The Lord of the Rings Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		2.5

The Lord of the Rings Blu-ray Movie Review

Be careful not to spoil the ending...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown April 12, 2010

Brash pioneer, outspoken artist, award-winning innovator, controversial filmmaker. Director Ralph Bakshi has been all of these things and more, converting almost everyone who has crossed his path into a disciple or an enemy. Those who've worked with him have either adored his tenacity or despised his audacity; those who've sampled his films either come to appreciate his methods and techniques or shrug their shoulders; those who've heard him speak have either warmed to his gruff candor or walked away accusing him of delusions of grandeur. Perhaps if his animated passion projects -- his watery 1978 adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" chief among them -- were more inspiring films, it wouldn't matter. But while Fritz the Cat and Coonskin continue to skate by on bad-boy charm, Fire and Ice has earned a respectable following, and Hey Good Lookin offers some worthwhile social commentary, Bakshi's Lord of the Rings hasn't aged well at all, fails on a number of fronts (as an adaptation and as a film), and continues to be defined by its studio-mangled production rather than its own merits.

Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin begin their long journey...

Anyone who isn't familiar with "The Lord of the Rings" should crack open Tolkien's finest work and devote nine hours to director Peter Jackson's wondrous adaptation (hopefully in that order) long before considering Bakshi's animated debacle. At times, Bakshi is more faithful to Tolkien's original text than Jackson; at others, he drifts as far off course as our favorite Kiwi filmmaker. The tale itself, however, largely remains the same. When a young Hobbit named Frodo Baggins (voiced by Christopher Guard) learns that a magic ring in his possession is actually the One Ring of the Dark Lord, Sauron, he sets off for the city of Rivendell to seek the counsel of the Elf Lord, Elrond (Andre Morell). There, he joins a fellowship of friends and warriors -- heir to the human throne Aragorn (John Hurt), Elven bowman Legolas (Anthony Daniels), noble Gondorian Boromir (Michael Graham Cox), kindly wizard Gandalf (William Squire), Dwarven axeman Gimli (David Buck), and his halfing comrades Sam (Michael Scholes), Merry (Simon Chandler), and Pippin (Dominic Guard) -- who are tasked with casting the ring into the fires of Mordor where it was first forged. Their subsequent journey is naturally fraught with peril (Nazgul and orcs and goblins, oh my!), and the forces of evil seem to converge on their every position. Even when Frodo and Sam depart from the fellowship, they have to contend with the wiles of a strange creature named Gollum (Peter Woodthorpe) who definitely doesn't have their best interests at heart. But as the ring bearers near Mount Doom and their former companions join forces with the King of Rohan (Philip Stone) for a climactic battle at Helm's Deep... the credits roll. The End.

Bakshi's adaptation was originally conceived as three films, and eventually whittled down to two. But when his distributors suddenly withdrew their support (after The Lord of the Rings received a chilly critical reception), all hope of a sequel was lost. Would a proper conclusion have redeemed the first film? Sadly, no. While an ending would have been appreciated, I can only assume it would have suffered from the same problems as its maligned predecessor. Bakshi's stately vision of Tolkien's sweeping epic is dry to say the least, and foregos the cinematic flourishes that would later make Jackson's trilogy such an intense and emotional experience. As brilliant as the original book may be, its pacing simply isn't primed for the silver screen. (Imagine Jackson dropping a "Seventeen Years Later" title card between Frodo's acquisition of the ring and Gandalf's fireside explanation of its origin.) As a result, Bakshi tends to tiptoe when he should charge, dance when he should dig in, and skip when he should run. It doesn't help that the vast majority of the voice actors fail to convey much urgency or anxiety in their deliveries, exhaling their lines as if the fate of the fellowship is of little concern to its members. Guard and Squire surpass their castmates, but even their best efforts pale in comparison to their New Line brethren. Is comparing Bakshi's Rings to Jackson's a bit unfair? Perhaps, but it's also inevitable. Both directors made arguably significant alterations to Tolkien's text; Jackson simply made wiser choices when doing so.

And then of course there's Bakshi's animation. Fluid and convincing one moment, stocky and crippled the next, The Lord of the Rings isn't exactly the breathtaking beauty nostalgic cinephiles may remember it to be. Comprised of rotoscoped animation (a process in which individual frames of a live-action source are traced by hand) and solarized film footage, the end result is a mixed bag of stylistic misfires. Bakshi's animators often capture the nuances of their performers' movements, but rarely capture the souls in their bellies or the fire in their faces. Aragorn and his companions seem listless, their eyes flat and wayward. Subtle expressions are lost, quick glances are reduced to turns of the head, and the director's rotoscoping is too simplistic to convey a sense of texture or realism. Seeing the full twist of a twirling sword is impressive, but Disney has imbued their characters with far more spirit, even by relying on the raw talent of their animators. None of it prevents the story from taking hold -- Tolkien's words retain their potency even when Bakshi and his cast come up short -- and the battles that erupt around the ring still pulse with some of the same fervor that drives Jackson's trilogy along. And yet it all feels like a sing-songy relic; a dulled adaptation that could have been a sharp, piercing revelation. I'm sure there are those who still have great affection for Bakshi's Lord of the Rings. Me? Jackson built such a lasting Tolkien monument in my mind that I frankly don't have the stomach for anything less.

