This movie is great because it perfectly captures the feelings of adventure which the protagonist, Bilbo, encounters throughout the story given the various mystifying occurrences and dangers he faces. The whole point of a movie is to make you feel like you are in the situation the characters are in, that is to say, to make you emulate their emotion. It makes the story seem more real as well as personal, this emulation allows you to connect with the characters and understand the themes of each scene. Although this movie isn't a masterpiece by any means, it perfectly accomplishes what it sets out to do. It shows everything as Bilbo knows it.For instance, when Gandalf is introduced to the story, he is portrayed as a wise, mysterious being of mystical powers. We get the sense throughout the story of Gandalf watching over and protecting them, in spite of having his own agenda. When he appears in the story, we know that he is either guiding the main characters through their quest. Additionally, when Gandalf appears to help the main characters in what could be critiqued as a deus ex machina, his help feels natural and set up by his established mysterious nature. If Gandalf's appearances in this were to exist in Peter Jackson's adaptation in the same nature, the audience would assume that the writers lazily wrote Bilbo and the Dwarfs out of the scene. This critique is justified, however, in this adaptation it feels very natural as Gandalf doesn't seem to be a nice old man (not trying to denounce Jackson's interpretation of his character) rather, that he is a mystical force, which makes more sense in terms of how Bilbo, during the story, would see him.Another example of this is when Bilbo is captured in Gollum's cave. The cave looks very dark and mysterious. Bilbo has fallen into a chasm hopeless of a way back, and the film illustrates how lost Bilbo is by showing wide shots moving around the cave when Gollum is thinking of a riddle, giving the sense that Bilbo is stuck in this vast network and that Gollum's life-threatening game is Bilbo's last hope of escape. Gollum is also shown as a disgusting, obsessed creature, which will strike an unfamiliar viewer as being as odd as it seems to Bilbo. The lighting of the scene and the various sound effects (water slowly dripping, bits of instrumental and musical sounds) also make the scene feel very eerie as it would be to be caught in that situation. The obsession Gollum has with eating Bilbo makes him seem very intimidating, especially giving his size and deformed figure. While the Jackson version serves well in creating a humanoid Gollum to set up a personal battle Gollum has (this being of his human and monstrous appearance to match his human and monstrous characteristics, particularly his fluctuation between them), this version serves well in showing the audience Gollum as Bilbo sees him: a disgusting, frightening monster.The weapons they use are also shown to be very mystical. Whenever one of the elvish weapons is taken out of its sheath, it emanates light and causes the potential assailant to cower in fear. For instance, when Gandalf prepares to kill the goblin king, the goblin king cries out "Glamdring! The Foe Hammer!" before he dies. When Bilbo takes out Sting when he is ready to fight Gollum, Gollum cowers at the mention of Sting being an Elvish blade. This mystical quality is intriguing and fascinating, which it should be, given Bilbo's background.However, as you can tell by watching the movie, it is not perfect. While it captures Bilbo's feelings in a very mesmerizing way, the characters are, for the most part, not very well set up and sometimes unrealistic. For instance, when Bilbo is in Gollum's cave, Bilbo doesn't seem to be fearful of Gollum at all while they discuss riddles, creating a life-threatening game. While Bilbo, given his background, should be scared of this, he shows very little fear in this scene. This is especially odd as, in the previous scene where Bilbo and the Dwarfs are captured by goblins, Bilbo is shown as being very afraid. Many of the characters are also not particularly developed. Thorin, for example, is shown only as being their leader, whereas in the Jackson version, an effort has clearly been made to give many of the Dwarfs their own respective identities (though this, in some cases, becomes cliché). This movie, given its audience, is also childish and simplistic at times. The songs, while giving the movie an identity, wouldn't exist if the film were intended for an older audience. This doesn't work to the detriment of the film in the realm of the songs as it does when death is brought into play. For instance, when the goblin king is being slain, there is a light brought over him as he spirals off into oblivion. This is simply not how killing someone with a sword works, in spite of its magical qualities, it seems to be an obviously child-friendly way to have a monster be killed. This strikes the viewer as awkward, although necessary to protect the audience from seeing a violent death. There are obvious technical setbacks which can most likely be attributed to the film having a lower budget, for instance, at times the characters' faces are cut off which I assume is to save money on lip syncing, which can be seen in Gollum's cave. In spite of these drawbacks, the movie is really enjoyable and atmospheric. Flaws are pretty plainly exposed and visible in the film, however, the film has a unique style that gives it its charm. I'd say that everyone who is willing to put aside pre-established ideas from Jackson's movies or has not seen those movies should enjoy the film. If you don't enjoy the film you need to stop reading Mein Kampf and get a life.

