Reviews (105)

Ralph Bakshi's Wizards
While it is certainly not for young children, older teens and adults will get a real kick out of "Wizards". Set in a post-apocalyptic world wrought by radiation due to a nuclear holocaust, most humans have died, and the population consists mainly of elves, fairies, dwarves, and then the mutants. The world is in danger from the threat of technology, brought upon by the evil wizard, Blackwolf. It is up to his brother, the comical, yet good hearted wizard, Avatar, to stop him. Joining Avatar in his quest are Weehawk, chief of a tribe of warrior elves, Elenor, fairy princess of the land of Montagar, and Peace, a former assassin of Blackwolf's (formerly known as Necron 99) who changes his ways and fights against the threat of technology. The WWII references abound, and there are many more adult-oriented references throughout. It dares to go where cartoons usually do not, making allusions to sex, prostitution, religion, and there's even a rather racist Vietnam reference if you can catch it. However, I still highly recommend "Wizards", because in all it's brashness, it deserves to be seen. What the animation lacks in quality, it more than makes up for in imagination. It's quite funny, and it also delivers some unexpected twists. I personally really like the way it was done. The music really seems to fit the overall style of it, and the wonderful character designs and voice acting really pulls it all together. I definetely recommend it to anyone searching for something creative and different, and I'm sure any fan of cult classics will definetely want to check it out. However, I stress the importance of having an open mind. I think those who are more open to controversial subject matter will be able to better enjoy it, with all it's dark humor and it's alternative-type feel. I think it is something that everyone should see at least once. It deserves more credit than it has been given, and I think that it will really make people stop and think about our world, and about themselves.

Bakshi's masterpiece finally on DVD!!!!
This 1977 Ralph Bakshi made animated sci-fi fantasy is set in the post-apocalyptic future where mutants, monsters, fairies, elves, dwarves, and magical creatures roam. An evil wizard named "Blackwolf" plans on taking over the world with his mutant army using old Nazi propaganda films while a kind and powerful wizard named "Avatar" with a hot fairy chick named " Ellinor" and a brave elf named "Weehawk" including a robot named "Peace" join forces together to go to a place called "Scorch" then stop Blackwolf, the war and prevent the end of the world.

A unique, kadeldoscopic and entertaining animated fantasy from the director of "Fritz The Cat", " Animated Lord of the Rings" and "American Pop". The animation is quite good, it does have Mark Hamil's voice debut before he was in "Star Wars" of the same year this movie was released, a superhot fairy chick guaranteed to make guys smile and it's a good fun flick for the whole family even though it's rated PG due to some graphic animated violence, battle scenes, some language and some mild nudity.

The DVD is excellent, the extras include TV Spot, Trailers, a documentary on how Ralph Bakshi created this movie, still gallery and a audio commentary by Ralph Bakshi. So if you love fun fantasy, sci-fi and animated flicks then pick this up for your animation DVD collection.

Also recommended: " Terminator 2: Judgment Day", " Fist of the North Star" ( Anime version), " Braveheart", " Gladiator", " Mad Max", " The Last Unicorn", " The Secret of NIMH", " Rock & Rule", " The Dark Crystal", " The Princess Bride", " Star Wars", " Gettysburg", " Starship Troopers", " Total Recall", " Heavy Metal", " The Fifth Element", " Mulan", "Antz".

classic you will either hate or love
This is one of those rare movies that doesn't try to hide its flaws, and actually benefits from them giving the entire movie a campy feel to it. The accents are mixed up, the animation crude and often using recycled sequences, the movement is jerky, scenes are often using war footage that was animated over, and the jokes are often crude and dark natured. But the film in a whole works.

Though it is a bit preachy in its ways, this movie makes you interested in the characters. It also brings up some intersting and satirical ideas.

the world was destroyed in war, humans are few and most have mutated and live in badlands. Elves, faeries and dwarves, have returned and taken over the good lands, but nothing seems different. The factions are divided and uncooperative with each other. When the badlands mutants gets a powerful leader, they ignore it until it is too late. When the push is made for the mutants to take over the goodlands the enemy seemingly has too much up his sleeve.