The Lord of the Rings Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Ralph Bakshi's animated adaptation of The Lord of the Rings features a problematic 1080p/VC-1 transfer; one that unfortunately reveals how desperately the film could use the sort of complete restoration studios like Disney have granted their catalog classics over the years. But let's start with what the presentation gets right. Bakshi's color palette has been accurately preserved, bolstered and emboldened even, and looks better than it has in a long time. That's not to say its colors are vibrant or particularly punchy -- quite the contrary -- but its earthy hues, gloomy skies, and muddy reds effectively evoke the filmmaker's intended tone. And while primaries randomly shudder, bright whites often dip and dive, and black levels aren't always as deep or inky as modern animation fans are accustomed to, I strongly suspect each issue traces back to the original print rather than some nefarious technical oversight. Detail has been reasonably improved as well, even if the image occasionally fails to drastically distinguish itself from its DVD counterpart. Filmic softness surges and relents throughout, but every errant stroke of the animators' pens, every mistake, and every shortcut is clearer than it's ever been (even if only by a moderate margin).

Still, the whole of the presentation is murky and bruised, even when compared to the Blu-ray edition of Bakshi's Fire and Ice. Though age is certainly a factor, little has been done to address the condition of the print. Scratches, nicks, and specks are both common and distracting, the film's solarized live-action footage is beset by a number of eyesores, entire sequences and battle scenes are drab and dingy, and contrast is terribly underwhelming. It doesn't help that wobbling and wavering, not to mention some slight banding and faint artifacting, also pop up to hinder the proceedings. That being said, I'm not sure how much the studio could have done without committing serious funds to a frame-by-frame restoration; an extremely costly process even the film's most ardent fans will admit isn't going to happen anytime in the near future, if ever. At least when Disney invests millions to restore films like Snow White and Pinocchio, they know they'll see a return on their investment. I doubt anyone working for the studio believes Bakshi's Lord of the Rings could do any such thing, even when being released alongside Peter Jackson's famed adaptation of Tolkien's tale. Dreary and disappointing as it can be at times, this is -- and will probably continue to be -- the best version of the film available on the market.

The Lord of the Rings Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Though it arrives with a similarly adequate thud, Warner's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track is the highlight of the release, if for no other reason than it offers diehards a worthwhile reason to toss aside their old DVDs. It isn't a remarkable remix by any means -- several lines of dialogue are inconsistent and poorly prioritized, LFE output leaves a lot to be desired, sound effects are sometimes spongy or tinny, and the rear speakers tend to be timid and restrained -- but I would much rather listen to a humble lossless homage than an overzealous reworking of a meager source. More often than not, the cast's voices are clean and clear, Leonard Rosenman's score leaves a fitting mark, sword clashes and hoof-falls are blessed with welcome (if not average) weight and stability, and pans are fairly smooth. Overall, the lossless mix may retain the front-heavy disposition of the film's original presentation (even when armies collide and Ringwraiths attack), but it handily bests its lossy Dolby Digital cousin. In the end, reaction to Warner's TrueHD track will hinge on expectation. It isn't going to wake the neighbors or stir sleeping children from their slumber, and it isn't going to win many accolades from those sliding in Bakshi's animated adaptation after finishing the sonic powerhouse that is the Blu-ray edition of Peter Jackson's Return of the King. What it will do though is please its fanbase.

The Lord of the Rings Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Blu-ray edition of The Lord of the Rings includes a single documentary: "Forging Through The Darkness" (SD, 30 minutes), a decent overview of Ralph Bakshi's career, his emergence as a Hollywood revolutionary, and his creation of the film in question. Sadly though, the doc is so desperate to sell Bakshi as animation's savior that it fails to effectively examine his work and influence. Colleagues and family members turn up to wax poetic about his style and upstart attitude, but notable figures like Peter Jackson (who harbors some affection for Bakshi and his various films) and other insiders of import are nowhere to be found. It doesn't help that the famously outspoken filmmaker seems hellbent on insulting Disney, modern animated films, and really any animator who doesn't draw their films by hand (which struck me as terribly hypocritical since the vast majority of The Lord of the Rings was rotoscoped). Still, watching anyone rant, rave, and dish Hollywood dirt -- especially someone who genuinely made an impact in their field -- is admittedly entertaining.

The Lord of the Rings Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings is a flawed film, and hardly the "animated classic" its coverart suggests. Bland voice acting, rotoscoping mishaps, and scattershot pacing all take their toll, rendering Tolkien's lyrical masterpiece a stuffy, plodding bore. The Blu-ray edition is a bit better, even though its source needs a complete restoration rather than the passable remastering it's received. Its problematic video transfer bests its standard DVD counterpart, but reveals how weathered the film has become; its lossless TrueHD 5.1 remix is decent, but somewhat underwhelming; and its supplemental package offers just one documentary. Still, despite its shortcomings, I doubt we'll see another release of Bakshi's Rings for quite some time.