My Little Pony: A Very Minty Christmas (2005)

Excellent but underrated film

I saw this movie before reading any reviews, and I thought it was very funny. I was very surprised to see the overwhelmingly negative reviews this film received from critics.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

The movie is made so realistic it has a lot of that WoW feeling at the right moments and never tooo over the top. the suspense is done so well and the emotion is felt. Very well put together with the music and all.

I have a few different My Little Pony items including a shirt, a bath set, a blanket, some books, and some DVDs. Although A Very Minty Christmas isn't my absolute fave of my collection (that award goes to Dancing In The Clouds), but it's still a very nice film, especially for little girls who love horses (as I did and still do). Minty is so sweet and adorable, she's in my top three ponies along with Sky Wishes and Star Catcher. Plus, as I have mentioned in previous reviews, I simply adore Christmas and the vast majority of movies, episodes, books, and songs that pertain to it. It all begins when Minty accidentally breaks the glowing candy cane intended to attract Santa and goes off to find Santa to tell him what happened with the candy cane. But along the way she discovers that it's not about the candy cane but about the amount of Christmas spirit possessed by Minty and her companions and that Christmas is about giving rather than getting. This is a message I greatly appreciate given how often it seems that Christmas is about receiving when it's about giving.

I'm a sucker for sweetness, but I'm also a slave to substance, so children's videos like these are a dangerous minefield of disappointment. Luckily for me, My Little Pony: A Very Minty Christmas has at a good portion of the fun and the heart you expect from a Christmas special. While it may not be the most memorable or emotional, it at least tries to be on that level.Christmas time is just around the corner and the ponies are all excited for Santa to visit. While trying to make sure everything is perfect, Minty (Tabitha St. Germain) accidentally breaks the Here Comes Christmas Candy Cane, without which Santa will be unable to find Ponyville. Now she has to set things right so her friends can have a merry Christmas.At first I wasn't sure what to think of Minty. When she's introduced, she's won't shut up, and it was starting to get on my nerves. But as the story went on I grew to find her charming and even adorable. She's scatterbrained and a little clumsy, but she's not stupid and she knows when to take things seriously. For example, when she realizes she needs to do something to make up for her mistake, the first idea she has is to give away her most valuable possessions as presents to her friends. I admire that kind of generosity and selflessness in a protagonist, not to mention a role model for kids.This movie stands out compared to most other G3 videos by actually having a complete story with conflict and even a little bit of peril. I genuinely wanted to see Minty save Christmas, and there's a couple curve balls thrown in to make you question if she'll be able to do so. It's disappointing that such basic concepts of storytelling are so hard to come by in these straight-to-video releases. Just having those puts this above some of Disney's worst sequels.If you have a child, especially one who is into the G4 (the current) My Little Pony series, this would be a great special to bring out next Christmas. I don't know if kids find the drastic difference in art style and characters confusing, but they'll probably find it enjoyable regardless. It's simple, innocent fun that keeps you engaged and entertained.

I am from the Allspark Forum.The place for old Pony episodes and movie talk.G3 is analyzed there on that forum.I been a Pony fan since the start, and I was laughing so hard at G3 first.But then I was buying loads of G3 merchandise, and saw this G3 Christmas movie.This is focusing on the clumsy fan favorite Minty that ruins Christmas. Minty flies away thereafter.Of course Minty comes back, and Christmas is saved once again.It's no epic like The Polar Express.But, some light Holiday fare with lots of memorable songs, good animation and lovable ponies.8/10

The animation looks particularly shoddy, but he film's greatest crime is the annoying, generic, craptastic protagonist. Why do kids shows usually have some annoying prat of a character we are supposed to care about? Minty is one of those people that can't leave anything alone. She's always touching stuff and pissing about, only to act surprised when she breaks something. After this, she then acts like some victim. Her great idea is to commit greater felonies, such as breaking in to the homes of her friends. At least the title song is a catchy little ditty, but past that it's annoying kiddy crap. Only show this to particularly dumb kids.