Rating: 
Summary: My Preciousssss.... The Journey Begins...
Review: ... but won't end for a couple years. THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING is the first in the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. It took to the screen in an incredible production filled with majesty, efficiency and respect. The production itself is nothing short of gorgeous from the obvious Special Effects ("THE BALROG", a being with a heart of fire) to the not-so-obvious effects (Frodo-Elijah Wood seen half as tall Gandalf-Ian McKellen)to the greatest effect of all, the unique and beautiful scenery of New Zealand. All over, this film could probably have not been made until now as technology opens up our minds to new ways of approcahing difficult scenes. The film is surprisingly efficient, considering the 3 hour running time. There is rarely any wasted film, everything helping to add even more value to the film. the film adaption is surprisingly accurate to the complex novel and like the HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERERS STONE film from earlier in the year, provides the only stumbling block along the way. The LORD OF THE RINGS novels are not structured like any Hollywood film. Like the POTTER film, secondary character development suffers. Here character is built more from the movie-goers previous movie experiences than through the compressed for time filmmaking. "He plays the Han Solo-type role", "He's like Spock" or "that one's the same as Yoda" are signs of character recognition. Like the novel, the book ends in an anti-climatic point... There is no Death Star destruction to let the viewer know that this specific episode has come to an end... We'll have to wait 2 more movies for any decisive end to this. That is a risk in itself. All in all, it is a tremendous achievement covered with 'cool'. From the battle with the Balrog (made all the more anxious by a decaying stairwell), to a wall of water taking out several evil 'dark riders' to the Elf Legolas with his rapid fire bow and arrow control, the film is filled with great imagery. I saw the film on an IMAX screen which didn't result in a more pleasant experience. In fact, it made me long for teh DVD version so I could take in more of the film. The large image left me with sensory overload... That is a testament to the accomplishment. Great fun!
Rating: 
Summary: Awe-struck
Review: I'm still reeling from this film! The performances, costuming, props and special effects, direction, and cinematography are astounding. There were times whilst viewing this film when I was on the edge of my seat or grabbing my seat to hold on; times when my heart was pounding; times when I was moved to shed a tear by either sadness or greatness. The movie captures every part of human emotions, wraps them all up, and unleashes them at the viewer at an almost rapid pace; which can, at times, be a bit too much. The Fellowship Of The Ring is a very strong, very powerful, visually stunning, and entirely emotive film. And I give top marks to WETA for the highly notable achievement of creating a thoroughly credible height ratio effect for the Hobbits and Dwarves in regards to the taller races of Middle-earth. Brilliant! However, as much as I was stunned by this film, the screenplay and adaptions were absolute rubbish! In my opinion, Mrs. Jackson and anyone who worked with her should be fed to the Balrog, along with Peter Jackson himself for allowing it. Their were changes in characters and character, aspirations, and events. Tolkien's dialogue was rarely followed. Some reviewers say this doesn't deter from the story. It does deter from the story! That's exactly what it does. How difficult is it to follow a story and dialogue that has already been written? Editing is one thing and is understandable when approaching a big screen adaptation with time constraints, but arrant changes to a story are not. This I find unforgivable. In addition, no Fatty Bolger playing up appearances in Frodo's new house in Buckland; no Willow The Wisp; no Tom Bombadil; no Barrow-wights; no Rhadaghast The Brown, and very little attention payed to the Hobbits' stealth from and cat and mouse games with the Black Riders in The Shire. In addition, very little of Tolkien's dialogue was covered. The Fellowship Of The Ring is mainly dialogue, and takes place mainly in The Shire. What happened to Peter Jackson's boasting about how closely he was going to follow Tolkien's story? With all its faults, Ralph Bakshi's film follows Tolkien's story and dialogue more closely than Jackson's version does! Jackson is either pandering to his own ego (or his wife's), or just trying to make the film(s) appeal to more people than just Tolkien fans; and the only reason for the latter would be money. Aside from the above criticism, I was very annoyed by WETA's cheesy computer-generated Cave Troll and Balrog. This garbage belongs in a video game, not an important epic film. What ever happened to employing the talents of real artists like Ray Harryhausen or Jim Henson's Creature Shop? Is it just me, or are today's film makers relying too heavily on computer-generated effects, and using the words "can't be done" or "not within the budget" as a scape-goat to seeking alternative ways of creating effects, like the filmmakers of old had to do? However all scrutinising aside, The Fellowship Of The Ring is an overwhelming cinematic experience, and one which should not be missed by anyone; with the exception of pre-teens, to whom this film will only terrorise. This is a tremendous Christmas present, and I thank Peter Jackson and everyone involved in its creation for it. It's difficult to believe that there are two more films of this calibre to follow. I look forward to their release, as well as a few more viewings of The Fellowship Of The Ring. In closing I'd just like to say that Tolkien fans have still not been given a definitive screen version of The Lord Of The Rings. In fact, the only way I believe it would be possible to remain faithful to Tolkien's story and (even edited) dialogue, would be to make a complete mini-series for non-commercial television; basically, a visual accompaniment to the long BBC Radio production. Perhaps one day someone with enough integrity and who cares enough will.
