Customer Reviews

Thomas Kinkade's Christmas Cottage

5 star:		(59)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(21)

 

 

Famed painter Thomas Kinkaid had this film made about a very pivotal time of his life. Kept raw as real life tends to be, it is a sad and yet very uplifting film. Topics are deep and moving. This is not meant to be a young children's film, but more a teenage and adult film. Deals with motivations, the things that shape us, those who mold our lives.

While I felt the character of Thomas was not given enough depth to fully utilize Mr. Padalecki's talents, his performance with what he was given was awesome. Several of the supporting characters did super amazing work. Despite the rough language given to Richard Burgi, it was the most amazing piece of acting I have seen from him yet -- the depths of feeling and information in his vulerable moments were totally worth it. Mr. O'Toole also gives a wondrous performnce.

If you want something to touch your heart, see how life chapes people, and just get some of that Christmas feeling flowing -- this movie is for you.

I was extremely pleased with this movie. I rented it tonight and enjoyed it so much that I am going to buy it and add it to my ever-expanding roster of Christmas movies. Unlike those who criticize it for lack of typical Christmas fluff, this movie had a raw element that humanized it, therefore making it ENTIRELY believable. I have plenty of "family feel-good" movies and was interested in this movie because it claimed to show how Thomas got his start, which it did. Bravo, Thomas, for having the courage to show the humanity of the townspeople with whom you grew up. A based-on-true-story movie SHOULD show humanity, raw or otherwise. While this isn't a movie that young children would understand, it IS a movie which adults and older teens can relate to. I will watch it every year from now on.

Some weirdos are getting on here saying this is not a family movie due to vulgarity and sensuality. I don't think they saw the same movie I saw. There is more vulgarity and sensuality spending five minutes anywhere outside this movie...walking down a street, at school, tv shows or commercials. Please do yourself a favor and ignore those reviews. You'll be glad and thankful for it. The whole movie has to do with redemption, and God's love, and it has the guts to say so, in a way that I don't think would turn off most non-religious or religious people. This movie is a gem, the acting is excellent, and I am ordering a copy or two for gifts. If you are an aspiring artist, or know someone who is, this movie is a God-send.

I went to the private premier in Morgan Hill a few months ago. It is a great Christmas movie for the whole family. This movie gives you a peek into Thomas Kinkades life before he became famous. Peter O'Toole gives a great performance as Thom's mentor, the art professor that help Thom and his family. God Bless Thom and his family

I purchased "Thomas Kincade's Christmas Cottage" DVD recently because, after looking at the cover and reading the back, it seemed like it would be a heart-warming family Christmas movie. I was very wrong. "Thomas Kincade's Christmas Cottage" is definitely NOT a family film. It's chock full of foul language and sexual innuendos. To top it off, there's barely a mention of the real meaning of Christmas.

Just out of curiosity, I kept a running tally of curse words:

Da*n: 9 times
Go to H*ll, Da*n it to H*ll, H*ll-of-a-Lot, Sure as H*ll, H*ll: 7 times
A*s: 1 time
Bi*ch: 1 time
Bi*ching: 1 time

Other offensive things:

The main character's father says to him, at one point, "What's the matter, aren't you getting any?" (and gestured to his son's crotch)

The main character's father brings his two sons their Christmas present......2 stacks of PORN magazines, which he proceeds to open and lustfully look through one of the magazines.

A scantily clad, busty woman with her cleavage hanging out was very suggestive to the preacher in the movie as well as other men...saying things in a seductive voice like, "I know how to turn things on" when asking to be the one chosen to turn on the town's Christmas Tree during the lighting ceremony. And, the preacher lustfully looking at her and smiling......By the way, she was chosen to portray Jesus' mother Mary.

LOTS of scenes in bars, people drinking hard liquor, smoking, being crass, etc.

