Product: The Hobbit [VHS] (1977)
Rating: 3.0
A Decent Rendition of The Hobbit
Of all the animated attempts at Tolkien, this is the only one that truly succeeds on its own merits. Animation seems somehow appropriate for The Hobbit, given that it was originally a children's story (though Tolkien himself hated animation, particularly Disney cartoons).The story is well-adapted here, with only minor cuts and distillations made to keep the length at less than 90 minutes. The songs are decent, though some are rather sappy, and the animation is satisfactory. Admittedly, I do not care for the film's depiction of the wood-elves (why they have green skin is beyond me) - otherwise the art style works well and is evocative of Middle Earth.The voice characterizations are terrific - Gandalf is a standout, as is Smaug. But the audio quality leaves a lot to be desired - a result of poor recording in 1978.This is a good film to watch with your kids, especially if you have already read The Hobbit with them (or they have read it on their own). Nothing objectionable in it, although the monsters (especially the dragon) might be too frightening if you're not watching with them.