Santa Claus

Until now I had not seen this in what must be 30 years, and it is mostly as I remember it, although as an adult I have a greater appreciation for John Lithgow as the super-villainous B.Z. and for special effects (i.e., mechanical and optical effects, not visual effects). It remains an odd, and even at times disturbing, Christmas film.

I like how this movie is filmed. It looks like it's from the 60's. I love the first half, and wish the movie was more about Santa's origins. The second half is just silly Christmas fun. John Lithgow is ridiculous. Not as instantly classic as other Christmas movies are, but still worthwhile.

These points are for John Lithgow's classic bad-guy performance.

I used to like this, I'll admit. But that was when I was 8 and the hardened shell of bitterness hadn't formed.

John Lithgow is good, the rest is ok

Somewhat ambitious failure tries to weld a Santa 'origins story' to a modern day one about the 'corporatisation' of Christmas, mixing warmth and cynicism with mostly tepid results. Santa is sidelined in favour of the Moore/Lithgow story, which is unfortunate because it isn't handled well and there was more potential in the origins story. Santa's toy factory is a colourful set, Huddleston is fine in the titular role, and the effects aren't bad for their time, but it never really takes flight.

Mixed feelings on this one. I loved the first half, as an origin story. Then, it had to go down the cheesy villain route and disappointing second half. Still worth the watch.

Really not as bad as they say, but it's not good either

really a terrible movie, but it's the first one I remember seeing in the theater.

The worst Christmas film until the Santa Clause movies came out. Dreadful.

Frozebutchosen+cuzhesaidbestgetsjob+christmas2lol+likethexmassongchorus

Amazing when I was a kid. I shouldn't go back....

I guess I was a dumb kid, because I must've watched this movie a bajillion times. Loved it.

It's watchable, for reasons probably only Satan himself can explain. This film goes beyond camp into 'genius-dreadful' territory.

Can you believe this had budget of $30-50 million? (Source: Wikipedia) It looked so bad, even for 80s. How many times did Santa and Joe fly by the towers?

If Christmas could punch you in the face. I like Lithgow and Moore so going to throw them some points!

I had all these books made from this movie...or vice versa...I dunno. Anywho, enough about my extensive library. This movie was pretty terrible, but I did slightly...not hate it when I was younger.

Passes the time.

One of the better Santa films probably because of Dudley Moore. Santa's sleigh taking off on the big day had more than a passing resemblance to the original Battlestar Gallactica

A long lost classic. Most people don't know what I'm talking about when I mention this film, as it flew under most people's radars when it came out in 1985 (it bombed in theaters) The film is like two movies in one, with the first half set hundreds of years ago, dealing with the creation of Santa, then fast forwarding to 1985 where an elf named Patch gets involved with an evil toymaker who is set on destroying Santa forever. I'm sure you know how this turns out!

Wonderful visual christmas splendor overload. Second half seems like a bit of a different film and therefore unbalanced and disjointed when watching back as an adult. The wonderfully shot Santa/origins story gets pushed aside half way through for the corporate villain plot but in a way that doesn't fully gel.

I was an hour into this horseshit when I realised I'd seen it - at the scene where the businessman talks about how he likes the colour peuce. This is another We Hate Movies movie which I wouldn't watch otherwise

I loved this movie as a kid, the scenes with the old geezer becoming santa was magical and I even thought it was all real, so much so that I wrote a letter to santa and put it on the christmas tree (how dopey was I?) But having watched it recently the 2nd half is so much weaker then the 1st, and the movie's anti-coprorate message is kinda stupid when you think about it. Whats christmas without spending loads of money?

If I'd watched this as a child I'm sure I'd have some emotional attachment to it. Unfortunately it's not as charming as it should be.