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| The Hogfather | 
 enlarge | Director: Vadim Jean
Actors: Neil Pearson, Tony Robinson, David Jason, Stephen Marcus, Joss Ackland
Studio: Genius Products (TVN)
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $7.81
You Save: $7.14 (48%)
New (23) Used (15) from $6.96
Avg. Customer Rating:  97 reviews
Sales Rank: 1125
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Ntsc, Widescreen
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 189
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: GEPD80604D
UPC: 796019806046
EAN: 0796019806046
ASIN: B0010X741Y
Theatrical Release Date: 2006
Release Date: March 4, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: ******BRAND NEW****** ** Over 1.5 million orders shipped worldwide and more than 500 000 items in stock, BUY FROM A TRUSTED SOURCE, ESTABLISHED SINCE 1998 - INETVIDEO ~~~
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Product Description
Studio: Genius Products Inc Release Date: 03/04/2008 Run time: 189 minutes
Amazon.com
Based on a fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett, The Hogfather is an extraordinary satire-adventure set in the mythical realm of Discworld, a kind of parallel-universe version of Earth. Discworld's alternative to Santa Claus is the Hogfather, who also chases around in a sled delivering gifts to children (on a Christmas-like night known as Hogwatch), but who looks like, well, a wild hog and is pulled through the skies not by reindeer but a bunch of grunting porkers with long, dangerous teeth. Just as the Hogfather is about to complete his annual mission to leave toys for kids under their Hogwatch trees, a specter makes a deal with a professional assassin to kill the jolly old fellow. The job is farmed out to a psychotic monster named Teatime (Marc Warren), who sets about trying to get to the Hogfather through, of all things, the Tooth Fairy. While danger stalks these immortal characters, Death (Ian Richardson) himself takes the Hogfather's place on his magical rounds, with comic consequences. Meanwhile, a governess named Susan (Michelle Dockery), possessor of a strange secret and awesome powers, determines that the Hogfather is in danger. She sets about trying to find him and discovers Teatime's plot, while a cluster of clumsy wizards (led by Joss Ackland) try to make sense of what has happened and what they can do about it. It's hard to explain the charm and wit of The Hogfather, which is full of quirky, ironic humor, except to say that it's easy to fall in love with this British television special and its dark delights. (Some a bit too dark for younger viewers.) The cast includes a very funny Tony Robinson of Black Adder. --Tom Keogh
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| Customer Reviews: Read 92 more reviews...
 Faithful to the book... read the book first December 13, 2007
85 out of 86 found this review helpful
After much hunting I found this DVD in the US... I wasn't sure what to expect from a live action Discworld movie, I just couldn't imagine that the humor could translate properly. In the end, it did and it didn't.
A short Summary:
In the fantasy world of Discworld, their winter festival is called Hogswatch, which is ruled over by the Hogfather... a fat jolly man with tusks who doles out gifts to nice little children. An Assassin is hired to "take care of" the Hogfather, and he goes about it by invading the lair of the Toothfairy. To try to keep the world in order, Death puts on the Hogfather Costume and tries to sub in for the evening... meanwhile, Death's grandaughter, Susan is off to figure out what happened to the Hogfather.
If you have read the book, then you know that you probably laughed so hard you cried. Though the movie is funny, it is not nearly so as the book. They remain fairly faithful to the book, cutting only where necessary. But if you have not read the book... then you will watch this film in puzzlement. There is a great deal of assumption by the filmmakers that the viewer is already aware of Discworld and how it works. The opening shot of Great A'tuin with the four elephants is shown but never explained. The Unseen university is baffling if you don't already know about the wizards, and the Death of Rats makes no sense at all.
But if you HAVE read the book, you will be able to follow quite happily seeing the characters from your head pop into life.
The acting, though theatrical, is wonderful. The costuming is brilliant and the sets are strange and beautiful. Susan is a powerful yet likeable character. Death, though his mouth never moves, is one of the most human creatures in the film. Albert is a scream... you can't help but love him.
Final summary: If you have read and enjoyed the book, this film is a must-see. If you have not read the book, then you might enjoy the movie... but you won't "get" most of it because of the level of discworld knowledge you are assumed to already have.
Kiddie Rating - I will probably let my kids watch this (ages 6 and 10) there are a few murders but very little blood, and they are not overly graphic. I didn't catch any profanity on my first watch through, there is of course no nudity. I would be more concerned of their lack of interest because I'm not sure if they are old enough to comprehend the humor of Death delivering presents dressed as a jolly fat man.
 Hogfather - The Movie, at Last! January 1, 2008
31 out of 34 found this review helpful
The Hogfather, on the Discworld, is what Santa Claus is in the United States. Except it's called "Hogwatch" rather than Christmas. All the way back to that red and white, the colors of blood on snow.
The Discworld has Auditors, creatures who loath humanity and all the things that make us human. The Auditors engage the Guild of Assassins to whack the Hogfather, and the Guild designates the very spooky Jonathan Teatime (it's pronounced "tee-ah-tim-eh"), who hires a gang and methodically sets about this task. It takes Death; Death's granddaughter, Susan; Bilious, the Oh God of Hangovers; most of the wizardly faculty of Unseen University; and the Tooth Fairy to defeat Teatime, his gang and the Auditors.
