Rating: 
Summary: Excellent "alternative" film
Review: This is the only movie I've gone to see twice in a theater and I plan to go at least two more times. My only complaint is the volume - my ears were ringing after each showing. But that's mainly the theater's fault because when I buy the movie I will be able to control the volume myself. Other than that, LOTR was one of the best book adaptations I've ever seen. "Gone With the Wind" and "The Princess Bride" are my other two favorite movies-from-books. What I loved about LOTR was that everything seemed just the way I had it pictured in my head, Gandalf, the Hobbits, etc. were perfect and I found the cinematography excellent. Those who complain about the movie's length or missing scenes need to remember that it is absolutely impossible to reproduce an author's words on the big screen. Artistic visions differ and liberties must be taken; only the important parts of the story need to be in the script. I thought the prologue in the beginning was very helpful to those who've never read the books, or maybe have forgotten the story.
Also I like the fact that this is a "grown-up" movie and not a water-downed family version from the Evil Empire. This is an excellent movie for those who like adult fantasy-adventure epics, and if you know you don't like that genre, don't see it and don't complain. This is a refreshing alternative to the mainstream Hollywood pestilence that plagues our theaters under the guise of "teen romance comedy", etc. LOTR is an example of what superior filmmaking can be. My only peeve is that is will be ignored by the Academy because of it's "fantasy" label. It would certainly win Best Picture in my book.
Rating:
Summary: Minor Tolkien Heresy... (BEWARE SPOILERS)
Review: Picture this. It's Christmas Eve, 1978. A teenage Tolkien addict (who had already read the books some ten times) walked out of a movie theater (into a snowstorm) after seeing Ralph Bakshi's animated Lord of the Rings movie and said, "Well, that wasn't quite as bad as I feared...." Fast forward 23 years. It's Christmas Eve, 2001. A thirty-something Tolkien addict (who has by now read the books 25+ times) walked out of a movie theater (into a snowstorm) after seeing Peter Jackson's live-action Lord of the Rings movie and said, "Is there another showing today?" Yes, after three hours of sitting on my butt in a theater, I was ready (after a short bathroom break) to do it again right away. And I had expected to be disappointed, too.It's that good. As Roger Ebert rightfully pointed out, as an adaptation of one of the best-loved novels of all time, Jackson's film falls woefully short in a number of ways. As the latest attempt to bring an entertaining, exciting addition to the Swords and Sorcery genre, it succeeds brilliantly. Last year's Dungeons and Dragons movie brought tears to my eyes. Tears of anguish that I had wasted my hard-earned dollars. Lord of the Rings also brought tears to my eyes (although I guess it's only fair to admit that the books do that, too). (SPOILER ALERT) I was only lukewarm on Elijah Wood as Frodo for 2 1/2 hours, until the scene in which he admits that -- after trying to go off without his companions -- he's glad that Sam caught him. The on-screen devotion and magnetism between the two hobbits is very moving. Likewise with Sean Bean's attempt to save the hobbits from the orcs. (END OF SPOILER) So why did I title my review Minor Tolkien Heresy? Because Peter Jackson wisely decided that even a three hour film was insufficient to do justice to Tolkien's masterpiece (rumor has it that his original cut was 4 hrs and 45 minutes long). Instead, he lifted characters, locations, story-line, and above all, the ESSENCE of Tolkien's work out of the books and used them to make a superbly-paced, highly-entertaining piece of cinema. The major themes of Tolkien's work come across strongly. All of his changes and deletions make perfect cinematic sense, and a couple of them actually improve (wow, that borders on a MAJOR Tolkien heresy) the story. (SPOILER ALERT) After all, in the books, why does Gandalf go to the Pinnacle of Orthanc? Because Saruman is the chief of his Order? Perhaps. Maybe Saruman tricked or magically held him there. But a movie audience never would have bought it (the much truer adaptation of this sequence in the 1978 animated version just doesn't work). Jackson's interpretation is much better. You know exactly why Gandalf ends up atop the tower. And Tolkien doesn't say EXACTLY how it happened, so why not this way? (END of SPOILER) It's technical merits are many: the acting is brilliant, the cinematography breathtaking, the special effects awesome, and the costumes and sets are wonderfully imaginative (not always the way I pictured it, but it's the filmmaker who is showing me his vision, not bringing my vision to life). I'll spare you any more rambling. To sum up: even if you're a Tolkien purist, see the movie. It's so good, the differences from the book probably won't bother you (they sure didn't bother me). If you have any interest at all in the Fantasy genre of films, SEE THIS MOVIE. Otherwise, you'll be missing the best fantasy film ever. One last note: I saw the movie with my 68-year-old mother, not with my 5-year-old son. There was a good reason for this! Leave kids under ten at home.
Rating:
Summary: Greatest Movie Ever Made in the World
Review: This movie is sooooooo awesome. It captures the magic, mystery, and just the right amount of fantasy to spark an imagination plug in your brain. The movie is wonderfully done and exactly the way I percieved the books. The characters were fenominal and the acting and fight sequences were amazing. The music is also very amesome. Buy the Soundtrack and go see the movie! It IS THE BEST OF THE BEST THAT FILM CAN OFFER!
