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Back Shelf Beauties
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Santa vs. The Snowman 3D Don't be fooled by the cute-as-a-button animation and holiday images conveyed by the words Santa and Snowman. This is one twisted, hilarious and visually stunning IMAX 3D short film that could stand toe-to-toe with the wackiest episode of South Park (minus the vulgarity because Santa vs. The Snowman 3D is kid safe). Kids will like it, but it's the teens and adults who will enjoy the biggest laughs. In Santa vs. The Snowman 3D, our cute little snowman lives all by himself in the vast, empty, barren tundra near the North Pole. With no one else around, he never learned how to speak, so his only communication skill is playing his flute, which breaks one sad night before Christmas. He sets off in search of a new one, when he stumbles across Santa's (voice of Jonathan Winters) workshop, which is busily preparing for the big day. Our sweet little Snowman sees a flute in the workshop, and not knowing any better, takes it for himself. This sets off a chain of chases and offenses that ultimately leads to a Christmas Eve war between Santa's elves and the Snowman's snow minions. Who will win this snowy smackdown? Will Santa be able to deliver all the toys on Christmas Eve? When I war, I mean WAR! Writer/director John A. Davis (from the mind of Steve Oedekerk) has put together an amazing tale that combines innocent sweetness with wicked parody, including the film's Empire Strikes Back-like battle that had me laughing harder than I have in a long time. Kids are going to love the cute, snuggly, sympathetic snowman, his lonely plight, and the movie's ultimate lesson, which sucks us all in as if it was going to be a TV special. Meanwhile teens and adults will enjoy snowman's transformation into a formidable rebel leader with a few battlefield tricks up his sleeve, and Santa's gruff approach to it all. Like any great madcap comedy, it escalates and escalates until becoming a farce of monumental proportions, all with great results. While Winters is as fabulous as expected (and other voice actors like Victoria Jackson, Ben Stein and Mark DeCarlo put in great performances), the visuals trump the audio and vocals. This is one of the greatest 3D experiences I have ever had in a theater, with everything so close to the audience member, you feel like you could reach out and touch the graphics. Even better, you see the contours of each character and prop. This is the same team that brought you Jimmy Neutron, so all of the characters are very cartoonish, especially the kids and elves. However, they are filled with smart aleck behavior and quick-witted responses as well as amusing little twists like guns that shoot hot cocoa and reindeer who serve as the North Pole's air force. Santa vs. The Snowman 3D is a fun holiday diversion, and a reason to visit your local IMAX theater to see one of the greatest visual spectaculars you can imagine. In Washington, DC, this movie will be playing at the Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History Johnson IMAX theater during the holiday season. Look for it at an IMAX theater near you by clicking here. 4 Waffles (Out Of 4) Copyright 2004 - WaffleMovies.com
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