I think it was all handled beautifully.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Apr 18, 2019

It's a lot like How The Grinch Stole Christmas, in other words, only with a Biblical foundation and not so much rhyming. The special is effective as all get-out, too.

| Dec 6, 2018

I thought "Rudolph" was the worst animation I had seen, until seeing Drummer Boy again. Aaron the misanthropic drummer, formerly with Metallica, and his animal friends skitter across the Sinai like cockroaches on Red Bull.

| Dec 4, 2018

A Christmas children's special that actually depicts events from the Bible? What a concept!

| Dec 4, 2018

Certainly lives up to its reputation as the bleakest of the Rankin/Bass collection. But the 20 minutes of wallowing in misery is worthwhile for the company's best finale ever.

| Dec 4, 2018

A poignant third act restores his faith in humanity, all the while making up for some of the roughest animation work in the Videocraft catalogue.

| Dec 4, 2018

A tiresome journey to the end. Its heart is in the right place, but it never arrives at a place that's interesting.

| Dec 4, 2018

It paints people in a really terrible light and is actually more of a reflection of the social climate of 1968.

| Dec 4, 2018

The drummer boy is a misanthrope who hates all of humanity, which makes for a surprisingly entertaining character to follow around. Rankin/Bass was terrified of playing up the darker sides of its characters. It shouldn't have been.

| Dec 4, 2018

It has some truly touching moments near the end and you can't deny that the Rankin/Bass stop-action animation is still pretty cool.

| Dec 4, 2018

Emotionally, it's a notch or two more mature than the usual Rankin-Bass production.

| Dec 4, 2018

This tale let everyone see the true origin and spirit of Christmas in its purest form, coupled with a simple drum spewing a beat you're inclined to sing.

| Dec 4, 2018