The cartoon has a definite seventies feel to it. The humor is dark, twisted, and often times has a distinct feel of juxtoposition. It is a fantasy futuristic world that has the attitude and feeling of New York. There are fairy hookers, dirty streets with bums lying around, and bitter old men with brooklyn accents. The evil army has a strong Nazi theme to it, as well as their secret weapons.

It is also very violent, showing elves and fairies being killed by the hundreds, pow's being executed, and prisoners being forced to entertain soldiers any way they want.

This is a very warped movie that shouldn't work, but does. A classic from the 70's that had enough of a cult following to bring it to dvd today. watch it for the spectacle and you will either love it or hate it.

A Lost Masterpiece!
I remember seeing this film as young kid though I really wasn't supposed too. I saw it with the film LIGHT YEARS another film that I hope will come to dvd in the very near future. This film is basically about a centuries old battle between two brothers. One on the side of magic, the other on the side of Technology. It's basic good versus evil with a bit of social commentary in between. The animation may not be what people are used to now, but it serves it's purpose. I personally like the rendition of the elves. They look more like elves from say ELF QUEST and not the overly tall elves of D&D fame. Pretty good film. Check it out for nostalgia if anything else.

Finally a beautiful Bakshi release on DVD
Ralph Bakshi has his admirers and his detractors, as any good filmmaker should. Wizards is an important film for many reasons, but mostly, in my opinion, because it really began the experimentation of melding of rotoscope, traditional animation and live action. Bakshi masterfully mixes the three techniques in ways never before done, and seldom since. His powerful use of Nazi propaganda films melds perfectly with high contrast rotoscoping of Eisenstein's Alexander Nevski to give birth to a new and disturbing world. His use of traditional animation techniques then colors the fairy lands in another light and we see the contrast between these two worlds brought together in a terrifying realization. The melding of various methods of filmmaking might be too much for some who have become accustomed to Disney animation, Saturday morning cartoons and anime, but it gives us a rare glimpse into what might have been in an artform which never fully developed into its own right.

Finally, we have DVD which treats master filmmaker, Ralph Bakshi, with the respect he deserves. After the atrociously inadequate release of Bakshi's Lord of the Rings Part One a few years ago, with it's incredible lack of special features and horrific overdub in the middle of the closing score (though thankfully finally released in widescreen format), I couldn't be happier with the treatment Fox has given to this film. The transfer is gorgeous and the colors are far more vivid than I have ever seen before - an element that is critical to the film.

The real treat, however, is the feature length commentary by Mr. Bakshi as well as the "documentary" on him and his work. I would have liked to have him chat a bit more about Lord of the Rings since we were robbed of a commentary in that DVD release, but he does give a bit of insight into the film, which was welcome.

All in all, a fantastic DVD release of a groundbreaking film. Bravo Fox and Mr. Bakshi! I hope Fire and Ice, Hey Good Lookin', Coonskin and someday a re-release of Lord of the Rings, will receive a similar treatment.

David ... Read more

Amazon.com

Advertised as "X-rated and Animated," Fritz the Cat earned an impressive $25 million in 1972. Screenwriter-director Ralph Bakshi based the film on three of Robert Crumb's stories about a superficial college student who tried to seduce anything in a skirt. The gritty, often gross film shocked U.S. audiences accustomed to innocent flirtations and slapstick comedy in cartoons. Thirty years later, Fritz looks less shocking than puerile. The violence grafted onto Crumb's innocent stories feels gratuitous, and the racial imagery tasteless. As dated as a Nehru jacket, the film will interest students of animation history and American pop culture. Crumb detested the film: he drew Fritz as a decadent Hollywood star, who was exploited by caricatures of Bakshi and producer Steve Krantz--and murdered by a bitter ex-girlfriend. "Another casualty of the '60s..." --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (30)

GNARLY, FUNKY, OBSCENE AND FUNNY
Originally X-rated, the notorious and successful "FRITZ THE CAT" is now available on DVD. Animator Ralph Bakshi adapted several comic strip stories from counter culture artist Robert Crumb about a shallow college guy who hits on anything in a skirt.

