A Critique of Ralph Bakshi's Lord of the Rings

[Set Harth]

Did Jackson intentionally copy it?

Yes.

And this has no bearing on the plot, but Aragorn's description of Beren/Luthien is about the clumsiest I've ever heard.

To each their own, I suppose. I think the scene works quite well. What I don't get about it is the structure visible in the background that looks like a giant microscope.

All true, but it also leaves out enough detail that the story gets pretty choppy in places. The aforementioned business with Sam in the middle of the night, for example.

Well, in that case it's made clear that Sam was eavesdropping, it's just a "plot hole" that he conveniently happened to be doing so at night at that point along their walk. Unless he was following them or something.

Ditto the lack of explanation about Aragorn carrying around a broken sword (which is suddenly whole again).

Granted that they don't talk about its reforging, but the broken sword is explained during the Council of Elrond scene.

 

[Silvercrest]

Did Jackson intentionally copy it?

Yes.

And this has no bearing on the plot, but Aragorn's description of Beren/Luthien is about the clumsiest I've ever heard.

To each their own, I suppose. I think the scene works quite well. What I don't get about it is the structure visible in the background that looks like a giant microscope.

Ooo! Must go look now.

All true, but it also leaves out enough detail that the story gets pretty choppy in places. The aforementioned business with Sam in the middle of the night, for example.

Well, in that case it's made clear that Sam was eavesdropping, it's just a "plot hole" that he conveniently happened to be doing so at night at that point along their walk. Unless he was following them or something.

Sorry, I failed to state that clearly. Yes, it's obvious that he's eavesdropping. I guess we could infer that he was following them the entire time. (I still prefer to think that he was waiting for a tryst with Rosie when they happened by.)

What's not obvious is who he is in the first place. Frodo and Gandalf know him, but nothing is explained to the viewer; i.e. "Oh, he's just my gardener. He's harmless", or "Oh, they're my juvenile delinquent cousins." He's just some hobbit who drops into the story.

Now I'm second-guessing as to whether Frodo's onscreen familiarity with him is sufficient introduction for an uninformed viewer. I've got to go back and watch that scene again too.

I'm still stuck with the VHS of this movie, so it's harder to spot things. One of these days I'll spring for a disc.

 

[InklingStar]

My favorite scene is when Gandalf finishes talking to Sam, he pokes at him suddenly, causing Sam to jump back. It looks absolutely ridiculous and hilarious.

I figure that is what happens when you rotoscope.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

My main problem with Bakshi's LOTR was turning Sam into a retarded, special-needs hobbit.