Product Details

• Format: Color, DVD, Live, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Lionsgate / HIT Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: October 22, 2002
• Run Time: 50 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000068V9J
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,877 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • #1 in Music > Miscellaneous > Holiday > Kwanzaa

Editorial Reviews

Barney the purple dinosaur celebrates the holidays with his friends and while decorating the tree they notice that the only thing missing is the star for the top of the tree. While searching through Grandma's attic they discover many treasures -- little drummer boys antique typewriters -- and they all celebrate and reenact "The Night Before Christmas" as a grand finale.System Requirements: Running Time 50 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: NR UPC: 045986028143 Manufacturer No: H100576

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Non-religious, typical Barney show, December 2, 2002

By 

christinemm - The Thinking Mother (Houston Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Barney's Christmas Star [VHS] (VHS Tape)

As usual, the show opens inside of Barney's Playhouse. There are four children: one African-American, one Asian and two Caucasian. There are two boys and two girls.

This show starts with Barney discussing the holidays and they show and sing about each of three tables: one with the nativity scene for Christmas, one for Hanukkah, and one for Kwanzaa. This is where all references to the religious aspect of the holidays and Christmas end. Then Barney sings a generic song "I love the holidays". A girl enters and announces it is snowing and they all go outside to play, they sing songs about winter and snow, and build a snowman.

The girl invites everyone to help decorate a big Christmas tree in a public park that her great-great grandfather planted many years ago. They are off to help out and sing "O Christmas Tree". Soon they realize the star for the top of the tree is missing. Grandma sends Barney and the children back to her house to look for it in the attic.

Once in the attic, Grandfather gives them free reign to search for the missing star. They sing songs and talk about what they find and sing non-religious Christmas songs. Classic toys such as Raggedy Ann, drummer boys (soldiers), and teddy bears are found with glee. Barney finds a copy of a picture book version of "The Night Before Christmas" and reads it aloud while images of Santa on his sleigh are shown. Santa comes down the chimney and eats cookies that have been left for him while two children watch.

BJ and Baby Bop appear out of nowhere and eventually they find the star. They take it to the park, sing a new song about the star to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and Barney helps put the star on top of the tree since none of the adults can reach it, even with a ladder. (Typical of Barney shows, Barney is more of an authority figure and more capable than the human adults, and "saves the day".)

Overall this show is very much centered on presents and decorations such as the Christmas tree. One scene asks what is best about the holidays and the boy says "wrapping presents, giving presents and opening presents". Christians may not like that the central focus of this Christmas show is not religious despite the title containing the word "Christmas".

Overall this is typical Barney fare: inclusion of many ethnicities, trying to be fair by showing multiple celebrations of various peoples, and making the main focus something that is not secular. The songs are new and old classics. It is very much like the TV shows in content and quality.

If your child loves the Barney TV shows then s/he will love this show. As for how much the adult finds this entertaining, it would be equal to how much the adult likes the television show. The best part of this show is that it is the typical innocence, song and dance we expect from the Barney programs, which I feel makes it a good choice for young children, or at least better than most programming that is out there for children! It is what it is: a Barney show!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cute and fun, January 10, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Barney's Christmas Star (DVD)

This is our first Barney dvd and my 22 month old daughter loves it. I just skip the "commercials" at the beginning by hitting the "chapter" button on my remote. The characters touch on the ways some different cultures celebrate the holidays and sing several songs -- some traditional Christmas songs as well as others like "Just Imagine" which my daughter and I loved. Its cute and fun and well worth the money I spent.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars unhappy, December 2, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Barney's Christmas Star (DVD)

This is another Barney DVD that has no menu. Once you put it on you must fast forward through the initial advertisements and then you can play the Barney portion. Without a menu it is basically a glorified VHS tape that the best you can do is fast forward to get to a certain spot. There is also no spanish sound track. If you want a VHS-like product that should last longer than a tape you might be interested in this. As far as the story goes I would opt for The Night Before Christmas. That story is more little kid friendly and more entertaining. The Christmas Star didn't hold the interest of my 3.5 or 1.5 y/o children. With The Night Before Christmas they request to see it all the time. The Night Before Christmas DVD also functions like a DVD.