katwarrior123
I really liked this film at the age I am now (14... don't ask) but I remember as a child hating the end... only Goodtimes entertainment (SPOILERS) would end the film with the Toy Taker being a Teddy Bear named Mr. Cuddles. Only them! Of course at the age of 5 I hated quite a lot of films finding them too soft (you know, always ending with... good guy being human and bad guy being something like a tiger that can talk and stand on two-legs with big claws and teeth and you're like, "A human could never beat something with that kind of ferocity and weapons!") aka Toy Taker--- is beaten by a man riding a reindeer who also has a lasso-rope... P.S. the reindeer is tiny compared to the man...But other than that I did like the songs and general story line and, for it's time, the animation was actually pretty good! The real heart from the original stayed with it although it was...let's say... a little cheesy as most young children's cartoons (or more CGI) have turned out to be from this time.I could never quite understand why it was called 'Rudolph and the Island of Misfit Toys' because, really, the island and it's occupants had very little to do with the story. The Toy Taker was- quote from my mother- a little scary and gruesome for kids'.Er... let's see... at the time it was being competed with such brilliant classics as Thomas and the Magic Railroad and the Land Before Time VIII (8) The Big Freeze (DTV- Direct To Video) and other classics I have probably forgotten about but will kick myself later for forgetting to mention! But my over-all review was... GREAT! SUPER! STUPENDOUS! anything along those lines.
sbrown-69
I have to say, I was very disappointed. I have a 4 year old son, who is just old enough to really understand movies when he watches them. I was so excited to show him the Christmas movies I enjoyed as a child. There are certain movies that are just classics. You just don't mess with them. They showed the 60s version of "The Year Without a Santa Claus" just prior to this and my son loved it. When this one came on, and was computer animated, and the story changed some, it devastated me. My son actually fell asleep watching this one. I think it would have been a decent movie if it weren't for the fact you just can't change something that people have been watching for decades. It just was NOT the same. Make a sequel if you want, but don't' change the old ones. After making episodes 1, 2, and 3, they did not go back and redo the original star wars trilogy. Learn from that!
BatStarIndyFreak
****Spoilers Inclusive****This was not a shadow of the original. There's not a chance that Rankin/Bass would let this one go. It did have some interesting plot points and there were moments I had to grin (the group posing as misfit toys---then Bumble comes out at the the back of the line), and it was fun to get some more from Rudolph, Yukon, Hermey, and even the once grouchy-at-Rudolph during the reindeer games Comet; but this is, to say the least, nothing I'd take time out to watch again. I have to say the best part about watching this mediocre special was seeing the "Toy Story"/"Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" elements come together and just stating about 10 minutes before the Toy Taker's revelation---"he's got to be a disgruntled toy----I'll bet a Teddy Bear." Imagine the bow I took at the end. I was even looking forward to the reunion between the Teddy and his now grown up former owner, and it showed no emotion at all. Dreyfuss, Curtis, Moranis---y'all didn't have better projects available?
bigtommyboy
I grew up watching the original 1964 Rudolph clay-mation special.......it is an almost perfect Christmas special with great voices, songs and magic.......... This 2001 version is soooooo painful I coughed up my egg nog.........the music is so sappy.........the dialogue painful.........after a few minutes you just wish the big hairy snowman would eat up the rest of the characters and call it a day........ This was just a quick money making scheme........and it probably worked........the computer graphics are awful....... STAY AWAY.........not even worth renting........it will give you nightmares..........
AD
