I first encountered Rankin and Bass’ The Return of the King while visiting a friends house back when I was ten years old. It was a particularly rainy day and it had been made worse by a headache that had settled in. In a last attempt to keep me from going home, my friend popped in a VHS tape. Before I knew it, I was wrapped up in Frodo and his quest to destroy The One Ring, and for years to follow, I would never forget that scene where Gollum bit off Frodo’s finger.
Twenty-three years later and with the release of the new remastered versions, I was able to sit down and watch both Rankin and Bass’ The Hobbit and The Return of the King alongside my two children.
You would think after all this time my impression of the films would have changed, but seeing them again only secured my fondness for them. Truthfully, I think I laughed more than my own kids, but they too chimed in, especially when they saw Gollum, whom they described as a hairy frog. And of course, I didn’t hold back when it came to singing the songs. Some of my best memories were marching and singing to, “Where there’s a whip, there’s a way!”
As delighted as I was to be introducing my kids to the films, I was also pleased with Warner Brother’s remastering. While there were still camera bumps and screen dust in bits, it was nicely cleaned up and looked great on my TV screen. I have to admit, I was a little worried at first after seeing the film covers, where the characters in the film have been illustrated in a more modern computer-graphics look. But rest assured, the films inside the boxes are the same we all fell in love with as kids.
If you’ve been a long time fan of the Rankin and Bass films, I would highly recommend purchasing these newly remastered editions as they are a great addition to any collection. For those of you who have not been introduced to them before, I believe they are a part of the history that helped bring the Tolkien fandom to where it is today and definitely worth obtaining. So many artists have been influenced by these films and I think it is fantastic they can now inspire a new generation.
Both The Hobbit and The Return of the King Deluxe Editions sell for $14.99 USD on Amazon.
The Hobbit Deluxe Edition Synopsis:
The place is Middle Earth. The time is long ago, when humans shared their days with elves, wizards, goblins, dragons, heroes…and hobbits. Bilbo Baggins is a hero and a hobbit, a roundish, peaceable homebody going on a dangerous quest – even though adventures make hobbits late for dinner!
In this enchanting adaptation of the first installment of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Bilbo the hobbit is asked to recover a fabulous treasure stolen from friendly dwarfs. All he must do is brave dark forests, towering mountains, hobbit-eating trolls, huge spiders, a fiery dragon and more. Fun and amazement await – so join the quest!
The Return of the King Deluxe Edition Synopsis:
Frodo the Hobbit, the remarkable hero of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, battles more evil forces plaguing Middle Earth in The Return of the King.
The Magic Ring of The Hobbit has now become the Ring of Doom – and to restore peace it must be destroyed in the raging fires in which it was made. Chosen for the task, Frodo and faithful servant Samwise face grave perils – the worst of which is the ring’s terrible power to possess its wearer. Will Frodo give in to the madness of the ring….or will he fulfill his quest?
One Comment