Rating: 
Summary: Bakshi is a loon
Review: This is a complete, utter, total piece of garbage. For one thing, Tolkien's storyline was brutally shredded, but even viewed all by itself and not as an adaption of the book this movie is terrible. Plot holes and inconsistencies abound, and the characters can't even remember each others' names (Saruman/Aruman). I'm exasperated! I cannot find the means to convey the incredible failure that is Bakshi's "adaption" of The Lord of the Rings. I pray to the Hollywood powers-that-be that the upcoming trilogy will be far, far, FAR superior to this one (Not hard, mind you. Battlefield Earth was far superior). Unless you're looking for an awful film to watch with a bunch of friends and ridicule a la Mystery Science Theatre 3000, don't buy this.And please, if you're a Tolkien fan, do not watch this. You might get an uncontrollable urge to throw either yourself or Mr. Bakshi into traffic.
Rating: 
Summary: Great for it's time, and the studio ripped Bakshi off.
Review: This movie was my first introduction to the Lord of the Rings. How about that? Even before I had read the book, when I was just a young lad, I watched this movie on video with my uncle some time in the early 80's. I was enthralled (wizards, magic and such) and loved every minute of it. Even as a child, I thought it ended rather ubruptly and with no discernable reason. I forgot about the Lord of the Rings for a while as baseball and skateboarding took over my life, but ran across the Hobbit in middle school and the rest is history. Now, as an avid Tolkien-junkie, I can still look back on this movie and cherish it. The DARK DARK tone is what does it for me. It captures the mood of the book so well. Arguments about animation techniques aside, Ralph did quite well with what he had to work with. I'm just sad the studio wouldn't let him put it out as 'part one' of a three-part series, which is what should have happened. The film even made $70? million past it's budget yet everybody still calls it a failure, why is that? Who dropped the ball here? He should have been given the go-ahead to make two more films. But even for a rushed job, it still plays off well. I look forward to picking up this DVD. But ONE QUESTION is burning my brain.
Rating: 
Summary: Bakshi's Best Work
Review: Given the other animated works of Ralph Bakshi, he seems a fairly unlikely candidate as director of the first film version of "The Lord of the Rings." "Fire and Ice" and "Wizards," for example, are heavy-handed, crude, and sexually frustrated - and that's not even touching down on some of his OTHER work. And yet, almost surprisingly, his vision of Tolkien's epic is possessed of the spirit of the books around which it is based. The voice-overs are all spectacular, and the rotoscoped animation gives the characters a life that animation seldom possesses - though there are those who would argue that point, most assuredly. The animation is also suitably dark and grim, though this also translates into a visual problem, for even places that SHOULD look fair and beautiful - such as Rivendell or Lothlorien - tend to be almost gloomy and ominous. When the Fellowship enters the dark halls of Moria, however, Bakshi is in top form. This adaptation attempts to make a single film out of "The Fellowship of the Ring" and over half of "The Two Towers," which is obviously a mistake. Because of this, there are several changes to the story that we Tolkien zealots so adore, and sometimes beloved moments are lopped out entirely. This happens most in the beginning of the film when the hobbits are on the road and making toward Bree. There is no Tom Bombadil and no fog on the Barrow Downs here (nor will there be in the upcoming Peter Jackson film, alas!). And just when you expect to see the battle with Shelob, the movie ends most abruptly without completing the narrative. A pity. Still, Bakshi does manage to deliver a good (if not excellent), well-animated, well-acted film version of fantasy's most beloved classic. It is far superior to the Rankin-Bass productions of "The Hobbit" and "The Return of the King," even at its worst. Fans of the series will probably either love it or hate it. I myself cannot wait for the DVD...
Rating:
Summary: Good and evil Clash for Domination!
Review: When I watched Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" come to life in Guard's version, it was not because I was not into D & D or Magic the Gathering. I only enjoyed watching the delicate balance of good and evil swaying back and forth between all the wonderfully animated characters, half-cartoon, half real life silhouettes that has yet to be imitated. It starts right at the beginning, telling the tales of how the one master ring was lost after the dark lord learned the craft of ring making. It passed from hand to hand over a thousand years, each new owner realizing that its powers could not be made to do anything good, but turned to evil. The dilemma of "Lord of the Rings," of which came the dark lord's ring raids, is just that. The master ring, the actual protagonist--not Bilbo or Gandolf, or even "Mr. Underhill"--cannot be turned to good, nor can it be destroyed. From this maddening, perplexing series of events, the tale really begins in the Shire. Frodo, after receiving the ring from his uncle, and his companions set out on their journey through middle earth, and it becomes apparent that every adventure video game since 1980 was touched by this film: old Atari adventure videos, Zelda, Castlevania, Zork, and so on--you'll see the classic village setting in the fall, complete with a gentle fog, fat innkeepers, drinking at the pubs, cozy little cottages and gingerbread themes. A full line of characters and place settings are the icing on the cake, with one of the best--if not the best--original storylines ever dreamt. The animation settings are nothing short of captivating and charming. The magic of the Ring is aptly displayed. When Frodo rests after the first part of his journey after hearing a nearby disturbance, you will hear the creepiest, most authentically evil sound in the background that pales event "The Exorcist" or "The Haunting," sending a deep chill throughout your bones. Really, there is no substitute for this movie. "Lord of the Rings" is a perfect tale to watch during Halloween, or at night for the full effect of its "reality." Close attention must be paid to keep the twisting storyline from getting away from you, as clearly at the end there must be more to come. I wouldn't recommend "Lord of the Rings..." for children under 10, just because of the occasional bloody scenes and the dark, evil ring raiders. Overall, this movie is unparalleled for its description of the nature of good and evil itself, thoroughly engrossing and entertaining. One viewing is certainly not enough. Every time you watch it, you will appreciate all the more the work and thought that went into this brilliant masterpiece of film animation, and I dare not spoil it by telling the rest of the journey. The VHS version I have played flawlessly, without any noticeable imperfections at all. Highly recommended, indispensable for your collection!
