Product: The Hobbit [VHS] (1977)
Rating: 3.0
For the kids...
This child-aimed adaptation of Tolkien's timeless classic runs short enough for enjoyment without really delving too far into the source literature. Of the animated adaptations, this one is the best, though it fails miserably in comparison with the new Peter Jackson films, possibly because it's a 70s low budget cartoon. But there is just the right amount of story and likable characters that little things like pointless songs and often cheap animation can be ignored. The film's best sequence is the scene which Bilbo encounters Gollum. The representation of Gollum is surprisingly spooky considering the rest of the film is a happy little cartoon. I'd recommend it to children who like fantasy. Anyone older than 12 will have a hard time enjoying it.