Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - 7 stars out of 10

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - 7 stars out of 10

How do you rate an iconic Christmas classic?  It would be unfair to grade it purely on "quality" because a film like this is so near and dear to our hearts that the warm-fuzzy-factor must be included.  The stop-motion animation from the 1960's may be outdated but there is something to be said for catchy music and loveable characters.  Burt Ives has the perfect voice to narrate this film and the reindeer are very cute.  This movie is unique because it stretches the original story to include the Island of Misfit Toys, which allows comic characters (like the Charlie-in-the-Box and Hermey) to join in the plot.  Interestingly, the original 1964 broadcast ended with the fate of the Misfit Toys remaining unresolved, and an alternate ending was filmed (and broadcast ever since) due to protests that all of the toys deserve to be enjoyed by children.  This review would not be complete without mentioning the best character: Yukon Cornelius!  If you ever find yourself face-to-face with an Abominable Snow Monster, just remember that "Bumbles BOUNCE!"  Most importantly, this film carries the Christmas spirit and the theme that no matter how different we may be, we should accept others for their differences.  Everybody has a place in this world and I'm thankful that nearly 50 years later, Rudolph continues to remind us each Christmas.