Rating:
Summary: SPECTACULAR Film!!!
Review: "The Lord of the Rings" is nothing short of a benchmark in modern cinema. Everything about the film oozes quality, talent and intelligence. Unlike the typical Hollywood "Big Blockbuster of the Week," it isn't dumbed-down, cliched or sterile. Indeed, LotR seems to get almost everything right: action that is really exciting, breathtaking visuals, impressive acting across the board, genuine wit, engaging drama and even a smidgen of romance. Ignore the sniveling of the pathological Tolkien fans; Peter Jackson and company did a brilliant job of paring down the immense Lord of the Rings trilogy into a film of manageable length while keeping the essential spirit of the story intact. This is a film not just for fans of the books, or fantasy in general, but for anyone who can appreciate quality film-making. It was also great fun. The audience stood up and applauded at the end of the movie. Enough said.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Movie I have ever seen
Review: Wonderful, Fantastic, Beautiful scenery, Beautiful cinematography, good acting, spectacular special effects, a true piece of art. I could not believe it when it was over... I wanted to turn around and go see it again.
Rating:
Summary: A Spellbinding Cinematic Masterpiece
Review: As we pull up to the theater, the line stretches out into the parking lot. The people are filled with restless, nervous anticipation, talking quietly amongst themselves. Fortunately Dallas has arrived early and I find my place saved at the head of the line. The air almost crackles with the intensity, a murmur passes through the crowd when at last the doors are unlocked and the restless viewers begin to forge inside. Our tickets are purchased, our seats are found; eventually the trailers begin. The theater is packed, all 900 seats. After being plagued with Spiderman and a terrible Austen Powers spin-off, the screen fades to darkness. We shudder with a sudden thrill as the voice-over, the voice we would learn to acknowledge as that of Queen Galadriel, begins the story of the Ring, its forging in the Mountains of Doom, its empowerment by the Dark Lord... and its keepers. We are swept into a story unlike any other, a story of many characters and places, of much depth and insight; but also a story of elves and dwarves, humans and hobbits. A story that has earned itself rightfully the title of "book of the century." In the three hours that come about, we laugh, we cry, we are scared absolutely out of our wits. The time flies by without hesitation or fear, plunging ahead into Middle Earth with incredible aerial shots and stunning cinematography. The audience is in awe of the elves, terrified by the Cave Troll, grossed-out by the birth of an Orc from the depths of the ground itself; they gasp in fear as Gandalf is suddenly attacked by an unexpected enemy; they cheer when Arwen brings down the flood upon the dark riders; they draw back in surprise and sudden fear at the temptation of Galadriel. All breaths are drawn in as one when the enemy infiltrates the Prancing Pony, and let out in a roar when an Orc is defeated. And then, as the screen fades to black and the credits role, it begins. One clap here, another there, until it breaks forth into thundering applause. The audience who was wowed with Gladiator, who shunned The Patriot, who stood in awe of The Matrix, have discovered for the first time the spellbinding storytelling of Tolkien... and the absolute magic at the fingertips of the filmmakers. As I exit the theater, I hear many things... words such as "incredible," "awesome," "cool" ... and "Oscar." The words that will spread from lips into ears across the nation and send Lord of the Rings into a complete and total bock office success. But it is only later that the true test of the film begins; it endures in discussion over a late (very late!) luncheon at Chili's. All aspects are explored, from the hideousness of the Orcs to the angelic tendencies of the elves, even a character's intentional sacrifice for another. The Ring is deeply studied from every aspect, its character even more powerfully drawing than that of Frodo or Gandalf. All are in agreement -- that the film is a masterpiece. As we gather up our things and bid farewell, we leave with only one thought in mind... Tolkien would have approved.
