Product: The Hobbit [VHS] (1977)
Rating: 5.0
Childhood magic
I think some reviewers are taking out their frustrations that LOTR hasn't been made into an adult movie or series of movies - until now, that is (DAYS before it comes out - can't WAIT!!). The animated Hobbit and Return of the King are for children, it's true, and LOTR and Hobbit definitely are adult stories. But I saw both of these animated films as a child, and have loved them for many years. (Bakshi left me with a sour stomach, but I probably need to go back and revisit it now as an adult...) What a wonderful introduction to the world of Middle Earth, and what a great sense of childlike magic they brought into my life. I think they are truly classic cartoons. Dated? Not to me. The bard-like voice of Glen Yarborough (sp?) and all the songs in Hobbit and ROTK still make me smile. It may seem silly, but the scene where Bilbo climbs high above Mirkwood is one of my favorite moments in cinema. I say drop your expectations of a literal interpretation of Tolkien, impossible to do in any one movie, and enjoy with all your childhood wonder. It works for me, every time I watch them!