i happen upon this movie a an 8 10 year old on a cold and dark november afternoon . i be outside play all day and freezing and and when i come in around 4pm and i have a cup of hot cocoa and sit down in front of the tv with a blanket . i be surprise to be watch a cartoon that wasn not all happy and silly and be in fact dark and and moralistic . it capture my imagination . i be sure it miss the text and and be abbreviate in all the wrong place for the tolkien purist . but it still capture the spirit of the story and the choice to carry a burden for the good of others and the consequence of selfish and rash decision and etc . the quality of animation leaf room for complaint . but the one place where this movie clearly rise above the new film be the voice characterization . john hurt be great in this . if you do not like how the character be draw and look away and and just listen to him . his voice be extraordinary . i have see it again many and many time and it always bring me back to that time and a a kid and thirsty for some magical adventure . it for this reason i say lucky and the film be nostalgic for me so i overlook it shortcoming . but between john hurt and and tolkien fantasy and it still reach me and and still do .