ManiakJiggy
This is How Movies Should Be Made
Softwing
Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??
Platicsco
Good story, Not enough for a whole film
Comwayon
A Disappointing Continuation
Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
"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.
MartinHafer
The Robbie the reindeer specials produced by BBC are made using stop-motion--much like the much more famous and higher quality Aardman productions (such as Wallace & Gromit or Shaun the Sheep). I liked the first Robbie the Reindeer show. It was a very sweet Christmas special and has a lot to recommend it. While there are plenty of jokes in LEGEND OF THE LOST TRIBE, however, this second installment is pretty weak. Sure, it's watchable but much of the sweetness of the first film has been replaced by goofy situations--too goofy. In fact, this film looks like they tossed a bunch of random plot elements together and had little regard for the spirit of the first.I knew something was amiss when the show began. You aren't sure exactly where the action takes place, but it doesn't seem like the North Pole. Instead, the ground is a bit bare and it looks more like rural Scotland or Canada. And, there really is no Santa and these reindeer seem to have forgotten how to fly. Instead, they have built a vacation resort that is failing miserably (a vacation resort?!). Soon, Blitzen the evil reindeer is released from prison for good behavior and he returns to his old friends--supposedly a changed deer for the better. However, he and his evil bunny henchman turn all the reindeer into robots and torture them. So, it's up to a group of pacifist Vikings to come to the rescue! As I said, this all seems amazingly random as well as 100% un-Christmasy. Sure, there are some funny jokes and all, but in only its second installment, it looks like Robbie has "jumped the shark". In other words, the series is in panic mode with the crazy plot devices and it's lost its way.
Aegina
They're a lot more fun. Plus, it adds a layer of appreciation if you are familiar with the voice talent. Perhaps it's because my husband is British, but I'm one American who really enjoyed this and who shudders to think of Britney Spears doing Jane Horrocks' role. I agree that it's not as terrific as Hooves of Fire, and I too noticed the absence of Vixen, but I thought overall it was very funny and clever, and my 18-month-old daughter seemed to enjoy it as well. I'd love another sequel. Perhaps I just differ from other Americans in terms of what I'm looking for -- I don't need "holiday cheer" or to be "uplifted" (although I found both here, actually) -- I just need intelligent writing and some decent acting, both of which are supplied here in abundance.
Simba4
I read one of the user comments in Hooves of Fire and saw the 8 out of 10 rating and got my hopes up for this one. I can't begin to explain what a bad movie this is. It's certainly not for kids. And it's a waste of good clay too! The version I saw had Britney Spears as the girl reindeer (with breasts, no less). The story line is awful...renegade reindeer gone bad who comes back and imprisons his fellow reindeer by cruelly tricking them. Two of them escape and enlist the help of a long-lost tribe of tiny Norsemen. This is a holiday show?? This is good cheer?? Yikes...I couldn't turn it off fast enough. My 7-year old didn't like it either and said take it back to the video store.