Jack Frost (1979) Review

For this particular week of Rankin/Bass reviews, I’ve just got one movie for you all, Jack Frost from 1979.  (Because, frankly, I’m tuckered out after writing roughly a dozen reviews!)  This is yet another Rankin/Bass Christmas special that I had never seen before, but which I had heard good things about.  While it was a bit more difficult for me to find this one, I think it was worth the effort.

The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus (1985) Review

This week, we’re focusing on Rankin/Bass origin stories for Santa Claus.  Last time, we discussed one of my favorite Christmas specials, Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (1970).  Today, however, we are reviewing the more obscure The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus (1985), which is based off the story of the same name by L. Frank Baum, the very same author of The Wizard of Oz!

Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (1970) Review

Now that I’ve reviewed every Christmas special from our marathon back in March, I decided to check out a few more Rankin/Bass specials that people seem to rate quite highly.  Our theme this week is “Santa Claus origin stories”, with this Friday’s review covering The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus (1985).  But first, I’d like to discuss a personal favorite of mine, the more well-known Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town from 1970!

It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (1992) Review

I’ve been writing a bunch of Rankin/Bass reviews lately, including one covering ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974), which I discussed last Monday.  Well, we’re mixing things up today with a Christmas special that was not made by Rankin/Bass, It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown from 1992, a short and succinct title if there ever was one.  Unlike the much-loved A Charlie Brown Christmas from 1965, there is a good reason why this one is not as fondly remembered.

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974) Review

This newest week of Christmas special reviews has no particular theme, and it won’t just be Rankin/Bass.  This Friday, we have a sort of bonus review, if you will, of It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (1992) because, frankly, I just didn’t know where else to put it.  But today, we’re going to be talking about the Rankin/Bass animated short, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas from 1974!

Pinocchio’s Christmas (1980) Review

Last time, we reviewed The Leprechauns’ Christmas Gold from 1981, a charming little special whose greatest fault lie in the fact that it had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Christmas!  Our focus today is on the stop motion Pinocchio’s Christmas (1980), which does a far better job at retelling the general Pinocchio story with a Christmas twist.  But which pained my soul greatly in so many other areas.

The Leprechauns’ Christmas Gold (1981) Review

For this week of Rankin/Bass Christmas special reviews, we’re focusing on stop motion specials from the early ‘80’s that prove Rankin/Bass’ obsession with making everything into a Christmas special, even if it shouldn’t be….or didn’t need to be.  Today, I’ll be reviewing The Leprechauns’ Christmas Gold (1981), and next time, we’ll be discussing a Christmas-themed retelling of Pinocchio with…um, the aptly named Pinocchio’s Christmas (1980).

Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (1976) Review

The Rankin/Bass reviews continue for another week, and this time, we’re focusing on some specials starring Frosty the Snowman, the animated Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (1976) and the stop motion Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July (1979).  I grew up watching Frosty the Snowman (1969) on VHS as a duckling, so it was interesting to see the sentient snowman in action once again.  For today’s review, we’ll be discussing Frosty’s Winter Wonderland.

Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (1977) Review

Our focus this week is on Rankin/Bass’ multiple attempts to recapture the popularity of their most well-loved work, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964).  Last Monday, we talked about Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (1976), where a baby is mocked for his big ears.  While that movie was surprisingly entertaining, I can’t say I’m feeling as positive towards this next one, another stop-motion special by the name of Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey from 1977.  You can already tell where this one is going, can’t you?

Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (1976) Review

During my last Rankin/Bass review week (ignoring that random Easter week I did), I discussed two Christmas specials based on the works of Charles Dickens, Cricket on the Hearth (1967) and The Stingiest Man in Town (1978) AKA A Christmas Carol.  This week has a theme of its own, and that is…Rudolph rip-offs, for lack of a better term.  With Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) being their most well-known work, Rankin/Bass seemed determined to cash in on their earlier success once more.  The results were…interesting, to say the least.  Friday’s is going to be a more blatant example of that, but today, we’re focusing on the stop-motion Rudolph’s Shiny New Year from 1976.