Unhappy with Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Hobbit?
A very weird Russian version, from 1985, may offer some comfort.
This either horribly or brilliantly staged TV adaptation of the book was made in the then U.S.S.R. The filmmakers used state of the art video effects. State of the art in 1985 in Russia, that is.
Check out the hipster knit-capped Bilbo...
...this day-glo orange-hooded and bearded Thorin Oakenshield (I think)...
.. and this afro-headed Gandalf...
Also not to be missed: a green-faced Gollum pops up around minute 33:45, wearing some scaly gloves and netting across his chest.
The scene of the giant spiders snaring the dwarves in Mirkwood looks about as convincing as an episode of the 1970s TV series Land of the Lost. There's also an anachronistic, modern-day narrator with a cane and mustache who, perhaps, is a stand in for J.R.R. Tolkien himself.
Yet maybe, just maybe, this low-budget version captures some essence of Tolkien's children's book that Peter Jackson's version did not. If only we understood Russian. Readers, here's where you come in. If you can read Russian, take a look and offer your take in the comments below.
Supposedly, English subtitles are in progress at this site, but there's nothing there at the moment. Meanwhile, you can watch a Mystery bet365体育赛事 Theater 3000-like version, complete with bogus subtitles.
Enjoy!