Being weaned on Peter Jackson's Middle Earth makes this little TV movie seem to pale in comparison, especially when comparing the budgets. After the initial trilogy Jackson went for another by spacing out the children's novel into 3 feature length stories and therefore suffered for it. But of course you cannot back away after making the excellent LOTR and do a condensed version like this. This takes the whimsical and childlike wonder in the original novel and creates a charming Hobbit, perhaps a little lean in some parts. Still, the Hobbit trilogy had Howard Shore, and the biggest misstep seems to be the soundtrack which jumps genres and never really establishes itself. Glenn Yarbrough's songs are pleasant enough but you want mystical and ethereal cues for elves, not something that is reminiscent of a country road song, or a folk ballad. At times the orchestration is rather thin, overusing fanfares and percussion for little substance. And the Misty Mountains song cannot compare to the 2012 rendition, turning it into a short and lacklustre chant with no real melody.The animation is nice for its time. This was animated by Topcraft, which later became the bare bones of Studio Ghibli, just right before producing Nausicaa. The watercolour backgrounds are impressive and immersive, never clashing with the figures. The character designs cannot reach the details of a live action big budget attempt, but they are unique in their own cartoonish ways. Smaug is especially menacing with the floodlight beams that emit from his eyes and the hurricanes that his wings conjure. The wide eyed Bilbo Baggins with his overly large pupils seem to say with every look: "Oh how I wish I was at home in my nice hole by the fire, with the kettle just beginning to sing!" But he is brave when he needs to sneak into a treasure trove, witty when confronting Gollum in a battle of riddles, and reasonable when talking of war. Speaking of Gollum, he is slimy as he can be; it is not quite Andy Serkis, but he makes you shiver in disgust the same way. This version is perhaps a little short at 77 minutes, and the Hobbit trilogy at a combined 474 minutes, much too long. Here some details are cut; Beorn and his nightime stroll is missing, which is disappointing. Climatic battles are also barely featured: the escape from the giant spiders is over with a dizzying spin, and Bilbo is knocked out just before the Battle of the Five Armies. It all ends a little suddenly, but it does set up the Lord of the Rings and that 1978 animation which is a little more mature and in- depth. But for an accompaniment to a fantasy novel that should be one every child's reading list, this is quite good.

I was 5 years old in 1977 - so I had the pleasure of watching it when it first aired. I fell in-love with this movie so much that my parents bought me both of the read along record albums to this film (I still wish I had them today but lost them many years ago).This is an outstanding classic TV Movie. If you loved Peter Jackson's films (Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit series) plus animations then I'm sure you would love this old 1977 made-for-TV movie. It's well worth finding a copy of the film to watch. I would love a copy of this movie to add to my collection.Other great animated classic films that are similar: "The Black Cauldron", "The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe", "The Last Unicorn" and "The Secret of NIMH".9.5/10

I am rating below average because it is really quaint, with choir songs that tell the story and all characters in the film seeming rather simple minded. The animation is not great either, but today's standards, probably looking old even by 1977 standards.The story is that of a hobbit convinced (almost coerced) by Gandalf to go on an adventure with some dwarfs. His purpose: a burglar, to get some gold and split it with the 13 dwarfs. Of course, there is something weird with that, but only at the end Gandalf's plan will be revealed.The characters are all goofy, including Gandalf, and for no good reason, either. While I enjoyed watching it, the film rather bored me and I would not recommend it to anyone.