Product: The Hobbit [VHS] (1977)
Rating: 3.0
in a hole in the ground...
i think the movie is really more of a '4' but as many reviewers have mentioned, WB changed/omitted parts of the original soundtrack. i cannot understand why they would do such a thing (it was really noticable because i had just watched my vhs version in anticipation of the dvd).i must admit that aside from bringing back fond memories from my youth, i thought the movie held on its own merits.the animation style is very distinctive and i felt the character designs were fairly appropriate. Bass/Rankin produced an animation that was more catered to the younger audience, but imho, worked -- it brought a fairly-tale like quality before the much more grim telling of the Lord of the Rings. the handpainted backgrounds were very nicely done that are far superior to many other comparable animations.the songs were ok, and remember Tolkien wrote poems in the book that would sound horrible if it were just said... i.e., when the Orcs/Wargs rode down singing/chanting: 'fifteen birds, in five fir trees...' this quirkly little poem added a certain style to Tolkien writing that i thought was appropriately ported to this animation. watch Ladyhawk if you really want to gripe about a soundtrack adversely affecting the movie.the voice acting in general was quite good but Huston was flawless -- and he was much, much better in the Return of the King and was particularly effective because the voice of Gandolf became the narrative of that animation.the Hobbit, as a book, i felt was much more whimsical than Tolkien's other works and i enjoy this interpretation (but read the book whenever you get the chance!) -- i just wish that they hadn't downgraded the soundtrack -- or they could have tone down the song just a wee bit and everyone would be happy ;)