In 1972 it was shocking to see cartoons using crude language and in lewd situations. Gritty, violent and racist, Fritz (he ends up on the road with a biker gang to blow up America) caught a lot of heat and made a ton of money. Incidentally, Crumb hated the film and continued his comic strip and skewered Bakshi and producer Steve Krantz and killed off Fritz (a jealous girlfriend did the deed).

The radical 60s as seen through the distorted lens of a million psychedelic animation cells. "Fritz the Cat" is a freak show that still shocks and yes, it's funny as hell. But just sometimes. If this is too offensive, there's always "LAND BEFORE TIME VIII."

This is a very weird movie!
Now, I understand that movies were very obscure during the '70s (the transition from the psychedlic '60s to the extravagant '80s was a very logical progression), I mean you have exploitation films, movies with a tremendous amount of nudity, and ultra-violence, what more could you want in a decade? While I was not alive during the time this movie was released I read a review in "Playboy", and I had figured I had better see this movie to decide for myself. Even by today's standards, this is a very bizarre film, I wish I would have watched this on acid (I would have enjoyed it a lot more, pretty colors anyone). I almost fell on the floor laughing a few times the first time I saw this.

Fritz is a student at NYU, who is bored with life and wants to try something new, unfortunately (to our delight), he bites off a lot more than he can chew. There's a wild ride through Harlem, cartoon orgies, drug use, and cops portrayed as pigs (literally), what else do you need. See this movie!

Fritz the Cat
Ah, "Fritz The Cat" one of the most beloved Adult Cartoons there is, in fact "Fritz The Cat" influenced the adult
cartoons we have today to an extent, showcasing violence and sex and in between commenting on society where it is, where it has been, and where it's going to.

First I should say, that this is the first animated movie that was given an "X"
by MPAA. After looking at the film I'd say it has more of an "R" rating at best.

I also I am glad to finally write a review on it, because the cartoon has been dismissed as trash by critics, but
it's not trash, there are a couple of interesting bits in the movie, but if you watch the movie with "head up your butt, politically correct" mentality, then
you wont see the points the movie is trying to make.

Now "Fritz the Cat" was done by Legendary Ralph Bakshi who has brought classics like "Spiderman" and
"The Hulk" cartoons to tv, but as a director he has matured over the news

and has use his medium and power to include bigger cartoon movies that showcase societal messages like in his "Wizards" cartoon movie with Mark Hamill (from Star Wars) to comment on WWII and Nazi party.

Now the film was also made from writer Robert Crumb who created the characters. Now if you watch any of Crumb's cartoons you catch several of his trademark "movies" like "Heavy Traffic" a good movie about out work artists with commentary on society , capitalism and the movie industry itself. The movie also has a very dark imagination often putting in live action with animation and mingling the two successfully too .
Now it has been released on DvD, but the DVD is very poor offering no extras, so dont waste any money on it,
the vhs version is much cheaper to get.

The films plot revolves around a young adolescent cat name Fritz who wants to experience everything that life has to offer: women, sex, drugs and rock and roll. Fritz is an independent free spirit, someone who hates authority and basically does whatever he wants to do when he wants to do it. He in a way
reminds me of that character Dustin Hoffman played in "Midnight Cowboy" having fun, but also ridiculing those idiots around him including a couple of protesters who he says "should get
a real job"....speaking of which, "Fritz The Cat" has a couple of references to the 60's and hippies, and its pretty funny. One of which is as many
of the characters in the movie point out, that 1960's hippies have turned fat and never amounted to anything...except for smoking alot of pot. It's not very flattering, but it is part realistic, because
I am sure people know a couple of their hippie friends who "freeloaded" back in the 1960's and who despite saying that were for the peace movement were only there for free food and sex and by 1970's became fat and never amounted to anything.

So Fritz is a freespirited, but selfimposing invididual who at first has no ambitions other than, having sex with many girls and he achieves his goal
....having an orgy with a couple of easy woman in his friends place luring them in with words of poetry...lol.

However the orgy is interrupted when cops (portrayed as talking pigs...yeah you heard the cops are pigs...
a term that is now used to refer to real cops) bust in..but these cops are so stupid it's funny and well everyone they tried to arrest (with really no evidence) get away.