Rating:
Summary: OUTSTANDING MOVIE
Review: (...) The Lord of the Rings is awesome. Visually is was amazing, such beautiful and intriguing landscapes. The effects were perfectly matched to the movie, nothing over the top or unbelievable, and the actors did a wonderful job of bringing their characters to life. My favorites were the hobbits Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin, I couldn't get enough of them. I know some people are going to say it didn't follow the book exactly, but how could it. As far as the movie goes I couldn't be happier with it.
Rating:
Summary: The Wait is Over...and It Was Worth It!
Review: The first installment of "The Lord of the Rings" is quite simply an incredible accomplishment. Considering how difficult it would be to satisty people new to the story as well as people who have read the books multiple times, Peter Jackson should be given the keys to the kingdom. I won't get into the plot. If you've read the books, you know it; if you haven't, see the movie. I will say that the film succeeds on every level I can think of. You feel like you are really watching real people (and other creatures) in a real place. The cinematography is absolutely gorgeous. The costumes, acting, settings, props, weapons, language...everything is in place. Having said that, will "The Fellowship of the Ring" be all things to all people? No. I imagine some will think that too much has been left out and that too much attention has been placed on action. If you've read the books, I think you will agree that Jackson has kept the action moving much more than in the book. What Jackson has left out as far as details of the journey and character background _I_ think are enough to keep the film interesting without slowing it down. I think people will be talking about this film for a long, long time. I saw several groups of people standing around talking about the film after it was over. They all seemed to love it. The film will probably send more people to the book, which is great, since this is one of the great works not just of fantasy, but of 20th century literature. The film will almost certainly be nominated for many awards and deservedly so. This holiday season, treat yourself to a grand adventure.
Rating:
Summary: Best movie of the year, easy. Fantastic in every way.
Review: I have never seen such an engrossing film. Every character was not only believable but excelled even beyond my expectations. The story involves Frodo Baggins and his inheritance of a magic ring (by Bilbo Baggins who found the ring) forged by a dark Lord in a fiery mountain - Mt. Doom. Frodo's life is in constant danger and he must climb to the top of Mt. Doom and throw it into the fiery pit in order to destroy it. The dark Lord's spirit is drawn to the ring - searching for Frodo and his companions to claim it and use its power to send darkness throughout the entire of Middle-Earth. 3 other hobbits, a wizard named Gandalf, en Elf, a dwarf and 2 humans join Frodo as companions to destroy the ring and thus are given the title "Fellowship of the Ring." This movie was unbelieveably excellent in every way. The characters had immeasurable depth and the action sequences were some of the best I've seen in a long time. It uses alot of computer animation and it only complemented, rather than detracted from, the story. I found that I was taken into this world as much as the characters were and it felt like I was walking with them as they ventured throughout Middle-Earth. The monsters in the film are quite nasty and this is why the movie received a PG-13 rating - I wouldn't recommend young children seeing this movie. I will admit I've never read any of Tolkien's books but this movie has me very intrigued. The length of the film is 3 hours but you'd never know it - it felt like a 2 hour film or less! I cannot think of any drawbacks in this film - not a single thing. This movie is beyond excellent and will be an instant classic - it's a diamond in the rough.
