We’re finishing off our Friday Late Night Movie series of 2018 with one of our all-time most requested titles – with a 40th Anniversary screening of Ralph Bakshi‘s animated epic, THE LORD OF THE RINGS.

Controversial animator Ralph Bakshi‘s (FRITZ THE CAT) literal adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien‘s classic fantasy trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, is brought to the screen in a reverent, stilted way, with Bakshi forsaking his sharp-edged animated “looniness” for a rotoscoped dullness. Although the film’s title encompasses the entire Tolkien trilogy, this longish Bakshi feature, in fact, covers only the first book, The Fellowship of the Ring, and the first half of the second, The Two Towers. Given the complexity of the original story line, this unfortunately means that only those intimately familiar with the books will be able to understand what is happening in the movie. In brief, however, an evil sorcerer from a previous era created a magical ring which enables its users to call upon its tremendous powers to rule the world, but it inevitably warps them to evil. It was believed lost, but during a resurgence of magical evil in the world, Bilbo, a simple, plain-spoken hobbit, recovers it from its hiding place. The forces of good give his nephew Frodo the choice to bear the awful burden of the ring to a place where it may be destroyed. Featuring the voices of Christopher Guard and John Hurt.

“Bakshi’s version, using animation and live-action tracings, is uniformly excellent, sticking closely to the original text and visually echoing many of Tolkien’s own drawings.” (Time Out)

“A showcase for inspired imagery and sheer strangeness.” (Slate Magazine)

Friday, December 28
Doors 10:00 pm | Movie 10:30 pm
Advance tickets $10.50 HERE | $12.50 at the door

Encore screening!

Saturday, January 12
Doors 2:15 pm | Movie 2:45 pm
Advance tickets $10.50 HERE | $12.50 at the door

*Minors permitted in the balcony! Must be 19+ w/ID for bar service and main floor seating.
**Rio Theatre Groupons and passes OK! Please redeem at the door.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS (Ralph Bakshi, 1978 / 130 mins / PG) This animated film by Ralph Bakshi presents the first part of J.R.R. Tolkien‘s renowned fantasy tale. The wise old wizard, Gandalf (William Squire), entrusts the young hobbit, Frodo, with a magical ring. Soon dark forces are after Frodo, so he must leave his peaceful home and travel to the ominous Mount Doom, where the ring must be destroyed. Accompanied by a trio of hobbit friends, Frodo is also aided by the mysterious Aragorn and other heroic allies.