Fritz escapes but hides in a Jewish Synagogue and from there laughs and mayhem ensues as Fritz once
again makes fools of the cops and escapes back to his friends place egging him to quit studying for exams
and party. Howevever, being ruled by emotions, Fritz accidently burns down his friends place and his own
notes. Fritz has a couple of Entertaining Dream sequences that gives a glimpse into his personality and Crumb's use of great camera work blending in
inaminate objects with animation.

So then after this bit of carnage the movie tones a bit though and gets serious when Fritz encounters
Racism, violence, anarchy and state of capitalism and power which control every living thing and person
in this world. So this is when Crumb through Fritz, shows us these messages both graphically and in subtle
fashion, it's very well done and despite the fact that by the end of the film, nothing really changes, Fritz and the audience do become aware of the world that Fritz lives in and why he is the character he is after being in this environment. That is really the best way to describe it and to say but that wouldn't be giving the movie to much credit.

The voice of Fritz was done by Skp Hinnant, but taking a look at his resume, he unfornately didn't
have a rewarding acting career which is too bad.

"Fritz The Cat" spawned a sequel "Nine Lives of Fritz Cat" (which I had
the pleasure of seeing couple of months ago ). Commercially too the film did allright, there was a comic strip of "Fritz The Cat" by Robert Crumb ,soundtracks, and a couple of other memorabilia.

Anyhow, I very much recommend "Fritz The Cat", it will have you laughing and entertained throughout, but
look closer and you will a couple of messages that Crumb and Bakshi were trying to make at that time.

There's just something about it...
that's hard to describe. The first time I saw this was on VHS when I was in high school, about 15 years ago. I was very excited when the soundtrack became available on CD and the film on DVD. It has a vibe that goes beyond the typical sex-and-drugs commentary. The film has important things to say, but people looking for a standard Hollywood film aren't going to understand. My friends and I still use some of the one-liners today! And of course, anyone who's been to college can sympathize with Fritz, as he rants and raves about pretentious intellectuals...

Give it a shot. I still get something out of it, even after 15 years of regular viewing. (...)

A film that should be looked on with and openmind
Well many consider this film to both suck and blow at the same time, yet you must look at it how it was meant 2 be watched - not as a serious portrait of nyc in the 60s but as a comic animation of the more important things in our life! Loved the film, embodies student life 2 the full teehee and will get you rolling around in laughter very very very quickly ITS NOT A SERIOUS FILM!!!! ITS VERY VERY FUNNY - PERFECT FOR THOSE LATE FRIDAY WASTED NITES GOGOGOGOOOOOOOOOOOO forth and buy it! If you like drugs sex or anything inbetween this is your film

beautiful ... Read more

Reviews (23)

OK animation, iffy movie
The animation is good, especially considering when it was made, but "American Pop" is never quite successful. Once again Bakshi probes the sordid underbelly of his subject, in this case pop music, but nothing here ever comes off quite convincing enough. And his dismissal of punk and rush to embrace the bland beardo post-hippie commercial rock of Bob Seger and Heart betrays Bakshi's age, and maybe a lack of good taste as well. It comes off a bit old-fogeyish.

Like a lot of Bakshi's work, this has to be taken as it is, and the viewer has to bear in mind when and how it was made. Computer animation was in its infancy, and animation was at a low point in the United States, so the fact that this was made and distributed in mainstream theaters at all was a minor miracle at the time.

In short, the musical spots provide the bright moments, but the plot is labored and the characters, particularly the ridiculous "rock star" he invents at the end of the film, are unconvincing. As a historical document of where animation was in the United States at the time, it's viewable; as entertainment, well, it's better than "Heavy Traffic" but certainly not any kind of a classic animated film. See it if you want, but it's not indispensable.

One of My Favorite Movies of All Time
I watched American Pop for the first time after seeing a promo for it on the Anniversary Edition DVD of Heavy Metal. I loved Heavy Metal so I figured why not try this one out since it seems to be of a similar genre. Boy was I glad I did...

Not only did I have no clue the movie was made in the early 80's wheh I watched it in 1999, but I was absolutely floored by the fluid animation that was produced by Bakshi's technique of Rotoscoping that was also used in Heavy Metal, Wizards, and Lord of the Rings...

