[The Saucepan Man]

Well, I'm with Willie on this one. I'm glad to see someone sticking up for the Bakshi film - I was thinking when I read the thread that I might be alone in having fond memories of it.<P>I saw it when I was 10 or 11, having just read LotR for the first time. And I was terribly excited that a film was being made of a book that I had just enjoyed so much.<P>I must admit that it is probably about 25 years or so since I saw the film, so my memories of it are not exactly crystal clear. But I do recall enjoying it very much. I certainly was not disappointed with any of the cuts made. In fact, the beginning is very similar to the FotR film, with the four Hobbits setting out together and the Old Forest, Tom Bombadil and the Barrow Downs being cut. If I remember correctly, it was Legolas (rather than Arwen) who meets them on the road to Rivendell, so poor old Glorfindel didn't even get a look in there. Neither was I disappointed with any of the "characterisations". I do remember being terribly disappointed, however, that the film was cut short at Helm's Deep, and even more upset that there was never any sequel.<P>Ans while it may look rather dated now, its important to bear in mind that some of the techniques used in it were "state of the art" at the time. For example, the use of real footage overlaid with animation for the armies and horse riders. <P>Having said that, I do agree, looking back, that some of the characters look faintly ridiculous. Aragorn the Red Indian and Boromir the Viking, for example. And I'd forgotten about Legolas being cross-eyed . Also, Gimli had some strange felt hat with a pin in it or something and, with his red face and long grey beard, looked rather like some withered old yokel.<P>Overall, however, I have very fond memories of the film, although I'm sure that I would find it hilarious if I was to watch it again now (and so have refrained from doing so).