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From: dp@astrovax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.movies
Subject: Re: Bakshe? Good, but not great... - (nf)
Message-ID: <88@astrovax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 26-Oct-83 13:40:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: astrovax.88
Posted: Wed Oct 26 13:40:25 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 27-Oct-83 06:19:26 EDT
References: <3345@uiucdcs.UUCP> <3272@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Organization: Princeton Univ. Astrophysics
Lines: 26

Although I agree with the opinion that "...the bearer of the
ring..." lyrics drag on "ad infinitum" in the Rankin-Bass
"Return of the King", the assertion that its animation (and
presumably the animation of their previous effort, "The
Hobbit") is Saturday morning quality is ludicrous. The characters
and backgrounds in these films were done in a graphic style
reminescent of Disney's "101 Dalmations", which is superior
in animation to any episode of "Scooby-Doo" you care to name.
On the other hand, Bakshi's so-called animation,
is beneath consideration for honors on my list. The lack of interaction
between the animated (and rotoscoped) characters  and the sometimes
decent backgrounds leads to some pretty hilarious results, as when
Aragorn runs across (rather than over) an obvious pile of skulls.
Bakshi also seems to subscribe to the Fred Flintstone school of
lighting; there is only one (non-background) shadow in the entire
movie. In addition, I always laugh near the end of "LotR" when the
rotoscoped eyes of the orcs seem unable to remain fixed to one
location on their faces, etc. I am also partial to the voices used
in the Rankin-Bass production (although Anthony Daniels makes an o.k.
elf in Bakshi's film). Thus, on these grounds and others which I
don't have time to enumerate, the Rankin-Bass Tolkien adaptations
rate far higher in my estimation than does Bakshi's effort.
				    
				    Deborah Padgett