Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie (1998)

Since his birth in 1939 as a way for a department store to make more money, Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer has a special place during the Holiday season, and has been translated to animation ever since the beginning, most famous being the 1944 short and the 1964 Ranking- Bass film. And in 1998 it finally hits the big screen, and became an mostly bland film.The first problem is it's creator: Goodtimes Entertainment, who has made a living of themselves by making cheap cash-ins to more popular Disney movies. Second problem is the fact that the movie was released for a few weeks in the end of October (does this count as an Halloween movie like Nightmare before Chistmas?).The story is mostly the same as the 1964 version, but than 76 minutes long instead of 50 minutes. It is predictable and didn't have the charm that the original has, and it makes no sense at certain points. Like Why does Santa not punish the elf's who made the villain mad? Why is Rudolph's obvious love interest Zoey hanging out with one of his bully's? Why is an Brooklyn accented fox voiced by Eric Idle? Why is the villain voiced by Whoopi Goldberg?The animation is sloppy and inconsistent. The movements are stiff, characters change color way to often. It is the quality of an direct to video movie.The songs are bad. Some songs sound to much like pop songs and they have no purpose to the story. The only good song is "Wonderful Christmastime" by Paul McCartney, and I have no idea why it is in this movie.The characters are no really worth mentioning. Only Rudolph comes the closest of having personality. The villain is a joke, becomes a good guy at the end, because Rudolph asked it to her. Santa is barely in the film to have a impact on everything.Do I hate this movie? No, I do not. The story is simple, because the original story is simple, and the voice-acting is good enough. It is by far not the worst Christmas special I have ever seen, but I know better movies to watch during the Christmas days.

Of course it isn't my all time favourite Christmas movie and it isn't as good as the timeless Rankin'/Bass special, but all the same it is very sweet, charming and simple. I for one am disheartened at the 4.8 rating, it is much better than that, of course it isn't perfect, but it is far from the worst animated movie ever. The animation is not too bad, a tad shoddy in places, but fifteen minutes in, the quality got better. I didn't think the songs were awful at all, honestly the songs in Secret Of NIMH 2: Timmy To The Rescue were much worse. In my opinion, they were actually quite cute. One or two of them are forgettable especially the song sung by the elves before Stormella is introduced, but I Hate Santa Claus and Zoey and Rudolph's duet were lovely, and who can resist festive classics like Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer and Wonderful Christmas time. I will admit I was annoyed by the sprites, there were a couple of moments where their presence was pointless. The movie also has some nice messaging, I really did feel for Rudolph(I know exactly what it's like to get bullied because of your nose, I used to get bullied because of my singing voice), a good story, if a little slow to start with and some fairly good dialogue. The real delight is in the very lovable characters and highly talented voice cast. Rudolph and Zoey are adorable, and John Goodman makes a suitably merry Santa Claus. Eric Idle and Bob Newhart positively delight as Slyly and Leonard, and despite her limited screen time, Whoopi Goldberg is very impressive as the villainous Stormella. Overall, a very sweet, simple and underrated Christmas movie. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Okay - I'm not sure why anybody would seriously call this something that ranks along with Disney, but the only reason you want to watch this is to see how bad it is.I can't understand how the producers managed to get such good high profile voice talent... but I also would be incredibly surprised to see if John Goodman thinks this is truly something he wants anybody to see. It's absolute animated crap.Obviously the producers had money and spent it on hiring a great casting director, who was well connected... and yet all the actors signed on to something that was absolute crap... did they even SEE any of the animation before it was being voiced? Why didn't the producers spend any money on hiring GOOD animators? As it stands, this ranks among the worst of the lowest-level outsourced amateur-level Saturday morning animation in the world.Reading the praise it's received in previous comments is making me crazy. Seriously, all of you need to see more television and film if you can sit there and actually say this is worth seeing. More likely, you hated it too, but in some malicious, disturbed form of sadism you need others to suffer, too.AAAAAAAARGH!I grew up watching children's television and I work in children's television today. I guarantee you, if you're looking for quality holiday film viewing for your family for the holidays, you should buy a copy of the original 1964 TV special.Inflicting this piece of "entertainment" on your family should be considered a mild form of spousal, elder and/or child abuse.As I mentioned, I work in television and I have to watch this movie today as part of my job and I just wanted to share my pain with you.I can't tell the difference between watching this, or stabbing myself in the eye with a fork. At least with the fork, my eye will heal. But the scars inflicted on my psyche watching 'Rudolph: The Movie' will never heal.Never.Please ignore me now as I crawl into a fetal position under my desk and die.

If you do not like this see your doctor immediately your heart has turned to coal.It is instant Christmas classic! Great cast (voices)(though I wouldn't give it a grade A for animation but hey, that my opinion) make this a family classic for any Christmas occasion. Considering the fact that this film isn't Disney, it belongs in the category of excellent animated films. On a Friday afternoon of September 1998, I came across "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer : The Movie" opening today in limited release. Fortunately my movie theater was playing it and with a cast including Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Newhart, Sarah Jessica Parker, Debbie Reynolds, & John Goodman, I couldn't resist. Why Legacy Releasing opened a Christmas movie in the fall I'll never know, but if you haven't seen it with your kids, get it this Christmas season. Soundtrack includes a special musical performance of "A Wonderful Christmas Time" by Paul and Linda McCartney and show me the light is a very good and sweet song. Now on video from Goodtimes Entertainment.Though the sprites I think really ruined the movie. and the romance between Zoey and Rudolph is quiet sweet.(by the way I hope a remake of it comes and DEATH TO SPRITES)Good points- * The romance beetween Zoey and Rudolph* Whoppi Goldberges portrayal of the no-nonsense villain Stormella* The song "show me the light" one of the only three good songs in the film* like the fellows comment the second bellow me, It shows being brave in the face of fear and rising above the mockery (i'm teased a lot at school so I know how it feels)* Some of the humour that some people miss is quiet funny-Bad points (do not let these ruin the film just fast forward through them)* the sprites and their singing arrrrrrrrrrrrrgh, ahck DEATH TO SPRITES* some of Slyly's script was pathetic in the leonard cave incident* the songs: It could always be worse, santas family and Christmas time are awfully bad