Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - 4K Blu-Ray [Standard] [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray]

Who thought that a fuzzy puppet from nearly 60 years ago could look so fantastic? The 4k restoration of this classic holiday staple soars above all previous versions released on home video (and there have been a *lot* of them...). What's also great is that if you DON'T have a 4K setup, the included Blu Ray is not just a repackaged earlier edition...it's a brand new disc that uses the same restored master as the 4K disc. There is a high level of detail and much better contrast, color saturation, and stability than previous editions and seeing the individual threads on the various character clothes and fur is just a marvel to behold. Even if this version of Rudolph LOOKs like puppets on a stage, the story is still charming, the songs are still catchy and you're still drawn into a presentation of embracing diversity and dealing with bullying that is shocking for how relevant, brave and direct it is...yes Santa gets off a bit too easy considering what a jerk he is earlier on but that's a minor nitpick. Rudolph was ostracized and bullied for being different. He turned into a leader and engaged others making them capable of living their best lives. What's not to marvel that this came out of a 3 minute christmas song? Originally sponsored by Montgomery Wards to sell merchandise, Rudolph was ahead of its time with the themes that it incorporated into its narrative, all while remaining true to what was presented in the original song lyrics. If the phrase "it is better than it has any right to be" ever had a definite home, this is the film where that would be true. But it has stood the test of time and winter holidays are just not the same without it, regardless of what holidays you personally choose to celebrate and observe. Rankin and Bass truly made a masterpiece and while modern audiences may scoff a bit at the jerky animation, the idea of toys (or some other magical environment) come to life is only enhanced by these visuals. Sure, it isn't anywhere near as slick as modern animated films but it doesn't need to be...it blazes its own trail and does it well. Similar to the 1933 King Kong, you can see rippling of fur across some of the characters (Bumbles most notably) and mistakes throughout. It honestly doesn't matter. Audio is basically the same as it's always been. There was no need for an atmos track on this disc, and the audio is more than competent...if you haven't seen Rudolph since the days of DVD or broadcast, you'll notice a difference in clarity and crispness, but if you've been buying Rudolph previously on Blu Ray, there is less difference in that area to see here. The special features are brought over from a 2018 disc, but if you haven't seen them...they are comprehensive...especially a 47 minute retrospective about not just Rudolph but the entire Rankin Bass studios. Great history and a fun watch as you learn the backstory (and impact) of all your future characters. There apparently was a slipcover with its original release on Nov 1, 2022...but by the time it went on sale 3 weeks later no slips were to be found, so it's a rare one. Hold onto it if you get it! Overall a wonderful classic film that is truly a masterpiece of incorporating strong themes into stop motion animation on a tv budget. Great visual restoration that stands head and shoulders above previous versions on home video (and both the 4K and Blu ray are new discs...always nice) and a nice comprehensive collection of extras that, while released previously, still provide great context for the main feature. Highly Recommended!

Amazing quality and the extras were also very interesting. I couldn't get over how great it looked. After watching all the extras I now know why.

Great movie, great price. Disc plays fantastic in any 4k player. Movie looks perfect on wide screen tv's. Happy with this purchase.

Item arrived in brand new/sealed condition, with a slipcover.

Not going to talk about the movie itself here because, well, you know its a wonderful classic. The 4k restoration looks AMAZING and the colors are fantastic. Sound is clear and easy to hear dialogue. If you’re tired of trying to find this on streaming every Christmas season then this is totally worth it!!