Customer Reviews

The Happy Holiday Hearth

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This DVD is *just* what we hoped it would be! You have a choice of crackling fire with no music, crackling fire with holiday music, or silent fire with holiday music. Of course, if you turn down the volume, you'd have fire with no crackling or music. The music is a choir that sings in Ray Coniff Singers-style.

The only thing on which I can comment is that the very tops of the flames are not visible on the screen. However, the fire is roaring and bright enough to cast a fire-like glow on the floor in front of the TV. We have enjoyed this very much and have set our DVD player to repeat for hours of uninterrupted playtime.

Great price, great DVD. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Last year for the holidays, I wanted a "fireplace" for family gatherings. I did my home work and decided on the best DVD to meet my goal...got busy and didn't order. Decided to do this early so as to not let another year slip by, but I forgot which DVD I wanted, so I had to repeat the "homework". I wanted the actual fire, not the fireplace stonework, did not want the camera to pan in and out, didn't want to see logs being thrown on the fire or even the fire dying down to embers. I wanted a inviting, realistic fire, all of what this DVD is. The crackling fire sound effects is realistic. I love Christmas music, the music on this DVD is great background music, I can even listen to the "12 Days Of Christmas", which is not a favorite of mine. When I walk into my great room and see this on the big screen TV, the fire is "warm" and glowing. Based on the reviews & internet, it it exactly what I expected. I recommend this reasonable priced DVD, I actually plan to purchase additional copies for my family members as gifts.

I have to echo what all of the other reviewers have said; this is a fantastic D.V.D! I live in the U.K. and fireplace videos seem to be a rare and elusive thing over here. I purchased one of these for myself and one for a friend who has a multi-region DVD player and after watching mine today, I'm sure he will love his! I played it with the Christmas music and crackling both on, but turned down low and I felt so cozy and relaxed, I drifted off!! Even my Mum who hates Christmas had to admit that it was lovely and the carol arrangements are very beautiful. I can't recommend this highly enough. Turn off the lights, gather round the T.V. and dream yourself the perfect Christmas.

I agree with the majority here that this is a fantastic DVD. When I was doing my homework I really wanted a song list. I wanted something very traditional and soothing. No obscure songs, not the same 5 songs over and over, and certainly nothing with, for example, Celine Dion showing off her "range". (Sorry to the Dion fans out there. Not a slam on her, but it isn't what I was looking for.) The songs included on the DVD are the orchestral versions. Which are perfectly relaxing and if you want to belt out a tune while listening you're more than welcome to do so without having to mimic an artist's rendition of the song. The Song Listing from the DVD case itself are as follows:

1. White Christmas
2. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
3. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
4. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
5. Silver Bells
6. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
7. I'll Be Home For Christmas
8. The Twelve Days Of Christmas
9. Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly
10. Jingle Bells
11. Good King Wenceslas
12. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
13. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
14. Christmas Is Coming
15. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
16. Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy
17. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
18. Ave Maria
19. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
20. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
21. Oh Come All Ye Faithful
22. The First Noel
23. What Child Is This?

Based on previous reviews, I purchased The Happy Holiday Hearth DVD and it was great. The music and singing is great!!! Plus the fire is very realistic and I recommend this DVD. One of the best things about the DVD is that there are 3 options to choose: fire; fire + music and fire + music + fire crackling. This was worth every penny.

After watching this dvd twice I had to switch to just the crackling fire. The fire is really very nice but not so the music. It is all the same generic choir and the songs tend to all sound alike. Just some instrumental music thrown in between would be nice. I now play the dvd of the fire and my own Christmas music. For the price it's a good deal.

I know it's just a video of burning wood in a fireplace, but it really is enjoyable! My 2 kids absolutely love this DVD, and have played it often during the holidays. The music is traditional choral arrangements and enhances the overall experience. You can't beat the low price! Who wants to spend $20 plus for a yule log video? Highly recommended!

After reading the only two reviews of this DVD I felt I must add my opinion. This is by far the best fireplace video on the market. I have purchased a few others and they all left me feeling like I had a second class fireplace in my home. This DVD shows a beautiful full screen fire that has all the lovely crackles of a real fire plus if you want to listen to some wonderful Christmas music, along with the sights and sounds of the fire, this is the DVD for you. I have this running all day long and never tire of it's presence in the room. It is very soothing to the soul and when we've had company, after the initial fun of talking about having a fire on the TV, everyone agrees that it is absolutely perfect and want to know where they can get one. You will never be sorry if you purchase The Happy Holiday Hearth.

This DVD is almost as good as a real fireplace. Great selection of Christmas songs or you can play it with just the crackeling fire sound. Everyone who has seen it loves it. One of the best buys I've ever made.

A few years ago (actually, it could be a decade or more), I read about a VHS tape that could turn your television set into a simulated fireplace. What a neat idea! I tried to find the tape. Nobody had heard of it. Some looked at me as if I was somewhat loony when I asked. Well, I finally forgot all about it until this Christmas Season. We had an office party and our tech played it on the room's slide screen. I asked about the tape and he explained that there were now plenty of new DVD versions. He said to go to Amazon and type "fireplace" into the DVD search. Sure enough, about a dozen versions graced the page. I looked them over and selected "The Happy Holiday Hearth." I'm not sure why I chose this particular one. Perhaps, because it was inexpensive. Perhaps, because it was put out by Rhino, a name I could trust. In any case, I'm very happy with it.

We have a 42-inch plasma TV. When the DVD is playing the entire screen is filled with a nice comfortable fire accompanied by snapping and popping sounds and the inflow of air. Our first reaction was to laugh at it in amusement. Of course, it's only psychological but it seemed to make the room warmer and more cheerful. We even seemed to feel a glow on our faces after viewing the flames for a while. It's mesmerizing, just like a real fireplace and provided an interesting and enjoyable experience. Finally we got used to it, but the fire still seemed so realistic that we jokingly expressed some worry now and then that the sparks might ignite the nearby Christmas tree or that the fire might somehow overheat the TV set. Now we greatly enjoy playing it with people over. It gets a lot of reaction and sets a good tone for the gathering.

The instructions are simple and clear. You have three choices: 1. The fire and accompanying sounds; 2. The fire with Christmas music; 3. The fire with fire sounds and Christmas music. Personally, I'm really burned out by Christmas music so I'd opt to use only the first choice. I suppose with guests on Christmas I'll use the music, but 99% of the use this DVD will get will be fire only. Plus, the DVD is in no way restricted to the Christmas Season. We'll probably use it throughout the winter season, and for many seasons thereafter. I like to use it for a visual backdrop while listening to music on the CD player.

It's an interesting, useful and enjoyable DVD. It'll probably get more playing time than any DVD we own. I have only a few minor criticisms. First, I don't particularly care for the patterned brick background. Second, the fire seems overly robust relative to the logs that are burning and I suspect it is being "aided" by a little gas from below. Third, The fire view on the DVD cover is a little bigger than the view in our TV screen. For example, a grate clearly shows beneath the fire on the photo but not in our screen. Fourth, The fire plays continuously but there's an awkward gap when one showing ends and it's necessary to start over. Alas, nothing is perfect.

Gary Peterson