The day I first bought the movie, I sat down with my husband and our 5 year old daughter, hoping to watch a warm and fuzzy Christmas family film. THANK GOD our daughter was too tired to watch it. We turned it off after 5 minutes. So, I ended up watching it by myself and am SO thankful that she didn't see it! I shudder to think of all the young children that will see this movie with their parent's because their parent's have NO idea that what they're about to watch is inappropriate.

Look, I'm no prude. I enjoyed watching "The Matrix" and other films that happen to have some bad language, but here's the difference....those films were Rated R and I KNEW they were for adults...not children. The "Christmas Cottage" is rated PG, but should have been PG-13.

I found this movie in a "Family Film" section so I expected it to be something at least SAFE and CLEAN for me and my family to watch, not the filthy piece of trash that I saw in "The Christmas Cottage". Thomas Kincade should be ashamed to have his name on this film....I can't believe he produced it. If I could have given it "0" stars I would have....it doesn't even deserve 1 star.

Heartwarming...After reading one of the reviews here on Amazon, I was reluctant to buy this movie due to the mention of the profanity. I'm glad that I listened to my instincts and purchased it. I truly enjoyed the movie and thought it was very touching and inspiring. The profanity that was used was so minimal that you hardly recall it being used. The only problem that I found with the movie was the volume. I had to turn my volume all the way up and listen closely in order to hear. Other than that, I would recommend that you add this movie to your Christmas collection.

I have to admit I watched this solely on the prior reviews here with both 1 and 5 ratings. This film ended up being such a colossal bin of sap and schmaltz though, I felt compelled to write about it.

The most noticeable critique I read prior was the foul language - there wasn't any (unless damn and hell are considered R ratings to some people now). The "vulgarity" and "sensuality" is so tame that it did not even deserve to be mentioned. This film was about a painter's early inspiration that coincides with the holiday season 1977 in Placerville, CA - so I am not sure what the fuss was about in warning the younger family about seeing this; they would be bored anyway.

The acting was wholeheartedly forced and schmaltzy, and the sole redeeming performance of Mr. O'Toole cannot save the film, admittedly I love hearing his voice orate philosophy in any film. Marcia Gay Harden tries, but they asked her to do so many corny faces and lines you could tell she was in pain. Richard Moll acted like he just came off the Night Court set, as did Ed Asner's few minutes on screen from his last couple holiday films, as did Chris Elliot stumbling from the Groundhog Day set. I guess in that right they picked all holiday actors, but it still fell short of believable. It has the slight feel of a Lifetime movie, but with a higher budget; the cars and sets appeared to be correct and thorough for the era.

The special features are for the Kincade fans, as there are four docus/set pieces that give plenty of insight about Kincade and the production process. The sound issues (written here) were non existent as both the 5.1 and 2.0 are included for you, so I would venture to guess people had bad system setups. The PG rating is actually correct, but I do not think this will rank up there as one of those that the young ones will watch anyway.

I just watched the movie with my brother and wife. It was a great movie and very proud of Jared, he did a wonderful job.

I loved this movie. It goes without saying that Peter O'Toole is amazing in his role. His designation as a legend is well-deserved. As a long-time Richard Burgi fan, this is one of his best roles, and he is wonderful in it. And while I've not known Jared Padalecki's work for as long as I've known Richard's, I have a similar admiration for both of them, and their scenes together in this movie are funny and heartbreaking. This is simply a very nice Christmas movie for older children/teens and their parents.

I can't began to explain my disappointment with this movie! I should have read the rating more closely, but I just trusted anything with the name Christmas Cottage and about the life of Thomas Kincade would have been fine. Boy was I wrong!! I totally agree with one of the other reviewers about the blasphemous actions in the church. I know that they could have brought the meaning they were trying to portray in this scene without all the leg and bust show and the language. This is definitely not a family or Christian friendly film. I have not even mentioned the talent in this film from the directors to the actors.That is because there is not much to comment on!! Don't waste your money!!