Ralph Bakshi

[Heavy]

Same rules apply as in the Fritz the Cat thread.

J. R. R. Tolkien's famous trilogy of books gets an animated version by way of a Brooklyn raised artist! Incomplete to this day due to studio idiocy, this remains one of the most accomplished and interesting flawed masterpieces ever!

P.S. please avoid overuse of the word "rotoscoping" on your posts. Thank you.
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"-This is the voice of God!
- What's up?"

[Jeff K]

I think it's interesting that in the interview Ralph did with the Onion, he said that the makers of the new Lord of the Rings trilogy would be studying his version for inspiration. I thought Ralph would like to know this turned out to be true--in the commentary track on "Fellowship of the Ring," Peter Jackson says that he was introduced to J.R.R. Tolkien through the Bakshi movie tie-in edition of the novels when he was younger, and as thanks he deliberately put in a direct visual quote to Bakshi's film in the "ProudFEET!" part of the Bilbo birthday party scene. Just thought Ralph would like to know that!

I grew up on this movie. The scene where the Dark Riders are chasing Frodo gave me nightmares as a kid, and still holds me spellbound. I still think that scene is more succesful in Bakshi's film than in Peter Jackson's. I also love the expressiveness of the characters, particularly Frodo, and the faithfulness to the novels.

How far did production get on "Lord of the Rings Part II" before it was cancelled?

[Funkyone D J $ BILL]

I used to have the "Foto-Novel" for this as well.I remember wondering if the "thoughts" that were added to the script came from the screenplay or if the writers at "Foto-Novel's" just made up whatever they felt like adding?

[Heavy]

A Lord of the Rings Foto-Novel?! That would be a great addition to the Galleries!! Please talk this over with Victoria or vice-versa! We/I need to see that!
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"-This is the voice of God!
- What's up?"

[Funkyone D J $ BILL]

Great now I need to go digging at my parent's house!Perhaps a trip to the used bookstore might be less painful for me!Used to be a whole series of these books made from still shots of the movies with cartoon bubble captions for the dialog and the characters "thoughts".Used to have Grease and The Champ as well.

Get up Champ! :(
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Funk & Soul
To Make You Move
To Make You Groove

[Jeff K]

I used to have the Photo Novel too! Alas, I sold it many years back.

[JimV]

I too still have the Fotonovel (and the hardcover filmbook & the playing cards & all kinds of stuff "The Fellowship" fan club had from then).

I found this film quite by accident - my grandmother had intended to take me to see SUPERMAN at the local theater but this was there instead & we figured "What the heck, looks like fun". I'd never heard of Tolkien before and this was very much of a captivating (and somewhat life-changing) experience for me.
Not only did I become a big Tolkien (and to a lesser extent, fantasy in general) fan but I was highly impressed with all the hard work & imagination that had gone into the film itself. Particularly when I compared some scenes (such as Helm's Deep) to the book and found them to be reasonably faithful visualizations, or with settings like Moria or the Shire.
For my own part, the otherworldly effect RS gives to the Nazgul in particular was the exact right choice for a pre-CGI world.

25 years later, it is still one of my favorite films and when I think of Middle Earth, more often than not that is the world I see. I only regret that Ralph does not have a commentary on the DVD of it. I am also curious if any conceptual art was ever done of elements from the 2nd film. Minas Tirith, Mordor & so on. That would be fascinating to see.

[ababab]

Someone mentioned about the "Lord" fotonovel ? I not only have that, but the color photo pressbook for the film, "Fellowship" order form & a promo 12' record of the disco theme for the film by the Aragorn Orcestra ~!
As for "Wizards", I got the DVD signed by Susan Tyrell !!!!! Anyone got some Bakshi oddities to share with the rest of us? Anyone have the complete toy series for "Lord of the rings"? Those have to be worth something by now.

[Funkyone D J $ BILL]

I have framed with a certificate of authenticity "Bilbo Belly Lint"!
It is 100% genuine Hobbit Lint!This is great stuff and though Ralph did a admirable job trying to draw it in his movie,it is difficult to use the Roto-Scope process to capture the fine detail of fuzz in the belly button of a Hobbit.
I also have a bag of Freeze-Dried Gandalf,should I ever find myself standing bored near a pot of water.
For hours of enjoyment,just add contents to water and stir with wand!
_________________
Funk & Soul
To Make You Move
To Make You Groove

[Heavy]

Does anyone have access to the Lord of the Rings original theatrical trailer? This is not included on the currently available DVD and I sure would like to see it!
_________________
"-This is the voice of God!
- What's up?"

[Isaac]

Bakshi's Lord of the Rings is a underrated and misunderstood masterpiece. But, let's face it, folks: Tolkien's narrative is too complex for any film to do it justice. The definitive version of LOTR will always be the books.

[JAM]

I agree, LOTR, Bakshi version is excellent and underated. Of course we can see where the funds got weak towards the end of the film and they had to rush some things, but I think stylistically it works. I've loved this cartoon since I was 5 and it some parts still spook me a bit. Peter Jackson took so much from it and it upsets me that he doesn't give Bakshi the credit for the really great scenes such as: The Ring Wraiths entering the room and stabbing the beds in unsion. This is not written in the book like that. Many of the camera angles (particularly when they're hiding from the wraith off the side of the road). The fact that they both decided not to use Bombadil. Gollum - let's not forget the frog that he was in the hobbit cartoons - but thanks to Bakshi, we saw him for something else - fortunately Peter Jackson and crew must've felt the same.

[Mike]

I'll have to say I love the books, and was very eager to see Peter Jackson's movie came out. The first time I saw the live-action movie, I was impressed. But now, the more I watch it, the worst it gets. And now I hate it (Especially Part II, what the hell?!).
I was unaware this earlier, animated film until I saw a crushing review of it on the internet. I was curious. So when I rented it, I didn't expect much.
Well, this movie surpassed Peter Jackson's version, in my view. Ralph Bakshi, you have preserved my favourite scenes while Peter has decided to change them (The Ford scene especially).
I ended up watching this movie five times or so, and the more I watched it, the more I liked it. Incredible breadth of vision. Barring a few mistakes, this movie captures the essence of the books in a way Jackson could not.
GOD I wish there was a Part Two. If a Part Two never comes out, I'll be forced to do it myself, because this work deserves to be finished.

[Brandon]

I'm not a big Lord Of The Rings fan but I thought Ralph Bakshi did a very good job on this movie and from those who have read the books they told me it was very accurate.

[ibaraki]

I really enjoyed watching this movie the one time I was actually able to sit through the whole thing (I have an easier time sitting through Peter Jackson's adaptions).

I think my main beef with Bakshi's Lord of the Rings adaptation was how spliced together the story seemed. I don't know if this was his fault, or the studio (I do know a Part II was planned that never was). If Bakshi would have been able to have the proper funding, I think this would have worked a lot more as a three part trilogy rather than squeezing them together as two films (or squeezing a book and a half into one film).

I will say, John Hurt is the man though. He is a brilliant actor, especially when his voice. He also had great voice acting in Watership Down (if any of you have ever seen that). Oh, and speaking of John Hurt, you want to see him at his most psychotic? Watch the PBS series I, Cladius. He does an excellent Caligula.

Don't get me wrong, I am in no way trying to bash this film. But, I just tend to think it is the lesser of all of Bakshi's other works.