Good News: Its Finally Out on DVD / Bad News: Everything Else
You really have to hand it to Warner Brothers for the sheer audacity they have with these Rankin/Bass titles. It's been about 2 decades since the incarnation of the DVD. By now, you would think that all of the titles from this well-known and much-loved company would be readily available for the public to purchase. But they aren't. Instead Warner trickles out a title every year or so, first releasing them in so-called "Deluxe Editions" before adding them into yet another slightly revamped "Christmas Classics" boxed set.
Now, the only thing which makes these releases "deluxe" is they have that emblazoned across the top of the cover. There are absolutely NO special features here, save for a "Holiday Cards That Kids Can Make" thing?! You've got to be kidding me!! I find it very hard to believe that Warner Brothers doesn't know that most of the sales of these shows are by ADULTS who grew up on them! But maybe they don't - so that means they are either really really stupid or...
Finally released, but alone?
I'd guess we'd all have to say "It's about time". Finally getting around to releasing some of the last remnants of the Rankin/Bass animations, but the ridiculously odd thing of them releasing this exceptionally short work ALONE? It's only getting a 3 star rating because of this (not to mention that it's under a Warner Bros. label), it actually deserves a 5 for the production itself.
You can't honestly expect me to even think about purchasing this at a $14.95, let alone a suggested retail price of $19.95? I think you'd be hard pressed to even have a standard SRP of $9.95, at least then you can have the typical store mark down a few bucks to a more proper price point.
Anyway, at least there's been an effort to at least put one of my most favorite pieces (in the top 3) of Rankin/Bass out for the general public to own on DVD. Only being a ridiculoulsy old copy that was briefly released on VHS oh so long ago, and probably hardly anyone even knew about...
First time on dvd but Deluxe edition??? I don't think so.
Here we go, another year and another so called " deluxe edition " from Warner bros. The only good thing about this dvd is that this is the first time this Rankin Bass classic has been on dvd. Deluxe normally means great extras, here we have none. Deluxe edition means a great remastered picture, bearing in mind the other deluxe editions had no noticeable visual improvements over their regular dvd counterparts, one best be going in with low expectations. Here is what Warner Bros should have done, released " The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus " in a deluxe edition with " The First Christmas " as an extra, this special it's only about 23 mins long so no need charging this high price when it's nothing added with any value. I guess as Rankin Bass fans we should be some what happy that Wb even bothered to release this long lost Christmas special however.
I give this Rankin Bass special 5 stars, it's adorable and heart warming. The cover art and the nerve to be charging this...
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