Bakshi v PJ A Contest of Scripts

I just noticed something that now really annoys me. When Gandalf appears on the ridge, Aragorn looks up and goes "Gandalf!", even though the audience sees him clearly. And when Eomer rides up Theoden looks and says "Eomer!" It would have been much more effective if we just saw their wordless reactions.

But I do like Gandalf's light blinding the orcs during the charge - it helps explain why the horses don't get skewered.

azriel wrote:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/THE-LORD-OF-THE-RINGS-ART-ORIGINAL-RALPH-BAKSHI-ANIMATION-CELS-Free-Autograph-/122439855860?ssPageName=STRK:MESCX:IT

Which brings up the question I had never thought of before, how the hell did Ralph Bakshi get the rights to Lord of the Rings?

I love his voice patterns. Sort of makes up for a lot of the crappiness in the film itself.

Good point.

halfwise wrote:Which brings up the question I had never thought of before, how the hell did Ralph Bakshi get the rights to Lord of the Rings?

IIRC he made his own pitch to United Artists after John Boorman's attempt at making LOTR fell through. They didn't really know what the fuck to do with the rights, whereas Bakshi was familiar with the book and had a plan,* so they let him take a shot. He also convinced Saul Zaentz to provide outside funding, having previously worked with him on Fritz the Cat, and Zaentz ended up purchasing most of the rights from UA before the film was released.

*Albeit not one that he was ultimately able to follow to completion.

When it came out i thought it was great. I tried to watch it a couple of years ago an lasted about 20mins. (if that)
I do like the bit when the Orc spears Frodo in the mines of Moria.

I can't stand all the "oo ah uh oue ah eu" in everything they say. And what's up with the comic music as the orcs attack? It's all just so unbearable.

{{Um you do know thats been dubbed over!
And PJ owes quite lot to Bakshi given how much of his stuff PJ nicked for his films- camera shots, set designs, even overall plot structure for most of it. In fact I'd go as far as to say that Bakshi's film was a bigger influence on PJ than the books ever were.

Personally I think some of the voice casting is excellent in Bakshi's version- no issues with Gandalf, like Smeagol and Bormoir- both of whom had already played the same parts in the BBC radio 4 version to great effect and bring all that to their performances and John Hurt is my perfect Aragorn voice- also contains a couple of great little scenes Pj left out despite all the extra time he had- such as the argument over the route to take after failing to get over the mountains which is great little character scene and I love how Hurt injects humanity into Aragorn by having him lose his temper and snap a couple times- happens in that scene and again when Boromir talks crap about Lothlorien- its more or less Tolkiens original dialogue but he invests great personality into it }}}

were the voices dubbed over?

{{Heres some real clips! }}







{{If only we had got Chris Lee saying these lines instead of an old man fight! }}

Well that's better, though I don't like the way Aragorn keeps baring his teeth like a dog.

Christopher Lee is a much better Saruman, though he had some goofiness to deal with.

This version is too nonchalant with the "..and in his place you would set up a Queen.." speech. PJ's version is too over the top. If they averaged the Galadrials from the two versions they'd finally have it right.

{{{ One of the problems with the rotoscoping used was that they didnt get the actors who were playing the parts to do the actions being rotoscoped- much of the gestures and movements therefore are overblown, exaggerated ect because its amateurs or whoever was knocking around that day being filmed for the animation.

'Christopher Lee is a much better Saruman'

Yes but but with much poorer dialogue. }}}

{{Nice vid this- a side by side comparison of Bakshi and PJ's films- clear how much 'inspiration' Pj got in visuals and structuring from the Bakshi version, particularly in FotR }}

Even Petty has to admit PJ's script was better here. Bakshi's version uses less of Tolkien's style of writing.

chris63 wrote:

{{{ Its more it doesnt make sense in the Bakshi version of that scene- there is no ultimate purpose to throwing it in the fire. And probably the most overacting animation ever.
On the other-hand the Bree scene is better in Bakshi as the PJ version doesn't make any sense- the hobbits just decide to trust Strider with no reasons- PJ just cut to them all happily sleeping while he watches over them giving him their total trust, for no reason whatsoever. }}

Interesting video. Starts talking about Lord of The Rings at 20.30 min.

What do you all think of this? Not much chance but it would sure be interesting!
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lord-rings-almost-starred-mick-jagger-1160023

As for the unfinished business of his stunted Tolkien trilogy, Bakshi offers, “Now that Saul Zaentz is gone, I wouldn’t mind being involved. If Warner Bros. wanted to make part two and three in animation, I would consult. I’d be very happy doing that.”

Old news but new to me.

Ralph Bakshi's son discovers lost footage from 'Lord of the Rings' animated film.

https://www.theverge.com/2014/3/22/5536430/ralph-bakshi-son-discovers-lost-footage-1978-lord-of-the-rings

https://www.facebook.com/WhoRemembers/videos/739309263071103/UzpfSTE2NDc4MjU3MzY6MTAyMTI0MzA0NDc3MTAwNzc/

I really wish I could be excited, but Bakshi lost all credibility for me when THIS made an appearance.




Reminder: that's um...Boromir.

Beware his Norse LOINS! And the thongs that give them sweet, furry comfort...