The animation and story line were some of the best I have seen...in any movie!! I never watch many dvd's more than once but this one I have gotten through at least 5 times. It is an absolute masterpiece in animation and Bakshi's best work to date.

Rotoscoping animation is largely misunderstood and doesn't get enough credit. If more animation was done this way, adults would probably enjoy more non-Disneyesque type features geared towards older audiences.

Don't miss this flick if you are a fan of excellent animation...

Hubby Loved It & Hates Animation; I Loved It Period
I usually like animation, especially when it has an art house spin to it like Bashki's work does. I've never been able to convert hubby to it though, with only a few exceptions. This was the first animation that I ever screened for him that he enjoyed from beginning to end. In fact, he watched it twice. Since it came out (many years ago), the only animation he's liked as well is "Waking Life." Bashki does an incredible job of covering the rock world and its stars, although he never explicitly names anyone. The story flows effortlessly (it seems) and takes us for a kaleidescopic ride along the development of rock and roll set in the USA. The art and music are outstanding. Well worth buying since you will want to watch it more than once. It will appeal to a wide variety of ages too.

A Brilliant underrated masterpiece.
From Ralph Bakshi ( Director of "Lord of the Rings" 1978 version, "Fritz The Cat" and "Wizards) has crafted a highly entertaining and moving animated feature using Rotoscopic technics and great script too.

This tells four stories of four generations of one family under the influence of American music, from Vaudeville era to the 80's, it's a animated flick that is serious for once without no goofy sidekicks but does entertain and is quite a fun flick, if you like " Heavy Metal", "Secret of NIMH", "Flight of Dragons" and "Last Unicorn" then check out this movie.

Still a classic!
This movie was released when I was 19. I watched it over and over again. Something hard to do before VCRs or DVDs were popular. I was worried that it would stand the test of time. Well, this evening I showed it to my 18-year-old niece who has a scholarship to the animation track at the Art Institute of San Francisco. I was worried she would find it too dated. She really loved it. And I still enjoyed it too! ... Read more

Reviews (37)

An Interesting Movie to Watch
I rather liked this movie. Despite some animation/real life scenes where both sides mixed and just didn't fit, it is a good movie to watch. I think it is equal, if not better than Roger Rabbit. Cool World is a twisted, Toon Town where chaos happens all around and an eyelid is never battered. A good escape from reality.
The animation is fantastic, and Brad Pitt does very well considering he was acting on his own most of the time.
Kim Basinger spoils the climax with her poor acting as a human. She's better left as a cartoon.
The music is fantastic and suits the scenes well. Cool World is in a category of its own and a much different movie to watch then most would expect.

5 stars for the animation and sound track. Minus a star for allowing Kim Basinger a role in the movie.

Bakshi makes another liveactionanimation film, of vapidness
I've seen his live-action/animation film "Coonskin", and that was great. Now that I saw "Cool World", I'm dissapointed. This film is the worst 4/10 film I ever rated. I don't call it a Roger Rabbit rip-off (I'm wondering why people are, but it's not, just because it is also live-action and animated doesn't mean we call it a rip-off [did we call Roger Rabbit a rip-off of Coonskin or other live-action/animated films before RR...hmmm!!??]) The artwork is nice and bizzare, but that is one of the few merits this film has, but the animation bleeds together horribly with the live-action (for example, when Brad Pitt put his arm around Lonnete, he looked as though he put his arm around a living card-board cut-out.) The soundtrack has a 4/5 merit, but that's the only other merit. The plot is horrible, I dunno why certain people actually like this plot. This film deserved to flop in the Box-Office. The dialoge is fairly weak as well. If you are going to buy this film, DON'T. Don't even rent it! Just buy the soundtrack and you'll live happily ever after away from this film.

Bakshi's worst movie
The movie is poorly written not to mention the lame special effects. Its a completly souless film. If you liked Fritz the Cat,Wizards,American Pop, or other films by Ralph Bakshi, than stay away from this, because its embarassing.

ADULT ANIMATION, NOT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
The dvd has Great Quality Sound and Video with lots of vivid colors and many sexual inuendos. There is a Great story line as long as you can follow a plot that suggests that there is more to life than just living on "earth" such as going back and forth to alternate universes. If you have seen and liked "MEET THE FEEBLES" You'll like this one too - this one does not have any bloody scenes or explicit sexual scenes, much is left up to the imagination. I think that Many people need to Learn to use their imagination more and not be so closed-minded.

