Customer Reviews

Miracle Down Under [VHS]

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
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I love to watch this movie every Christmas! The story concerns a family living in Australia in the 1800's. Australia is very hot at Christmas, because their summer is then, so the holiday gets celebrated very differently. During the story, a drought is on and everything is dying. The family is very poor and can't afford to buy gifts but their little boy is sure that "Father Christmas" whom he thinks he's met in person, will get him a gift if he's good. When a scoundrel pretending to be Father Christmas, and the local rich man get involved, it becomes a Christmas none of them ever forget. The movie has one scene that would make it worth watching anyway, even if it weren't a good movie: the scene where they try to have a traditional English Christmas (complete with Yule log in 100 + weather) and the roasted pig takes a header across the room. You'll love it!

I first saw "The Christmas Visitor" (aka "Miracle Down Under") in the late 1980's on The Disney Channel. In my opinion it is one of the best Christmas films out there. It's serious, yet funny, and touches the heart. Unfortunatlely it is relatively unknown. I have not seen it on TV since. I highly recommend that you see this film.

A different look at Christmas in a different culture with fine acting, crisp dialogue, good humor and the underlying true meaning of Christmas coming through without overbearing moral overtones. A wonderful, entertaining alternative to typical Hollywood gushy Christmas shows produced with half-wits in mind.

What a wonderful, overlooked holiday film. An amazing cast of characters that reveals the hard life in turn of the century Australia. One of our families annual traditions is to watch this movie together.

A nice family movie of a feel good nature. I believe it used to be titled "The Christmas Visitor". I don't know why it was changed. I have been looking to purchase it for years and now found it under this title.

This is one of my all time favorite Christmas movies. It is a great movie about the spirit of Christmas in a non-traditional setting. Very Enjoyable. I have been looking for it for years under the other title (The Christmas Visitor).

American actress Dee Wallace Stone (E.T; "10") and Australian actor John Waters (Breaker Morant, All The Rivers Run) star in this brilliant Australian motion picture directed by George Miller, best known for his critcally acclaimed file - The Man From Snowy River. Shot entirely on location in the breathtaking wilds of southeastern Australia, this impressive feature captures the exciting adventures and personal conflicts a rugged group of settlers endure in the remote bush country during the 1890's. Visions of taming the frontier quickly fade one summer's drought until a series of miraculous events rekindles the pioneers hopes. Running time: 106 minutes. Color

As a family we've watched this film every Christmas for years. It has so many elements 1) an unusual setting, Christmas in Australia, 2) a touching story on several levels about family, loss, kindness, honesty, love, hardship and the belief of a little boy in Santa, 3) a real sense of humor, 4) the love of a family struggling to make it 5) the pain of loss from of a wife and mother passed on and the healing that's needed for the father and son left behind.

This movie has a charm that is not found elsewhere. Just the idea of a Santa in Australia during their summer season and that man being on the run, with redemption possible for him as he works to fulfill the dreams of an innocent and precocious child.

Most folks we know have never heard of this movie. We can't recommend it enough. We cherish our tradition of watching it each season. It reminds us in many different and beautiful ways about the spirit of Christmas even in summer in December in Australia. chrisbct@hotmail.com

I have loved this movie ever since it first was released. It has been a Christmas "must see" at our house every year. Now, the VHS is worn out. When, if ever, will it be released on DVD? It is such a heartwarming story, much different that a lot of the mindless newer Christmas movies out now.

A wonderful movie for all age groups, that even in Australia is relatively unknown. Bud Tingwell was a very well-known Australian actor, but I haven't even seen this film on TV since the 1990s. Ned, the star of the film, is the cutest little boy, and his belief that Father Christmas (Santa for all you Americans!) will come, no matter what else happens, is so wonderfully innocent. It takes us all back to our own childhoods. When will they bring this movie out on DVD so we can continue to enjoy it in the future?? If you still have a VHS player, buy this tape.