The Return of the King)

Starring:Orson Bean, Richard Boone, Hans Conried, John Huston, Otto Preminger, Cyril Ritchard, Brother Theodore, Paul Frees, Jack DeLeon, Don Messick, John Stephenson, Thurl Ravenscroft, Theodore Bikel, William Conrad, Roddy McDowall
Director: Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The Hobbit
The J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy classic set in Middle-earth was adapted into this excellent 1978 animated feature first broadcast on television. Codirectors Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr., working from a script by Romeo Muller, are faithful to Tolkien's story and for that alone they get big points. The vocal cast can't be improved upon: Orson Bean is perfect as Bilbo Baggins, the timorous hobbit who grows brave on his adventure with the wizard Gandalf (John Huston). Otto Preminger is the voice of Elvenking, Richard Boone is Smaug, Hans Conried is Thorin, and Brother Theodore is very effective as the weird Gollum. Terrific for kids and adults alike. --Tom Keogh

The Lord of the Rings
Although it was ultimately overshadowed by Peter Jackson's live-action Lord of the Rings trilogy, Ralph Bakshi's animated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy classic is not without charms of its own. A target of derision from intolerant fans, this ambitious 1978 production is nevertheless a respectably loyal attempt to animate the first half of Tolkien's trilogy, beginning with the hobbit Frodo's inheritance of the One Ring of power from Bilbo Baggins, and ending with the wizard Gandalf's triumph over the evil army of Orcs. While the dialogue is literate and superbly voiced by a prestigious cast (including John Hurt as Aragorn), Leonard Roseman's accomplished score effectively matches the ominous atmosphere that Bakshi's animation creates and sustains. Bakshi's lamentable decision to combine traditional cel animation with "rotoscoped" (i.e., meticulously traced) live-action footage is jarringly distracting and aesthetically disastrous, but when judged by its narrative content, this Lord of the Rings deserves more credit than it typically receives. --Jeff Shannon

Amazon.com

The Hobbit
The J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy classic set in Middle-earth was adapted into this excellent 1978 animated feature first broadcast on television. Codirectors Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr., working from a script by Romeo Muller, are faithful to Tolkien's story and for that alone they get big points. The vocal cast can't be improved upon: Orson Bean is perfect as Bilbo Baggins, the timorous hobbit who grows brave on his adventure with the wizard Gandalf (John Huston). Otto Preminger is the voice of Elvenking, Richard Boone is Smaug, Hans Conried is Thorin, and Brother Theodore is very effective as the weird Gollum. Terrific for kids and adults alike. --Tom Keogh

The Lord of the Rings
Although it was ultimately overshadowed by Peter Jackson's live-action Lord of the Rings trilogy, Ralph Bakshi's animated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy classic is not without charms of its own. A target of derision from intolerant fans, this ambitious 1978 production is nevertheless a respectably loyal attempt to animate the first half of Tolkien's trilogy, beginning with the hobbit Frodo's inheritance of the One Ring of power from Bilbo Baggins, and ending with the wizard Gandalf's triumph over the evil army of Orcs. While the dialogue is literate and superbly voiced by a prestigious cast (including John Hurt as Aragorn), Leonard Roseman's accomplished score effectively matches the ominous atmosphere that Bakshi's animation creates and sustains. Bakshi's lamentable decision to combine traditional cel animation with "rotoscoped" (i.e., meticulously traced) live-action footage is jarringly distracting and aesthetically disastrous, but when judged by its narrative content, this Lord of the Rings deserves more credit than it typically receives. --Jeff Shannon

The Return of the King
The creative team behind 1978's impressive animation feature based on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit returns with this 1980 entry drawn from Tolkien's famous Lord of the Rings trilogy. It's good work all around, and not at all the kind of feature-length cartoon that reduces good books to treacle. Orson Bean returns as the voice of Bilbo Baggins as well as that of the trilogy's hero, Frodo. John Huston is commanding again as the voice of the wizard Gandalf, and also in the vocal cast are William Conrad, Paul Frees, and Roddy McDowall. --Tom Keogh

Description

Animated versions of three Tolkien classics: The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Return of the King.

Customer Reviews:

LOVE IT.......2007-03-09

I love it wish they would of made more of them. They didnt get the two towers in there or the fellowship of the guys that i wanted to make it. Rankin and Bass. but the other fellowship is decent also.

A must for all Tolkien - Fans!!.......2006-11-15

I only can recommand this package to all Tolkien - Fans. It is a nice alternate version of 2/3 of the ring and it includes the only movie adaption of the hobbit so far. (I really hope we get one from Jackson in the near future!!!)

SPIDER-MAN_from_Austria

Tolkien package benefit.......2006-07-02

I have every version of the film adaptations of J.R.R.Tolkien's works. I especially liked having all three of the animated films together. I was a bit disappointed with the packageing. They come in three separate DVDs. (more likely to get splayed around my collection and be harder to find when I want them) And each uses that half sort of clamshell sleeve that I find harder to open and because of the cardboard front flap less secure for the DVD inside. Otherwise, it is the charming, generally more accurate as films go movies you will love however they come. Also, for what you are getting, I thought the price was pretty decent.

Better than most say........2006-03-17

I love these DVD's. There is plenty to nit-pick about and believe me I've got a list. But, don't let that stop you from seeing them. Just don't expect to see something of the same caliber as the Peter Jackson films (I've got a list of nit-picks for them too but, I LOVE them as well.)

As some of you know, two separate teams made these films. "The Hobbit" and "The Return of the King" was made by one and "The Lord of the Rings" was made by another. They both have their strengths and weaknesses. I love them both for different reasons.

The thing I like the most about "The Lord of the Rings" DVD is the way the characters interact and appear to have genuine love and affection for one another. Like, when Gandalf gave Frodo a quick little meep to the nose when they were talking in Rivendell. It was after Frodo awoke and while he was lying in bed talking to Gandalf, who was pacing to and fro, if you're not quick you'll miss it.^_^

The things that bug me the most about "The Lord..." are designs of some of the other characters. The Balrog is, well, lame. Treebeard is awful, except for the charming touch of having leaves flying out of his mouth while he talks. ^_^

The best things about "The Hobbit" and "...the King" is the breathtaking landscapes and backgrounds. I just about cried on the first frame of "The Hobbit" opening on a gorgeous painting of the inside of Bag End. And the music, moving and funny. My favorite song from these films is the one with the words "It's so easy not to try..."

My number one gripe about "The Hobbit" and "...the King" are those wood elves. Yikes! I can't imagine our fair Legolas being of those `orcish' looking creatures. Good grief!

Well, there's tons more I could yammer on about. But, I end it here. See these DVD's. Forgive their shortcomings and enjoy what's right about them.

The Origins.......2006-03-04

When I first watched these videos, I was a child. They were airing on TV. I was excited about the movie remake of this story, but I was disappointed that the movie did not include the full 'origin' of the story, instead replacing it with bits and pieces. I would highly recommend this set to anyone who would like to see the original beginning of the story, "The Hobbit". The Hobbit truely sets the stage for the entire series, and these animations don't disappoint. I would suggest that just because they are animated, using primitive technology by todays standards, don't misjudge them. They are highly creative and respectable, and an excellent story to boot!.

DVD:

DVD

DVD: Story of Jack London

Bhaji On The Beach