Holly Wood If She Could
Cool World is a more mainstream effort from Ralph Bakshi (Lord of the Rings, Wizards, American Pop) than some of his other works but it still shows his genius.

There exists a two-dimensional world called Cool World. Sometimes our worlds overlap. In Cool World, humans are Noids and cartoons are Doodles. Brad Pitt is a Noid who has been stuck there for years and has been acting as a detective.

The villain (if you want to call her that) is Holli Would, a sexy, talented and smart doodle who wants to get to the Noid world. She plans to do this by having sex with a cartoonist who thinks he created Cool World for a comic book.

Pitt works to prevent this from happening as the results could cause the destruction of both worlds. But Pitt has his hands full as Holli is no mere brainless bimbo.

The effects are wonderful as cartoon scenery goes from drawing to prop seamlessly. While Cool World looks a little like Toon Town (Roger Rabbit) with its faces on buildings and twisted landscape, but these are not cute toons (although the Tex Avery-style wolves do make an appearance).

A fun movie with adult themes and unique imagery. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Although it was ultimately overshadowed by Peter Jackson'slive-action Lord of the Rings trilogy, Ralph Bakshi's animatedadaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy classic is not without charms ofits own. A target of derision from intolerant fans, this ambitiousproduction is nevertheless a respectably loyal attempt to animate thefirst half of Tolkien's trilogy, beginning with the hobbit Frodo'sinheritance of "the One Ring" of power from Bilbo Baggins, and endingwith the wizard Gandalf's triumph over the evil army of orcs. While thedialogue is literate and superbly voiced by a prestigious cast(including John Hurt as Aragorn), Leonard Rosenman's accomplished scoreeffectively matches the ominous atmosphere that Bakshi's animationcreates and sustains. Bakshi's lamentable decision to combinetraditional cel animation with "rotoscoped" (i.e., meticulously traced)live-action footage is jarringly distracting and aestheticallydisastrous, but when judged by its narrative content, this Lord ofthe Rings deserves more credit than it typically receives.--Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (306)

forgettable
I really can't write much about this film. That is because it is forgettable

A piece of ...
I'm sorry, but I don't understand why people constantly defend this film. "Oh, it's not so bad. It was good in it's time. It's not fair to compare it to the new one."

I don't compare it! I saw this years ago, way before the new version came along, and I thought it was horrible then, by any standards! And I'll explain why in one (or two) words: roto-scoping!

Here Bashiki had the hard task of cramming an epic story into what he originally thought would be one film! Then he wastes time and money with this animating over live action technique which does nothing but distract and detract precious screen time. Look, if he wanted to test out this new style, he should've done this with another film, not one as pressured of LOTR.

And when he decided the film would not fully capture the whole epic, why stop at the battle of Helm's Deep of all places? At least stop in a place which seems right to stop at (like the places where the trilogy was originally divided, for instance).

RUINS THE LORD OF THE RINGS!
This movie absolutely ... and still ...! I hate it. Thank ... I only payed ($)for it! The animation totally sucks (WORSE THAN HEAVY METAL 1) and the voice acting (totally bad!). The DVD is no better. The picture quality is horrible. The sound quality is horrible. Ralph Bakshi should have just made 4 movies in this order: "The Hobbit" (this movie's not that bad), "The Fellowship of the Ring" (Part of this movie), "The Two Towers" (not as developed as FOTR) and "The Return of the King" (haven't seen it). But no, he had to make it like this "The Hobbit", "The Lord of the Rings" (Fellowship and Two Towers in one long 2 hour nap) and "The Return of the King". How can these people like this movie. The live-action movie is totally better. Great acting, great (I MEAN GREAT!) cinematography and great sound effects. But in LOTR (animated) all you get for the Black Riders are horribly animated cretins that pretty much just screech and howl (OH THE NOISE, THE NOISE NOISE NOISE! The DVD sound is so shrill that I just wanted to take the darn thing out. You don't get a 5.1 remaster, you get a poor "Dolby Surround Stereo" recording of the soundtrack)! The widescreen presentation of the film couldn't make this movie any better. I mean it, why did Bakshi had to do that. He ruined what could have been 4 great animated movies and turned Fellowship and Two Towers into a travesty! Please, save your money and buy the live-action movie that is wonderfully directed by Peter Jackson, and DO NOT BUY THIS MOVIE! Even better, wait until November when the extended cut of the live action Fellowship comes out. Peter Jackson is doing this the right way. He is making a trilogy out of the Lord of the Rings. Not combining them into one 4 hour movie. ...

