Ralph Bakshi's take on J.R.R. Tolkien's much-beloved trilogy is heart-wrenching labor of love. But, alas, I have judge the results and not pain and effort it took to get this picture done. This is not a literal adaptation but a severe attempt to shorten (impossibly) a 1,000 page book. Actually, Tolkien intended a single book - the trilogy is a product of editorial intervention. Still one big book is different from a big movie - even a two-hour plus masterpiece. Bakshi is good but not good enough. Major points must come off since the animations LOOKS AWFUL, both comparatively and by itself (Strider looks especially bad here). To be sure, it's an interesting idea to not go for traditional animation but the pay-off is sporadic. And Bakshi's decision of what to include and what to leave out is mind-boggling.
To be sure, the core of the story is still here. Frodo, Sam, and Gollum come together in a battle to decide the fate for Middle Earth. Some scenes do stand out as far superior to even the Peter Jackson adaptations. The problem is Bakshi is trying to do too much is stuck between making a great animated film and making just a great epic. Neither entirely works. This is a two-star film. BUT IT IS A GREAT TWO STARS! Not to be missed. But seeing the animated Hobbit is mandatory or a newcomer will be hopelessly lost. One suspects even more attempts to redo The Lord of the Rings will let this rest as superior, middling spot of adaptations.
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