Karry Best movie of this year hands down!

Cathardincu Surprisingly incoherent and boring

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Kimball Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

gutsthealchemist I have fond memories of watching this version and Jackson's version as a kid. Watching it today reminds me that it's still pretty good. The animation is really well done and the voice acting is great too! I have to give props to the great John Hurt (yes, he's in this movie!) and Christopher Guard. Hurt voices Aragorn, son of Arathorn and Guard voices Frodo Baggins of the Shire.If you like Lord of the Rings, you'll enjoy this adaptation, trust me!

arthurwade-18694 The Lord of the Rings shows that talent and vision go a long way. Peter Jackson has taken the responsibility to bring one of the most daunting (and beloved) books on the screen and it is a success. The fellowship of the rings starts are the saga and we are introduced to all the beloved characters from the Tolkein books. The cinematography, art design, editing- everything is top notch and you feel as though you are transported to hobbit land. Watch this film to understand the art of cinema(Best gift for a Tolkein nut or even if you are not)

utgard14 Ralph Bakshi's attempt at bringing J.R.R. Tolkien's epic tale to the screen years before Peter Jackson is a valiant effort that falls short for more reasons than the obvious. Many purists will no doubt complain about what's been left out or the depictions of some characters. Others will say that the story ends abruptly and, since there was never a part two, it leaves the movie feeling incomplete. Still others will talk about the uneven mixture of traditional animation and rotoscoping. All of those are valid complaints but not major ones for me. Granted, I saw the Jackson films already so there was a certain degree of comparison that was inevitable, however unfair that may be. I'm certainly not going to slight the movie for not being able to compete with something made decades later with a budget over twenty times what this had (for the first movie of the trilogy alone). I'm also not going to nitpick what was left out or who didn't look like they should because the Jackson series gave fans a gazillion hours of footage of to cover almost every base. The animation is good for the era and I generally appreciate Bakshi's use of rotoscoping. The man was an artist, not an assembly-line animator like most at the time, and that should be praised.The main problem I had with this is that it is not as emotionally involving as the Tolkien story demands. It's a story that deserves a deeper treatment than what we have here. That came later with Jackson, thankfully, but the lack of emotional resonance in this version is a major flaw. I also wish the music score wasn't so unexciting and forgettable. I've read that Bakshi originally wanted to use Led Zeppelin music. At first that sounds like a terrible idea but I can't help but wonder if that would have been so weird that it actually worked. Overall, it's a mixed bag that drags some and never really pulls you in like it should. Bakshi respects the material enough to follow it as closely as he can with the restrictions he had. He also creates some fine atmosphere and fills the movie with so many interesting visuals that it's hard to dismiss it entirely.

oscar-35 *Spoiler/plot- The Lord of the Rings, 1978. Totally animated version of the first two books of J.R. Tolkien's fantasy world of Middle Earth.*Special Stars- Voice and character Movement: Billy Barty, Anthony Daniels, John Hurt, Felix Silva.*Theme- Friends working together towards a common goal can achieve anything.*Trivia/location/goofs- A totally rotoscoped animated film. Listen for many famous actors voicing lead and supporting roles. Locations: Spain.*Emotion- I saw this in the theaters when it came out in the 70's and it was the center of a J. R. Tolkien mini-fad. There were belt buckles, maps, and other marketing blitz items rolled out for the public. Even Star Trek's 'Spock', L. Nimoy included a silly Hobbit song on his record he released in that year. That is when I read the trilogy books and enjoyed my introduction to Middle Earth. I found this film unique, strange and interesting because of Ralph Bakshi's use of odd animation and rotoscoping and actor movements. The film and the film's music themes were heroic and strong, too. I bought the record from the film. However, I was disappointed that the quest of little Frodo never got to finish in a sequel, but this film introduced me to all things Hobbit. I would say see this film for it's Hobbit beginnings that Peter Jackson took to incredible heights, first.