Product: The Hobbit [VHS] (1977)
Rating: 5.0
"This most excellent Hobbit."
The other day I heard someone express sadness over the fact that there has never been a solid version of The Hobbit to place alongside Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings. I corrected them by mentioning this cartoon production. As a boy, I fell in love with it and bought the DVD on Amazon last year. I still enjoy it to this day.I admit that the artistry is mundane but, frankly, I find its campiness endearing. As far as the vocal talent is concerned, there is no greater voice than John Huston's (God rest his soul). His Gandalf is so authoritative and perfect that I'm sure Ian McKellen felt slightly intimidated before taking up the role in 1999. Yet, the best thing about the film is its music. The songs are enchanting. To quote Gandalf and Bilbo, "There's a magic in that music...and it moves through me." This is one of the most underrated movies in history. I highly, and sentimentallly, recommend it.