Rating: 
Summary: Classic Renditions That Have Been Overshadowed by Jackon's..
Review: Although not the most accurate when compared to the book, these three movies are entertaining in their own way. When I got myself into Tolkien back 10 years ago, I remembered from my Childhood in the 80s a certain song "Frodo of the Nine Fingers and the Ring of Doom". This made me search out all three of these movies and I must say that until Peter Jackson did his renditions, they were sufficient. Clearly the two bookend movies that are entirely cartoon are the better. The combination of live action and cartoon done by Bakshi in his "Lord of the Rings" is awful. However, all three hold novelty value simply to see how Lord of the Rings was envisioned prior to modern computer animation and special effects. If for nothing else, view these three movies simply to hear the songs in "Return of the King"!
Rating: 
Summary: How to get depressed without suffering a major life trauma
Review: The Return of the King as envisioned by Bakshi is quite possibly the worst movie ever made, with the possible exception of the legendary Plan 5 From Outer Space.The animation is of terrible quality, surpassing only that of a Hanna-Barbara cartoon of the 1970's - and then only because body parts other than the mouth move. I literally got depressed watching this because it was so bad. Certainly, I got it from the library with masochistic intent, but this is just ridiculous.
Rating:
Summary: Please Redo
Review: I have these films on VHS, purchased years ago. I recently accuired them on DVD in order to update my collection as my tapes are showing thier ware from a great deal of use. I love the two Rankin films especialy and was very disapointed to find the DVD's had a different voice and sound affects tract put to them instead of the original releases. Haveing the ability to compare I found many inconsistancies that detracted from the overall apeal of the films. The digitization of the films on DVD was excelent but without the original words and sound affects I would recomend a redo.
Rating:
Summary: Horrible!
Review: These three animated movies are horrible to watch! Director Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy is way better than these three boring movies. Each movie, "The Hobbit"; "The Lord of the Rings"; and "The Return of the King", greatly deviate from author J.R.R. Tolkien's book trilogy. These animated movies are completely pointless to watch and are a disgrace to Tolkien's Middle-earth. Do not buy any of these movies!...Director Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy is well worth watching; but not these movies.
Rating: 
Summary: These Cartoons are Essential If You Grew Up with Them
Review: These cartoons really brought the Tolkien books to life for kids in the late 70's and 80's. They are an essential piece of history and although primitive in light of the magic the new movies capture, still worth a watch to relive these memories from childhood. For those whose first exposure has been the latest movies, bear in mind technology has chamged dramatically over the years and these movies are worth their salt as the first stabs at these epic books. Must see!!!
Rating:
Summary: I like it!
Review: The Hobbit, being my favorite, is a wonderful cartoon that can attract and hold the attention an 8 year old child. In The Return of the King the author tried to adapt the film for children so it would be like The Hobbit, it's not a verry good job, it does have some interesting songs in it that does make it OK.
The Lord of the Rings is just like the first two movies by Peter Jakcson, just animated, and much shorter (it seems to be more descriptive but faster moveing, if you have never read Tolkien's novels you should see this movie.)
Rating:
Summary: If i could rate it lower... i would
Review: Terrible. Just horrible! It couldnt get any..... well, stupid!!
Rating:
Summary: Stinks
Review: I see so many reviews out here that you have to see that people DO NOT read thing carefully. There ARE NOT the Peter Jackson films, these are old horribly done cartoons that wouldn't even make it on the Cartoon Network, they are THAT bad. Horrible. The Hobbit is not bad, I remember my sister reading the book after seeing the cartton on a Sunday Night when it first aired. The reason I reme,mber it being a Sunday Night was that our family had moved from a smaller house into a larger house and it was the last thing we watched before turning in for the night,funny how you remember stuff over 30 years ago. So remember people who are commenting on "the extended version" they are talking about the Peter Jackson film, they just don't read what they are reviewing. Also, rumor has it that Jackson is going to make a movie version of The Hobbit, he just wanted to see how Lord Of The Rings came out and if people would welcom it. Boy have we ever! I am so glad there is a Director out there who has knocked Speilberg off his throne! Can't stand Spielberg!! Yeck!!!
Rating: 
Summary: A Disgrace to Middle-earth
Review: I am a huge fan of "The Lord of the Rings" and I'm sorry to say that Ralph Bashki's animated version of the story is appalling! I'll point out why below, but first, about the Rankin/Bass version of "The Hobbit." "The Hobbit"-- This movie is much better than the animated "Lord of the Rings" though very annoying at times (the 70s songs can drive you crazy), and not quite long enough to include as much of Tolkien's work that they could of. But then again, the movie was made for T.V, and are supposed to be more for children then Tolkien's novel. "The Lord of the Rings"-- There are so many things wrong with this movie I don't know where to start. How about the Flight to the Ford scene being enormously confusing? How about the fact that LothLorien seems like it should be in a Disney movie, and that the elves singing sounds like a bad children's chior? Or the fact that the characters are given hardly any development? Or that the movie ends at Helm's Deep and a sequel was never made? You don't even get to see the ending of the story! Enough said, just don't buy the movie, I beg you. "The Return of the King"-- This Rankin/Bass made-for-T.V sequel for the "Lord of the Rings" I haven't seen, but I've heard many things about it. While I'm sure I wouldn't hate it, I don't think it was a smart move for Rankin & Bass to turn the "The Return of the King" in into a children's movie, as they did "The Hobbit," because unlike "The Hobbit," "The Return of the King" isn't a children's story, and making it into one ruins the emotional impact of the book, espicially if there is 70s music in it! I'm not sure about this movie, I might rent it someday, but I very much doubt I'll buy it. Conclusion: This pack contains one good movie as far as I know, and one horrendous movie. I would just buy "The Hobbit" alone if you want to see it, but don't buy Ralph Bashki's "The Lord of the Rings" which (as a warning) isn't for children. Instead, read Tolkien's epic story, and buy the recent live-action "Lord of the Rings" movies directed by Peter Jackson, which also aren't for children, but are much more faithful to the book than Baski's version.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent! Much more faithful than Peter Jackson's movies.
Review: If what you want is Tolkien, the REAL tolkien, with the brilliance and nuance, then you want these movies. Peter Jackson has taken a brilliant work of fiction developed over decades of learning and hard work, and in a few years has turned it into a typical Hollywood screenplay, Love Story and all. The main characters are completely contrary to Tolkien in those movies, but not in this set. Yes, it is animated, but you will forget that it is after the first few minutes. The characters are extremely well animated, especially in the Bakshi films. Unfortunately, budgetary considerations did not let the films fully explore everything. But, unlike the live-action movies out now, these films do not significantly change anything about the plot, and what is kept is kept specifically to demonstrate Tolkien's intent. As a lover of Tolkien since I was 10, and a student who has studied literary form and critique, I can tell you that in no circumstance should you watch Peter Jackson's movies if what you want is something Tolkien created. Lord of the Rings is more than a plot timeline and action breakdown, it is character and dialogue. This set has that, just as Tolkien intended. My college friends and I love these much more than the live action, because we want Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, not Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings.
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