The Top Ten Best Christmas Movies - 10. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Hey Everybody,

We had such a good time doing our Halloween top ten that we thought we would do another one! Christmas is upon us and we thought we would try to come up with the ultimate top ten list that, in our minds, embodies the true meaning of Christmas.

Now, lately it seems as if the networks aren't interested in playing the classic Christmas movies of old. I keep seeing these crappy Scrooge rip offs over and over on all of the various networks. Like Mrs. Scrooge, Ebenezer, A Diva's Christmas Carol, A Carol Christmas. (With Tori Spelling, need I say more?) Not to mention these vapid, crappy and sacchrine kid flicks that are so PC they make me want to vomit. Thankfully I got our writer friends over at Troy's Bucket to help us conceptulize those memorable Christmas flicks of old. You can see our top ten here on Cave Drawing Ink and on the Troy's Bucket site. Enjoy and have a Happy Holiday!

10.) Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Santa Claus:"From what I see now, that (nose)will cut through the murkiest storm they can dish up. What I'm trying to say is, Rudolph, with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

- Sketch by Sev Eaton

Jen Huber: This movie is truly a classic. I've got to tell you though - the Abominable Snowman steals the show from Rudolph in this one. Who doesn't love a story about a giant monster who goes from scaring people to being the one to put the star on top of the tree at Christmas?

I've got to ask this question, on the Island of Misfit Toys - what was wrong with the doll? Every other toy has something wrong (a train with square wheels, charlie in the box, a gun that shoots jelly instead of water). What was wrong with the doll? Was it the name? That question has been on my mind every time I have seen this movie since I was like 10.

The characters in this story are classic. Who can forget the singing, narrator snowman voiced by Burl Ives? I also really liked Hermey, DDS. Actually, all the characters in this movie were good (besides the doll, the doll just ends up frustrating me). I think this film really embodies the spirit of Christmas. A bunch of misfits who band together and save Christmas by using their unique talents - that is a slam dunk.

Jeff: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer was the first Christmas movie I can remember watching when I was a little kid. Made by Rankin-Bass, this stop-motion animated flick was a must see in my house from ages 3-6. Those guys owned Christmas with hits like Frosty, Twas the Night Before Christmas, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town and many others. But of all of the Rankin-Bass flicks, Rudolph was the cream of the crop. Sure it's a bit dated now but it still evokes nostalgia and feel good Christmassy feelings. The key word here is Misfit--and this flick is full of them. Rudolph and his band of renegades like Hermey the Elf who wants to be a Dentist, the guy with the bad Porn name, Yukon Cornelius, who is trying desperately to find him some gold and, of course, that island of messed up toys. Like the X-Men, Rudolph was a pioneer of utilizing the gifts given to him that everyone seems to shun. In the end the seemingly Big Bad, Bumpo-or the Abominable Snowman, turns out to be a swell guy. Proof again that no matter how hairy and scary you look on the outside what's on the inside is what really counts.