Rating:
Summary: ********** Finally! Perfect Visual Adaptation of The Trilogy
Review: As a long-time Tolkien Fan and a person who has read The Trilogy three times, I must say I was absolutely astounded and captivated by the new Tolkien movie, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." I am very proud of the Producers, Directors, Actors, et al ! It seemed as-if everyone had read the trilogy and understood their parts, not just memorized lines form a script. The scenes were amazing! Hobbiton has been brought to life in a way I really did not believe could be accomplished on film. The Shire lives and breathes and will inspire thousands of people to read Tolkien's works. This film series brings the world of Tolkien to the big screen and into people's homes like never before. This is wonderful! I had to sneak the books home and hide them under the bed & pretend to be reading something-else, so my Mom wouldn't catch me. Now, teenagers can just sneak out for a night of Magick and Adventure. I was a bit disappointed with the portrayal of the male elves--they seemed to be a bit too "human" and less ethereal (and wise) than they are portrayed in the books. However, over-all, I believe this movie portrays the characters in the Trilogy better than most people can imagine. Luckily, the film is more fast-paced than the Trilogy, and most of the important scenes are retained. However, I still believe reading the Trilogy is crucial to understanding the film (and who wants to wait an entire year for the next chapter, so to speak?). This film will bring a whole new generation to the world of Tolkien (and, Hopefully, a new generation of Book-Lovers). I am so impressed with this film, that I have nothing negative to say, whatsoever.....and this coming from someone who's Wife quoted Tolkien on our Wedding Invitations !
Rating: 
Summary: A Visually Impressive Movie. A Plot Deprived movie
Review: VIEWER BEWARE: This movie is three hours long. Not three hours of enjoyable movie viewing, but three hours of CRAP! Do not believe the good reviews, or see the movie because of the trailers, like I did! The good scenes, are there, but for three minutes at a time, for about ummm, 15 minutes total. So, there are 2 hours and 45 minutes of boring movie I had to sit through. Also, the visual effects are good. Jurassic Park 3 and Godzilla kind of good though, because the plot isn't THERE! There are impressive scenes of Mount Doom (?) and of the general landscape, and mildly decent battle scenes. I felt like yelling "GOTH ALIVE!" when I saw some of the characters though. Imagine the kid in all black working at Blockbuster or Kmart, take their personality and dress, and you have a Lord of the Rings character. The Elves and Rangers fit this personality profile the most though. The music is overly pretentious at times, and doesn't fit several scenes. The plot is atrocious. Numerous people and towns are mentioned with mystery and dread, yet are never seen. Some scenes are ridiculous, where characters are introduced as, (ex. not accurate) Agnathas,son of Herodotus...which comes across very awkardly in a movie theater. I imagine in the book, it comes across better. I've read the Foundation Trilogy and Dune, so I can probably guess Lord of the Rings follows those lines. Perhaps, one of it's faults is the movie follows the book too much. Big special effects scenes are telegraphed two years in advance. Even when they're not supposed to. For example: ***SPOILER*** On the way over the mountains, a bad wizard is blocking the path through. So, the dwarf (or someone)suggests an alternate way through: The Mines of Moraia. The dwarf claims this is the home of one of his friends (or relatives or something) yet reacts to the mines with dread on the mountain???!!?? What?!?!? He didn't know the mines were inhabited with monsters!!!! As you might guess, there were plenty of monsters there. And no, don't see the movie because of that big troll scene. It's at the end of this boring movie. You might as well be chasing a tiny carrot on a stick. **end spoiler** For a PG-13 movie, however, there are some inEXCUSABLE references to drugs and sex. And I'm 19 year old man, and no member of a prudish church in the south. ( I'm a catholic who hasn't been to mass since ummm... Titanic came out:) ) In one scene, a character is smoking, and he has the nerve to come out and say, (not accurate) "This is the finest weed in all..." Not to mention, numerous references to the boys hunting mushrooms in the forest, with a desire only surpassed by a heroin junkie looking for his next fix. Then there's the broken carrot scene... I don't believe this would have been tasteful in an R-rated movie. In fact, it's plain tacky. Like this entire movie. (...)
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