This is How Movies Should Be Made

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

"Legend of the Lost Tribe" is an award-winning short film for the holidays and the sequel to "Hooves of Fire". Just like that one, it runs for 29 minutes too and features a fairly prominent voice acting cast in the British version and an even more famous one for the American version. That is all positive there is though. The story is even less interesting than the first film, the characters are not relatable and the animation wasn't particularly to my liking either. This one is about a tribe of Vikings that Robbie accidentally comes across and they draw the most random parallel in terms of cowardice between the vikings and Robbie who needs to confess his love to his reindeer of choice. Not sweet, not funny, not worth the watch.

Review of the British version.I very much enjoy this "Robbie the Reindeer" film. It includes the same, good cast (plus some more characters and minus one character), more hilarious jokes and gags and a really exciting plot, probably more developed and gripping than the plot of the last Robbie the Reindeer. The new characters are also very entertaining. However, if I had to choose one to prefer out of all three films, it would be the first film. Despite the good jokes, quality and entertainment of this and the third Robbie the Reindeer, I prefer the first one. This one just feels very short compared with Hooves of Fire.Robbie and his friends are now running a holiday company and are having quite a lot of trouble. Not only is their accommodation not very good at all, but the customers are often very annoying people and often ask for refunds. When Robbie rescues a tourist off a cliff-face, he falls down into the canyon and is saved by someone who looks like a Viking. Robbie is determined to find them. Also, Blizten, the reindeers' old enemy is back...I recommend this to people who have watched and enjoyed the first Robbie the Reindeer and to people who like short animated films with lots of clever jokes. Enjoy "Legend of the Lost Tribe"!

My wife and I just ordered the new DVD with the original Robbie (Hooves of Fire) and this one on it. We have the older release with only Hooves of Fire, and absolutely LOVED that one. We were both shocked and disappointed at how bad this one is!! The story is weak, but worse yet the witty scripting from the original is completely absent. I gave it a 4 for the first minute or so of the movie - after that it's probably a 2 or even a 1.Oh, and the "addition" of new voices for the US version is appalling! I was SO relieved when I found the audio setup item which lets you switch to the original British voice talent!! I only wish I could tell the DVD to NEVER EVER play it with the US voicing again. I actually liked several of the US voice actors, but it just seems wrong if you've seen (and heard) the original with its British cast. It is, after all, a British comedy, and I kind of expect the British accents.

Some time has passed since the race in `Robbie The Reindeer' and the group of reindeers have set up a tourist business offering guided tours. When an accident occurs on one such tour Robbie believes he was saved by a long lost tribe of Vikings - supposed to have been wiped out years ago. No one believes him and they are more concerned with the business losing money. When the evil Blitzen is released from prison 50 years early he promises to help them turn things around but double crosses them with the help of a master of disguise rabbit. Robbie escapes and goes to the Viking tribe to help him and his friends overcome Blitzen.This programme will need to work hard to build the same Christmas anticipation as Wallace & Gromit did. On several occasions the BBC's big thing was the newest W&G short to be shown. Last year Robbie The Reindeer was the next shot at a clever comedy animation and it hit big with clever jokes and good voice work. Here the bar has dropped a little but it is still worth a look. The plot is a little more floppy and doesn't work as well and the jokes are funny if not hilarious.The makers have tried to recreate the same magic but it doesn't always come off. It's telling that the sports commentators from the original, Des Yeti and Alan Snowman, have a brief cameo - they were the best bit of the last one. However it is still funny and has plenty of surreal moments and a funny (if straightforward) movie pastiche of Return of the Jedi's forest chase on Endor.The voice work again is of an excellent calibre and you almost wish the animation had made better use of them. O'Hanlon is again good as a slightly more aware reindeer version of his Father Dougal. Coogan is great in a few roles and Horrocks et al do well in support. Alistair McGowan is again on hand for some brief impressions and a strange but enjoyable role is available for an instantly recognisable Jeff Goldblum (who is noticeable absent from the booths in the final credits).This series needs to get better for next Christmas if the BBC want it to compete with W&G as the most anticipated Christmas animation, but aside from that it is well made, different and funny if not as funny as you'd want. Overall a quality animation to raise the mood after the Queen's speech.