The Hobbit (1993)

[Mal12345]

This is a 1993 Finnish tv series called "Hobbits" that places the entire story-line of the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings into the equivalent of a feature length film. If you don't mind the small play-like cast and low budget production, or don't mind not actually seeing monsters like the Balrog and Shelob, this series has much to recommend it. For starters, this is Tolkien gone full circle-- Tolkien based a lot of his stories on Finnish folklore, after all. Although the focus lies more on Frodo and Sam, skipping over much of the Two Towers and the Return of the King, this FEELS more complete because it also features at trek through the old forest, complete with Old Man Willow, Tom Bombadil, and the Barrow Wights, as well as a very brief finale that includes the scouring of the Shire. Almost too much to ask for, although we do not get to see Sauroman getting killed in the Shire. We are also treated to a non-hollywood musical score which gives it a feel more like the much beloved Rankin and Bass Hobbit, the sexiest (and bafflingly Samurai-like) Boromir you ever laid eyes on, and Gollum's bare ass and scarcely concealed gonads twerking at the camera before he goes to find some fish. (Gollum and Aragorn are played by the same actor). This is a fun and atmospheric production that has so much that was missing in other productions. It is pretty magical, and could only be improved if it were shot and produced on a larger scale and included some of the large monsters.

[Forever]

Gandalf looks super creepy.