The Lord of the Rings (1978)

I have a soft spot in my heart for the mystical 1970’s animated version of The Hobbit, ballady songs and all. Released the following year The Lord of the Rings is a visually odd adaptation of the first two books in J.R.R. Tolken’s trilogy. An uneven mixture of animation and some live action, there’s an awful lot of rotoscoping and the visual elements don’t always blend well, sometimes glaringly so. A very formal and obviously condescended version of the story it lacks the heart of The Hobbit, or even the existentialism of its animated sequel The Return of the King. Bizarre curio, it did surprisingly well on its initial release, though critics were mixed. A film which screams being ambitious beyond either the technical abilities of its time, or maybe just its budget. Also John Huston’s voice isn’t in this one, so rip off. Thumbs Down.