How can it compete?
Poor little animated film. It was to be the first of two films, but it flopped big-time in its initial release. So the second film was never made. There *was* a "Return of the King" released for TV, but its style of animation is more like "The Hobbit" than this one (I think the same folks were responsible for Hobbit and RotK). Nonetheless, this animated Lord of the Rings isn't so bad. Sure, the animation takes some getting used to, especially the combination of traditional animation and roto-scoping (essentially tracing over live-action work). But I think it works and it gives the goblins an extra dimension of creepiness and realism that would otherwise not be present in animated work. There are some tremendous battle scenes in the second half, which work quite well thanks to the roto-scoping.

I saw the recent Fellowship of the Ring, so I wasn't expecting much from this 20+ year old animated film, but I was quite surprised and happy about it. In its own way, it captures the spirit of the books just fine. But alas, I don't think anyone will pay it much heed when the extremely good Fellowship of the Ring is now available on DVD. However, if you are adventurous, give the animated DVD a spin. It's good family entertainment (well, might be a *little* scary for the toddlers) and it is certainly better than people tend to think!

Very Enjoyable
I am a huge fan of "The Lord of the Rings" book by J.R.R. Tolkien and when I stumbled upon this animated film of the first two books of the trilogy, "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers," I decided to watch it. Was I disappointed with the film? Absolutely not! Was the film perfect? No way. But did I thoroughly enjoy it? I sure did. This animated movie is very true to the books in certain places, but in other places the film is very off. It is a lot of fun to see your favorite characters from the books animated on screen and doing what they are doing.

As I stated above, this film is based on the first two books of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. The movie starts off with some history about the ring and how Gollum found it and Bilbo Baggins ended up retrieving it. Then the film switches to the present and Frodo, Bilbo's cousin, ends up with the ring. The ring is The One Ring that can rule all of Middle Earth. Then the first part of the movie details the beginning of the quest to destroy the ring. Then in "The Two Towers" film we see the battle at Helm's Deep. The ending of the film is a bit shakey but then I'll have to see the last movie in this cartoon duology to get the full story from the movies.

This is a film that is very enjoyable but is still with its flaws. I'll start off with the good parts of the movie. The first part of the film, "The Fellowship of the Ring" part, is definitely the best as it is truest to the book. We see Bilbo's party at the beginning, the Inn at Bree, the Council of Elrond, and many other things that were in the book. The thing that was very vital yet missing was the Black Riders invading the Shire and trying to find the ring. I was wondering where this part of the movie was. Other good things about the film are the characters and just the feeling that the film gives off in certain places. In many places this film is warm and inviting, probably because of the atmosphere that the movie builds up.

The bad parts are mostly that which was in "The Two Towers" part of the film. Most of what happened with Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Merry, and Pippin was true to the book as most of this part of the movie revolved around them. However, there was hardly any part of the quest of Frodo and Sam with Gollum. We only really see the two friends meet Gollum and start their quest to Mordor. If you have read the book you will remember that Frodo and Sam met a lot of men from Gondor and had a few adventures getting into the Dark Lord Sauron's city. This was the most missed part of the film. I have yet to see the other movie in this animated duology, but it is possible that this part will be there. I'm not too sure.

The animation is mostly very good, but in certain places it looks that there were shots taken from live action movies and placed in an animated setting. This was a bit bothersome, but not too bad. Despite the flaws of this film it is still very enjoyable from fans of the books or anyone that seems interested in the movie. If you are a parent with young children that are familiar with the "Lord of the Rings" story and feel that the live action movie is a bit too violent or over their head, then I recommend this adaptation to you.

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