Because more is at stake than Father Christmas. Belief is what makes us human, where the rising angel meets the falling ape. And if we can't practice on little lies - the Hogfather, the Tooth Fairy and the like - we won't be ready for the big lies - that there are such things as truth and justice, and that the sun will rise tomorrow.
The movie is brilliantly cast and acted. The difficult task of turning a Pratchett novel into a screenplay is generally successful, and the sets are simply terrific. Watch for Pratchett himself in a cameo. To paraphrase Pratchett, "They actually got it right."
Very highly recommended, and not just for hard core fans of Terry Pratchett.
Well Done December 24, 2007
19 out of 19 found this review helpful
While awaiting the release of the Hogfather movie on DVD, I was amazed to run across the movie on the ION cable TV network on 12/23/07. I too expect that for those not familiar with the Discworld, it may be a little mystifying, but for those of us that are, the little details were wonderful. I particularly liked the rendition of HEX, complete with the "Anthill Inside" sticker and the little hourglass which popped out when it was processing. Getting a look at actual actors in costume playing Constable Visit and Nobby Nobbs, however briefly, was a treat--in fact, all the costuming and casting was very reminiscent of the way the Discworld is pictured in the Paul Kidby illustrations. The rendition of Susan and Bilious the Oh God inside the child's painting on their way to the Tooth Fairy's domain was excellent and very much as I had imagined it. Finally, Terry Pratchett himself makes a cameo appearance as the proprietor of the toy store where Death purchases the wooden horse to give to the young Albert. This movie really gives me hope for the "Light Fantastic/Color of Magic" movie which I understand is in the works--it shows that the Discworld CAN be translated to the live screen. My only negative criticism is that every time Mr. Teatime spoke with that weird voice of his, I was reminded of the Church Lady on Saturday Night Live--it may be that the actor just didn't understand how this would sound to an American ear. However, all in all it was a really great effort and no Discworld fan should pass it by.
More Pratchett, Please. . . . . January 20, 2008
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
I have been dying to see a film adapted from a Pratchett Discworld novel. As I don't live in England and I don't have any means of viewing anything from England, I was incredibly delighted to see this dvd on the shelf of a local bookstore. I bought Hogfather, even though I have never even read the book (shame on me--I have read other Discworld books, but have not come to this one yet). Two words--LOVE IT! It's over 180 minutes of viewing-time, so there is plenty of time to unfold Terry Pratchett's weird and wonderful storyline--I only wish it were a little longer. I hated coming to the end of it. Loved the music, too. Too bad it's not on cd (as I can see--drat and tarnation!).
The performances were all very good. Susan was pretty much how I envisioned she would be. Mr. Teatime (pronounced TEE-a-time-AY)was on the creepier side of Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka (I don't know how the character was in the book, but the portrayal in the movie was such a sickly creepy one that it sent shivers down my spine--truly a much scarier approach than if he were a hissing sort of assasin with a gravely voice and a five-o'clock shadow). Death's stint as the Hogfather was absolutely hilarious and tinged with moments of levity that make you nearly want to cry.
Terry Pratchett is a master of both praising and mocking the human condition. This adaptation of Hogfather will not disappoint. My only wish is for more film adaptations like this one to be made of his wonderful Discworld books.
 "The Ho, Ho, Ho Could Do with a Bit of Work." May 10, 2008
9 out of 13 found this review helpful
In Discworld, the winter holiday is Hogswatch, which bears a remarkable resemblance to our Christmas. This particular Hogswatch, something is amiss, however. The Auditors have approached the assassin's guild and taken out a contract on the Hogfather (you know, Santa.) How do you kill a potentially mythological creature? Well, the guild decides to send their craziest assassin, Teatime (Marc Warren) to do the job.
As Teatime goes about his mission, the body count begins to rise, which catches the attention of Death (a wonderful puppet voiced by Ian Richardson). Over the years, Death has grown fond of humans, so he sets out to fill in for the suddenly missing Hogfather.
And Death's antics catch the attention of Susan (Michelle Dockery), his granddaughter. When Susan learns what is happening, she sets out to find the Hogfather and save his life, a mission that takes her to the Tooth Fairy's castle. Will she be in time?
While I'm not normally a fantasy fan, I had heard of Terry Pratchett's popular Discworld series. This British TV miniseries is based on one of his stories. I'm pretty conflicted about it. On the one hand, there was plenty of fun in the story and setting. The acting was wonderful. And the movie looked incredible. It was very state of the art and has plenty of eye candy. I especially loved watching the "computer" write on parchment with quill and ink. While there are some discussions about belief that will fly over kids' heads, there's nothing here that should really frighten them.
However, it moved pretty slowly. It is three hours long and could easily be cut down to two if they wanted to make the effort. There is a whole sub-plot involving a wizarding college that could have been cut and the needed information worked in some other way. Really, very little happens there that we need to know, although there are a couple fun scenes set there.
I'm sure the books' many fans will love this movie. Fantasy fans in general will enjoy it as well. The rest of us can do worse then this miniseries, but a good editing job would have made things more enjoyable.
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