The Hobbit
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Movie Reviews of The Hobbit
Movie Review: Bilbo's Excellent Adventure
Summary: 5 Stars
Ahead of Peter Jackson by at least two decades, the crew of Rankin/Bass decided to take a break from holiday specials or tokusatsu movies and put together this, the first ever animated production based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit was a prelude to The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, and Rankin/Bass created this made-for-TV movie which aired a year prior to Ralph Bakshi's Rings theatrical animated feature(which only covered most of the first two books). Rankin/Bass later went on to do another TV movie based on Return Of The King, which alot of rumors state was done to finish up where Bakshi's film left off, but according to R/B was really intended as a followup to their version of The Hobbit. Like some of their other productions, Rankin/Bass did this in association with a Japanese studio, in this case Topcraft(aka: Studio Ghibli).
The movie is a pretty faithful adaptation of the original novel. Bilbo Baggins is an average Hobbit, a race of short humanoids that live in the quiet area of Hobbiton(or "Shire")in the mythical land of Middle Earth. He gets drafted into a quest with the drifter wizard Gandalf and thirteen dwarves to be their lucky number as a burglar. Thorin is their leader, and is taking them to Lonely Mountain in order to reclaim their treasure stolen generations ago by the evil dragon, Smaug. Along the way, they run afoul of trolls, but Gandalf(on one of his many coffee breaks away from the party)saves them, and leads them to Rivendell to meet up with the elf lord Elrond. Bilbo and the dwarves are later on captured by goblins(or "orcs"), but Bilbo falls down a whole into a dark underground cavern where he runs across the froglike creature Gollum. Bilbo happens upon a magic ring that makes him invisible when he wears it, and uses it to follow Gollum to an exit. He rejoins his friends and frees them, but only for them to be captured again by giant spiders. Bilbo liberates them again, but they are in turn caught again by wood-elves(or "silvan elves"). Invinsibly, the phantom Hobbit manages to get the dwarves to the lake town near Lonely Mountain. The treasure hunters then go to Smaug's pad, and Bilbo is elected to go burgal something out of there. Using his inviso-power, Bilbo manages to gander at the overgrown reptile to find he has a small patch in his scaly armor, but his presence ticks Smaug off, and he heads to the lake town for some serious Godzilla-on-Tokyo action. Bilbo sends a bird to give the head of the lake town Smaug's design flaw, and the big lizard gets arrow'd once and for all. The story concludes with an epic battle of five armies feuding over the treasure, which with Gandalf's help ends about as peaceably as at could. Bilbo heads back to Hobbiton/Shire unaware that this part of the story is only the beginning.
This TV movie has become the stuff of legend, winning the Christopher Award, a Peabody, and was nominated for a Hugo Award. It features some of the amazing character designs Rankin/Bass has used in both its 2D and 3D productions, most of which for this film were inspired by the illustrations of Arthur Rackham. The best is the all star cast employed for this, including Orson Bean as Bilbo, John Huston as Gandalf, and Richard Boone completely dominates his role as Smaug. For a 70s TV production, there is some breathtaking animation, far beyond what you would've seen in even a Disney movie. The Hobbit is available on VHS and DVD, plus a special films set with The Lord Of The Rings and Return Of The King animated movies.
Movie Review: DVD Versus VHS Edition Pro's and Con's
Summary: 5 Stars
I own both the VHS and DVD versions of this movie and recently watched them both. I've read many reviews from viewers who did not recommend the DVD version of this movie because of a few missing sound effects. While I did not notice any of these issues until I read about them, I had noticed something slightly different about the movie, which I couldn't place. It wasn't a huge deal though. However, the DVD version is missing certain sound effects which were left out of the remastering such as:
-No Spider slaying vortex sound
-No dwarf complaining while in barrels
-No sound of arrows plinking off Smaug's chest
-Smaug's fire breathing at one point seems to not coordinate with the movie, as he is flying towards the town, and the fire crackles almost like static.
-Smaug does not roar at all when he is attacking Laketown, at least not until he gets shot.
Again, I did not really notice these issues until they were pointed out. What I did notice about the remastered DVD was:
-Much improved visual quality. It's like you are looking at the original artwork! There is no color distortion.
-Much, MUCH improved audio and balance. I never could make out the words of many songs until the DVD. I actually have a hard time now enjoying the audio on the VHS because many sound effects were too loud, making it hard to hear all the words, without turning up the volume. Struggling to hear everything on the VHS gave me a bit of a headache, actually.
