Customer Reviews
Christmas used to tell ordinary story - By: Stampy, 03 Jan 2009 
Patch (Moore) is putin charge of making the year's Christmas toys but they turn out shabby & so disgraced, Patch heads to New York to prove his worth to Santa.
Christmas is a special occasion every year & not many dread the time of year when you hear tales of Father Christmas, receive presents & join your loved ones for the festivities.
These typical elements of the festive season are encoded into this 1985 picture & are usedin a way that revolves around making a mistake & trying to fix it before it's too late. If anything, Christmas is simply a setting for this conventional storyline.
The opening sees a man & his wife delivering toys to villages. Filmedin a dark & old fashioned setting you would think it would be maintained but then up pops a bunch of normal height elves that transport them to their palace. After ten minutes more where we see elves dance & Santa looking around their factory, we see an old man step out from behind a sledge to declare Santa the man to deliver presents to kids for the rest of his life. You will utter a sigh when he mentions the word "prophecy" which is undoubtedly an attempt to make the legend but is conveyed as a mere convenience as the old guy is on the verge of retiring. Or is this a religious point? There is no indication that it is which leaves us scratching our heads.
So after around half an hour of pointless scene setting the story eventually gets going & Patch makes faulty toys & is soon on his way to New York. In what is slightly funny, the elves & Santa aren't seen caring much for Patch's absence until Santa realises he is making a wooden man that resembles the elf, yes it is that sickly obvious.
On the plus side when Santa visits New York & meets Joe & Cornelia then the spirit of Christmas & good will appears. Joe the homeless kid & Cornelia the unappreciated step daughter form a friendship that is sweet & when Cornelia gives Joe some food it will bring a smile to viewer's faces.
John Lithgow is a fantastic villain & would have been better with more onscreen time.
There is a cringing last ditch attempt to save the day & as it's a Christmas film there is only one way it is going to go to keep the spirits of viewers up.
In conclusion Santa Claus the movie is as predictable as the arrival of next Christmas with an awful take on the legend, some strange settings & a feeling of using Christmas as an excuse to portray a story of right & wrong.
3.5/10
Magic, magic, magic! - By: Sarah Flight, 01 Dec 2008 
Out of all the of the christmas films that I have seen over the years, this is the one that stands head & shoulders above the rest! Ok, the acting of the little lad that plays Joe leaves something to be desired, but if you put this aside & just watch the film for shear enjoyment & gettingin that festive mood, then you too will get wrapped upin that magic tingly feelling that this film evokes.
I remember watching this film as a little girl & I still get the same feeling it gave when I was about 10. I have now bought it for my 2 year old & he justs loves it - its a fantastic way to introduce children to the magic of Santa, elves, reindeer & the magic of christmas if you just believe. Go on - give it a go - you will not be disappointed!
The Magical Christmas Movie - By: KAT, 19 Nov 2008 "The Prophesy has come to pass...that there will come to us a Chosen One...and that he, having no child of his own, will love all the childrenin all the world..." Andin these immortal words a Miricle took place & the Legend of Santa Claus was born.
I have watched this film every Christmas Eve for as long as I can remember, & no matter how many times I watch it, it seems just as magical as the very first time I ever saw it.
This is a wonderful story that explains the Legend of Christmasin a way which will never fail to entrall generations of children. It tells the story of Santa Claus from his origin; how a humble & kind toymaker with a love for children & a skillin carpentry became the man we now know as Santa Claus. This Movie answers all the questions ever asked about Santa by children, from how his Reindeer fly to how he delivers all the presentsin just one night. David Huddleson completely encompasses Santa Clausin every which way, complete with white beard, hair, suit, sack & flying reindeer. And the brilliant Dudley Moore throwsin excellent elements of comedy as the impressive Elf Patch. Although there is a storyline to this, concerning Patch & a young street-urchin called Joe whom Santa be-friends, & an evil Entrepeneur trying to steal Xmas away from Santa, it still retains its wonder magic & doesn't stray away from the real story - the legend of Father Christmas.
Even today as a fully grown Adult I still regress to 5 years old when I see this film, & it never fails to capture my imagination. I can honestly say there is no other Christmas movie out there that makes me feel this way. I simply adore this film & I'm sure any child who watches this at Christmas will come away loving it just as much as I do still today.
A Christmas Classic - By: C. CSTEWART, 23 Nov 2007 This film takes me right back to when I was a kid on Christmas eve watching this film before being tucked into bed...I bought this for me & hopefully when my 2 are old enough they will enjoy this just as much... This is the REAL Santa &in my eyes always has been.
5 stars for nostalgia! Brilliant Film, enjoy!
The best christmas movie ever - By: Katie99, 31 May 2007 My favourite christmas movie. When I watch this film I know that its christmas.