Rating:
Summary: Great version, but wheres the second half
Review: Being a Tolkien fan for several years, and having seen the other versions many times, this is by far the best of the bunch. With the possible exception of the impending Lord of the Rings coming out in december, this is the best possible adaptation of Tolkien's works. The only problem with this version (like all its competitors) is the lack of completion, that is this movie was slated the first of two but the producers did not fund the second half, and so this movie only tells the story up until the Two Towers, leaving the Rankin-Bass videos (a much more "kid-friendly", happy version) as the only copy of Return of the King available to viewers. Buy this video if you love Tolkien.
Rating:
Summary: The best Animation yet and its over 20 years old!
Review: I have a copy of the original and I still watch it to date. Even with the lines and static, I enjoy the story and the animation. This movie has the most realistic animation than anything ever produced. It buries the new computer generated animation as well as the Japanese stuff that gets all the hype today. I have read the books three times and even thought the story was changed a bit, it doesn't leave out the important stuff. Not bad taking two 500+ page books and makeing a 2 1/2 hour movie. Definately buy this and at [price] you can't beat it.
Rating:
Summary: this movie dose not deserve 1 star
Review: if we could divide this movie into 3 parts they would be: the ... atempt of a plot, tolkiens' greatest hits, and lets all fight a lot. what do I mean you ask? well here's a few examples a:Gandalf and Frodo start to have a conversation so they start to walk outside why you ask? well because its easier to draw gandalf making huge motions with his arms wich he coud not do inside where they had the conversation in the book! B: in this ... atempt of a movie Boromir is some sort of furry viking, not to mention Grima Woumtounge looks like the love child of a human and a jawa from star wars. C: not to mention they start to highlight the best part of tolkiens work without the "boring things" wich hold the story together. D: finaly during the last part the movie all they show are gory fights. On one last note my personal thoery is that when this movie was released tolkien didn't turn but started to spin around in his grave
Rating:
Summary: Some of my best reminiscenses
Review: I have some weird relation to this film. When I was a kid, around the time it was on the movie theaters, I was taken to the cinema to see it a couple of times, and to this day I recall enjoying it very much. However, it doesn't seem to have become such an epic, for since that very year, nobody I knew ever made any comments about its existence until very recently, because of the motion picture based on the same books. The animations are great, and quite referential for me, once it's one of the first animated cartoons I ever saw. And it's great for both Tolkien's fans and people who are kinda unaware about what the LOTR Trilogy is. I personally stand in the middle of the road between the extremes, and am more related to this cartoon than to the books themselves (once I never got to read the whole work). But it's all great fun, anyway.
Rating: 
Summary: Just maybe....
Review: Maybe if the story made sense. Maybe if the soundtrack wasn't some overblown saturday morning cartoon music. Maybe if Gandalf wasn't unlikeable and utterly devoid of personality. Maybe if they were consistent with either Aruman or Saruman. Maybe if the characters were more than colored overlays of high-contrast, live-action footage. Maybe if Aragorn wasn't so creepy. Maybe if the elves did not look like Bambi. Maybe if they explained how Aragorns sword was broken. Maybe if the dialogue did not assume you already knew the story. Maybe if they researched the proper pronunciation of names. Maybe if the Lothlorien lament to Gandalf didn't sound like a 2nd rate children's choir. Maybe if the Orcs and Rohirrim actually fought instead of standing around. Maybe if Helms Deep wasn't so confusing and sloppy. And maybe if they decided to finish what they started. Maybe...just maybe Ralph Bakshi's adaptation of Lord of the Rings would not have been so utterly pathetic. I'm done.
Rating:
Summary: A good cartoon movie of the book!!!
Review: This movie tells the story of The Fellowship of the Ring. This is a great movie for Tolkien fans. All the hobbits, elves, dwarves, orcs and many other people and things make this movie explosive!! Over all a great animated film!
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