Product: The Hobbit [VHS] (1977)
Rating: 2.0
Animation stinks
The Hobbit is an OK adaptation of the book, but by today's standards (and even by 1970's standards), the animation is completely lame. I thought it was kind of weird how the film went completely out of its way not to show any kind of violence. For instance, when the spiders of Mirkwood forest get stabbed the screen spins. Or when the Battle of Five Armies is being shown, the image is shown from 10,000 feet up so all you see are a bunch of black dots. I realize that this was probably meant for kids (it was done by Rankin and Bass who brought us all those cheesy Christmas shows in the 60s and 70s), but...come on.Also, did the music drive anyone else insane? I realize the Tolkien books themselves have songs in them, but at least you can blow over them if you don't like 'em. In the movie, the songs are being played over the action (such as when Wargs and the Orcs are attacking the travelers before they get into Mirkwood).Die-hard Tolkien fans will be upset that a few things were left out as well. The shape-shifter, which I think was called Beorn (its been a while since I read the book), was completely left out. The scene at the end where Bilbo gives the jewel to Bard so that he can use it to bargin with the king dwarf (whose name is also is escaping me) is also missing.