In the episode "Backyardigans: The Magic Skateboard," the four main characters, Pablo, Tyrone, Uniqua, and Tasha, embark on an adventurous journey utilizing a magical skateboard. The backyard transforms into a skate park, and the friends gain extraordinary abilities once they step onto the enchanted board. With captivating music and exciting dance sequences, the story unfolds as they encounter various challenges and obstacles. Pablo, Tyrone, Uniqua, and Tasha soon discover that the magic skateboard can grant them incredible powers. Each time they perform a unique dance move, they acquire a new ability that helps them overcome obstacles throughout their adventure. This newfound power allows them to skate through dangerous paths, fly through the air, and even defy gravity.
Well, don’t let those things deter you from seeing this film. Skillfully directed by Philip Borsos (The Grey Fox, The Mean Season) and featuring a cast of strong character actors, One Magic Christmas might be rather depressing, but the payoff at the end is well worth it. It basically gives you a worst-case scenario and turns it on its head with a little Christmas spirit.
Despite having a title that conjures up visions of sugar plums dancing in your head, this 1985 G-rated Christmas film offers up unemployment, robbery, murder, holiday depression, a fatal car chase, and the threat of homelessness. Happy to have her kids back, Ginny is still crushed by the loss of her husband and all of the other problems that have piled up on the family over the year.
This newfound power allows them to skate through dangerous paths, fly through the air, and even defy gravity. As they explore the transformed backyard, the friends encounter different themed areas such as a tropical paradise, a futuristic cityscape, and a mystical forest. Each environment presents its own set of challenges, which the characters must overcome using their newly acquired abilities.
Sarah polley one magic chfistmas
Movie - One Magic Christmas is a wonderful little film that has been pretty much overlooked by most people. Released theatrically with little fanfare during the 1985 holiday season, the film is one of the live-action Disney gems that deserves more recognition.
It's Christmastime, but Ginny Grainger (Steenburgen) is not feeling the holiday spirit. The family is low on cash, her job at the supermarket is hardly fulfilling, and come January 1, they're moving out of their home. A Christmas angel named Gideon (Harry Dean Stanton) is assigned to cheer Ginny up and show her all the wonderful things she has to be happy about this Christmas. What ensues from Gideon's quest is a magical journey for Ginny, her husband, their two kids, and even Santa Claus. One Magic Christmas is a heart-warming holiday drama/fantasy that undoubtedly appeals to adults, perhaps even more so than to children. Audiences of all ages will be entertained by the thoughtful and emotional story told. It should be noted that for a G-rated movie, there are some rather intense and dramatic moments, but these are essential to the plot. Overall, a charming Christmas film that is definitely worth checking out!
Anchor Bay DVD Note - Disney and Anchor Bay studios have a contract, whereby Anchor Bay was able to release a number of live-action Disney films from the 1960s through the mid-1980s. You might think Anchor Bay, being a small studio, would not be the best distributor to give these films the treatment deserve. On the contrary, Anchor Bay's DVD presentations are up to par and most likely better than what Disney would have done.
Video - For starters, Anchor Bay is able to include both the widescreen and pan & scan versions of the film (which clcoks in at just under 90 minutes) on one dual-layered disc. Disney, on the other hand, would rather include just one version of the film on the disc, and in the case of many upcoming releases, they're opting for the Pan & Scan version and not the original widescreen aspect ratio. Their reasoning includes space considerations, claiming that video quality would suffer by including both versions on a double-sided or dual-layered disc. The video quality of One Magic Christmas undoubtedly proves that claim wrong--the movie looks great! The level of detail is high and the snowy Canadian scenery is crystal-clear. One minor complaint is that the 1.85:1 widescreen transfer is not enhanced for 16 x 9 televisions, as at the time, Anchor Bay was not big on anamorphic DVD releases. Fortunately, it is a minor qualm for a beautiful-looking DVD.
Audio - The feature presentation also benefits from the inclusion of a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. The audio is remixed and despite what you might expect from a somewhat low-key film, the surrounds are pretty active. The cold wind from the snowy exteriors is realized through surround usage. In addition, scenes involving travel to and from the North Pole utilize the 5.1 track with powerful effects. The 5.1 track is a solid addition, and a rather surprising treat for a family-friendly drama.
Extras - Though the packaging mentions a Theatrical Trailer is on this DVD, it is not. A trailer would have been nice or extras of some kind, but the lack of supplements doesn't take away from this otherwise quality DVD presentation. One physical extra worth mentioning is a post card reproduction of the original poster art for the movie. Definitely cool and similar to a trailer, the poster art shows you how the film was originally marketed.
Closing Thoughts - Anchor Bay has put together a nice little disc for an excellent little Christmas film. By including both viewing formats, Anchor Bay is able to please both crowds and that deserves two thumbs up. The widescreen transfer and the 5.1 audio track both contribute to the high-quality presentation of this film.
Movie - One Magic Christmas is a wonderful little film that has been pretty much overlooked by most people. Released theatrically with little fanfare during the 1985 holiday season, the film is one of the live-action Disney gems that deserves more recognition.
It's Christmastime, but Ginny Grainger (Steenburgen) is not feeling the holiday spirit. The family is low on cash, her job at the supermarket is hardly fulfilling, and come January 1, they're moving out of their home. A Christmas angel named Gideon (Harry Dean Stanton) is assigned to cheer Ginny up and show her all the wonderful things she has to be happy about this Christmas. What ensues from Gideon's quest is a magical journey for Ginny, her husband, their two kids, and even Santa Claus. One Magic Christmas is a heart-warming holiday drama/fantasy that undoubtedly appeals to adults, perhaps even more so than to children. Audiences of all ages will be entertained by the thoughtful and emotional story told. It should be noted that for a G-rated movie, there are some rather intense and dramatic moments, but these are essential to the plot. Overall, a charming Christmas film that is definitely worth checking out!
They work together as a team, utilizing their individual strengths to support one another and conquer the obstacles that come their way. Throughout the episode, the characters also face a mischievous antagonist known as the Misunderstood Wizard. The wizard attempts to interfere with their adventure by creating additional obstacles and attempting to steal the magic skateboard. However, the friends' unity and determination allow them to outsmart the wizard and continue their thrilling journey. Ultimately, the four friends successfully navigate the challenges of the magical skateboard adventure and return home to their ordinary backyard. They learn important lessons about teamwork, creativity, and perseverance, all while experiencing the joy of using their imaginations to embark on an unforgettable escapade. The episode serves as a reminder of the power of friendship and the limitless possibilities that can be unlocked through the power of imagination..
Reviews for "Exploring Music and Movement with the Backyardigans' Magic Skateboard"
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