-Do you remember the scene where Bilbo runs out of the secret passageway with his behind on fire? This part was cut out of my VHS version.
To be honest, the strengths of this movie are the wonderfully done artwork, and the wonderfully done music. Having the DVD only highlights these core parts. Although the small missing sound effects are unfortunate, I still recommend the DVD, because you will enjoy the movie more, overall.
Movie Review: Positively Enchanting
Summary: 5 Stars
Before I ever read The Hobbit (or The Lord of the Rings for that matter), I saw this gem on television and was completely entranced. I'd seen Disney movies, but never anything like this. Here was animation - and animation appropriate for all ages at that - but with a different aesthetic and a little bit of an edge to it. Here is a tale of dragons, elves, wizards, goblins, giant spiders, valiant dwarves, and a little hobbit who is more than meets the eye.
The plot is well-known, but for those unfamiliar with it: One day, Bilbo Baggins, a mild-mannered hobbit, receives a visit from a wily wizard named Gandalf and a group of 13 dwarves who enlist him in a mad adventure - to rescue the dwarves' rightful fortune from the dreaded clutches of the great dragon Smaug. Reluctantly accepting, Bilbo travels with his companions through dark forests, goblin-haunted mountains, the nests of great spiders, and worse, engaging in a battle of wits with a dragon and fighting a war between elves and men and dwarves and goblins. However, Bilbo finds that he learns a great deal about himself in the process.
Rankin and Bass, who also produced the great stop-motion animation Christmas specials we've all come to love, did an excellent job with this show. The characters are relatable, the voices excellent (Gandalf, for instance, was voiced by the incomparable John Huston) and the music fun - all of the great songs of the Hobbit novel are in this jaunt, set to music and range from hauntingly beautiful to just plain fun. Adults and children alike will be enchanted and entranced by this film. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Enjoy.
Movie Review: The BEST LOTR-related movie, PERIOD!
Summary: 5 Stars
If you have not seen a LOTR movie, then I highly recommend this movie. If you must see only one LOTR movie, then this must be the one to see. I do not recommend this for children only; I recommend this for everyone.
The story, characters, and music show great depth and evoke strong emotions. As many other reviewers have written, the voices are excellent. Gandalf is wise and authoritative; Bilbo is innocent and genuine; Thorin is deceptive and petty (until the fantastic and emotional end); and Gollum is twisted and deranged. The rest of the cast are equally excellent. The music flows seemlessly with the visuals, and the songs are beautiful.
I truly feel that this movie is better than the two animated sequels and the Peter Jackson trilogy. You all may be thinking that I've lost it. But the character development in this 90-minute cartoon is superior to the 9+ hours of the PJ trilogy. The character interaction and conversation were more natural and involving and amusing. This cartoon doesn't have the melodrama and pathos of PJ. No dramatic faces during battle; no fake British accents from its cast, unlike PJ's Wood, Astin, Mortensen, and Tyler. Gollum was visually superior in the PJ trilogy, but the actual character was much more effective and amusing in The Hobbit.
I like the PJ trilogy overall, but it falls short when compared to this little cartoon. If you watch it with an open mind and an open heart, then this movie will touch you more deeply than the PJ trilogy, whether you are 7 or 70. It did for this 35-year-old. Thanks.
Movie Review: Wholesome Entertainment
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a huge fan of the Lord of the Lord of the Rings. I am in my twenties and I still love this movie. It is good wholesome entertainment and is for anyone who is looking for a good movie to watch with the kids. It is also a fine addition to your collection of Lord of the Rings peraphanalia.
For those of you who have never read The Hobbit, this movie is based on the book by J. R. R. Tolkien. It is about a small person named Bilbo Baggins who is recruited by a group of dwarves to recover a hoard of stolen treasure from a terrible dragon named Smaug, who lives in the Lonely Mountain. Along the way to the Lonely Mountain they encounter giant spiders, are captured by goblins, and they are also captured by three trolls. They are also captured by the Woodelves and Bilbo finds a magic ring that when you put it on makes you invisible.
The movie includes some well-written original songs and puts some of the poetry from the book to music. I think that the average rating for this movie is 3 1/2 stars is because the animation is not of the same quality as Disney and the other aspects of the movies are not of the same quality as the recent makings of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy (the sequel to The Hobbit). In that respect it does deserve 3 1/2 stars, but put in a category all of its own it deserves 5 stars. It is a B-movie, but it is well-done. The acting and the animation are great, not to mention the story is one that will keep you wondering what is going to happen next.