Belt would be quick to demonize Linus for putting them all on an equal footing.

If you do that, you remove the whole duality conflict that the special is based on and thus there's no reason to even have it in the first place.

The duality conflict is secular commercialism and corporate greed verses religious/family celebration and reflection. Not Paganism vs Christianity. The Winter Solstice has historically been about the exact same types of activities as Christmas has, which is no surprise when Christianity adopted most of its Christmas activities from those other religions.

I'm going to bypass your point about the 3 mages and their gifts. That has nothing to do with what we celebrate today in the tradition of Saint-Nicholas (the inspiration for Santa-Claus) and the start of winter (pine trees decorated, feasts before the hard times and gift giving from Hallmark).

If I shifted through all those international and historical Winter Solstice celebrations I bet money I would find reference to decorating trees. Not with 500 mini LEDs made in China but with things handmade and natural I imagine (probably decorating trees kept in the ground, too).

Modern Christmas is as much a corruption of the Pagan Winter Solstice as it is Christianity's celebration. To assign the blame to "teh ebil pagans" is another case of "Your Way is Wrong (because we say so)" by Bible Thumpers, Inc.

 

[KnightWRX]

That is what being Politically Correct is all about. A viewpoint that is crafted to be as as inclusive, vague, and universally acceptable as possible.

See, again, you're missing the fact that this is what the special brings you to in the end.

I guess we'll stop here. There is no point arguing about it, the special is what it is, if you don't like it or find it "politically correct enough" and don't understand, I have nothing more to discuss with you.

 

[macjonny1]

I just downloaded it and it is awesome. Nothing more to say. Simply.......awesome. Get it.

 

[SeaFox]

I guess we'll stop here. There is no point arguing about it, the special is what it is, if you don't like it or find it "politically correct enough" and don't understand, I have nothing more to discuss with you.

Tsk, tsk. Assigning WestonHarvey1's ideas to me. I never said I didn't think "A Charlie Brown Christmas" was politically incorrect, I only present what could be an alternate viewpoint.

Like the Chesire Cat, I am here to be the devil's advocate in the shadows.

Alice first encounters it at the Duchess's house in her kitchen, and then later outside on the branches of a tree, where it appears and disappears at will, engaging Alice in amusing but sometimes vexing conversation. The cat sometimes raises philosophical points that annoy or baffle Alice.

In the coincidentally-published dept, since we just talked about about secular commercialism verses religious values:
http://www.appleinsider.com/article...abbi_blames_apple_for_egocentric_culture.html

 

[GenesisST]

it's not christmas yet.

In Canada, christmas season starts early. We do not have a Thanksgiving as late or as big as in the US, which kind of forces stores to wait after that to start christmasy things.

No, here, we are sick of christmas commercials and songs by Nov.1st.

"It's the most wonder..." BANG!

 

[Orng]

After reading the forums, I think this is the more accurate version that some people (including me) would like to see