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Peter Jackson’sLord of the Ringstrilogy is not just a series of incredibly made films but also a cinematic achievement. An adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels, the film adapted Middle Earth as faithfully as possible and earned several millions of dollars and Academy Awards in the process. The trilogy is still considered to be some of the greatest films ever made.
Even before Jackson took a stab at Tolkien’s work and Prime Video’sRings of Powerbecame one of the most expensive shows to be made, animator Ralph Bakshi made the first-ever adaptation of the novels in 1978’s animated filmThe Lord of the Rings. But Bakshi never got to finish his adaptation due to numerous reasons, chiefly the fans at the time.
Fans praise Ralph Bakshi’sThe Lord of the Ringsdecades after release
J.R.R. Tolkien’sLord of the Ringsis a masterful work in fantasy and has influenced almost every subsequent work in the genre. The author first introduced Middle Earth in his novelThe Hobbitafter which he extensively worked on theLord of the Rings. The lore of Middle Earth was further expanded on in the trilogy of books.
Ralph Bakshi, a fan of the novels, reportedly approached United Artists, who bought the rights and were trying to adapt all three of the books into a single film. After having a conversation with the producer of the film, he reportedly convinced the studio to let him adapt the books into three films and animate them (viaThe AV Club).
“I was always a little frustrated by that”: Peter Jackson’s Biggest Unfulfilled Wish With His ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy Came True With ‘The Hobbit’ Films
Despite the promise of three films, Bakshi was later asked to reduce it to two, leading him to adapt only tillThe Two Towers’ Battle at Helm’s Deep. The incomplete film and the lack of a sequel angered a lot of fans and critics at the time who criticized that the promise of a complete adaptation was not fulfilled.
Fans, however, have been more appreciative of Bakshi’s vision now. Many elements have inspired Peter Jackson’s live-action trilogy too and despite the extensive use of rotoscope animation that has not aged well, fans have praised the overall film including a few battle scenes. AReddituser posted,
I’ve just watched Ralph Bakshi’s animated adaptation of Fellowship and the Two Towers, and I don’t know why it received such a negative reaction. Sure, the rotoscoping technology looks a little goofy at times, but the tech was brand new in 1978 and on the whole, I think it looks very impressive.
Critics and old-school fans were reportedly disappointed at the time due to the incomplete adaptation and hence, despite the film earning $32.6 million against a $4 million budget (viaBox Office Mojo), a sequel was never made.
Ralph Bakshi spoke about never getting to finish hisThe Lord of the Ringsfilm
Ralph Bakshi’sThe Lord of the Ringsis the first adaptation of the novels and had no prior reference point at the time like Peter Jackson orthe upcomingThe War of the Rohirrimhad. Initially planned to be two films, the studio reportedly dropped the suffix of ‘Part 1’ in the title as they felt no one would turn up if they promised only half a movie.
“A most heroic character”: We’ve Been Watching ‘Lord of the Rings’ Wrong When J.R.R. Tolkien Himself Revealed Who Was the Real Hero
Bakshi mentioned that he had a huge fight with the executives over this decision at the time as he felt that the message conveyed would be wrong. As he predicted, the lack of a complete adaptation angered a significant portion of fans and Bakshi ended up not making his sequel despite it being a box-office success. He said (via The AV Club),
We had a huge fight, and they released it as Lord Of The Rings. So when it came to the end, people were stunned in the theater, even worse than I ever realized they would be, because they were expecting to see the whole film. People keep telling me I never finished the film. And I keep saying, ‘That’s right!’ That’s what they cost me, United Artists, and probably the producer; I’m not sure who made the final decision.
Bakshi went on to say that production of the film was a nightmare and that it nearly killed him (viaTolkien’s Cell Shaft). He also mentioned that he thought he had failed at the time.
The Lord of the Ringsis streaming on Max.
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2417
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
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