Rating: 
Summary: For fanboys only
Review: I'm sorry, but did I miss something here? Could this movie be just a little bit more BORING? It's nothing but a series of repeating images and self-important dialog. This movie is nothing but close-ups of someone's hand that reveals the ring, shots of a persons face with their eyes bugging out and their mouths hanging open as if they can't believe what they are hearing, dialog meant to be grand but is just laughably pretentious, ham-handed action scenes with WAY too much slow motion, and wild camera shots that are either dizzying CG work that you can't even comprehend, or SLOW sweeping shots of the landscape as characters either walk, boat, or otherwise trudge their way through the countryside. There is absolutely NO sense of adventure or wonder in this movie. There is not one character to care about. The acting is stilted and horrible. The so-called dilemmas are either way too predictable or lamely resolved. The ending just downright sucks. As a matter of fact, so does this movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Well Made Fantasy/Adventure Film.
Review: An Ancient Ring was lost for centuries and now has been found by a Hobbit (Ian Holm) and through a strange twist in has, later now passed by years, has been given to a small Hobbit named Frodo (Ejilah Wood). When Gandful (Ian McKellen) discovers the Ring is in fact the One Ring of the Dark Lord Sauron. Frodo must make an Epic Quest to the Cracks of Doom in order to Destory It. However he does not go alone. He is joined by Gandalf, Legolas the Elf (Orlando Bloom), Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Boromir (Sean Bean), Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) and his three Hobbit friends-Sam (Sean Astin), Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd). Through mountains, snow, darkness, forests, rivers and plains must go on. Thier Quest to Destory the One Ring is the Only Hope for the End of the Dark Lords Reign. Directed by Peter Jackson (Heavenly Creatures, The Frighteners), he shows a great talent of filmmaking, style and plot to make this film a winner (Although is quite long at times). Wonderful Performances by Wood and McKellen. While the another supporting cast:Mortensen, Astin, Holm, Bloom, Bean, Davies, Mohaghan, Boyd and Christopher Lee as the Lead Villian are fine in this one also. While Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving and Andy Serkis (Voice only) in Cameo Apperences. New Line Cinema`s Most Ambitious film project to date with two sequels are done filming. Winner of 4 Oscars of Best Visual Effects, Best Score, Best Cinematography and Best Make-Up. The Film is also nominated for 9 Oscars:Including-Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor:Ian McKellen, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Song, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Editing and Best Sound. DVD has an excellent anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer and Superb Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound Ex. Second DVD Disc is full of Great Extras. Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien Novel will love this film. Screenplay by Francis Walsh (Braindead-Also Directed by Jackson), Phillippa Boyens and Jackson. The film is grand entertainment. Extended Director's Cut runs 208 Minutes. Super 35. Grade:A-.
Rating:
Summary: Best Movie I've Ever Seen
Review: I have been a movie freak, for want of a better term, for over twenty years, have a large collection of both VHS and DVD, and consider myself to be pretty knowledgeable about what makes a good movie. I have my own top ten list, which has changed only slightly over the years, but the number one spot now belongs to The Fellowship of the Ring and it is a foregone conclusion that I will buy the DVD the moment it is available. For anyone who has ever read the book(s), all I need to say at this point is that this movie "IS" the book. If you haven't read the book(s), shame on you. Be that as it may, you owe it to yourself to have a look at this film. Definitely the best movie I have ever seen.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!!!
Review: I was amazed. I went home right away and started reading the books again. I have been waiting for this movie to come out ever since the fourth grade when I first read the trilogy. I thought how are they going to make it look real. I mean the height differences, but you did it. The characters you picked for each part was perfection. Let me tell you Legolas Greenleaf, (Orlando Bloom) what a perfect choice. He gets his own WOW! The entire cast and the directing staff all deserve a standing "O". I have seen it two times so far and I can't wait to see it again.
Rating:
Summary: Lord of the Rings
Review: I felt this was a wonerful fantasy movie for adults. I have seen the movie 3x and would recommend it. The cast is perfect for each role,and gave excellent performances. For me the time flew by much too quickly. The location and scenery was breath taking and the effects were wonderful. Let us not forget the sound track which added so much to this film, (which I have also purchased and listen to regularly.) I hope that others can look at this film as the entertaining piece that it is and feel the enjoyment that I have found in watching it.
Rating:
Summary: Wow. That's it, just "wow."
Review: "Fellowship of the Ring?" Ho- Lee- [Cow].... That's all I've got to say about that. I was so impressed by this movie that it's hard to put into words. The sets and secenery were breathtaking. It's really amazing that they were able to convincingly re-create an imaginary world so vividly. The castles, the mountains and forests, everything was truly amazing. Something else that bears mentioning are the visual tricks they used to make normal-sized people appear as Hobbits, who are about half the size of a man. Nowhere in the movie does it fail. I couldn't even tell what they were doing most of the time. But whatever it was, it worked flawlessly. The costumes were unreal. The monsters looked monstrous. That seems like a little thing, but I consider myself a pretty tough guy, and some of them scared me a little bit. The scale of the large battle scenes was unbelievable. You can tell yourself that they're created with computers, but when you see it onscreen, it doesn't look like it. "Seamless" is the best word for it. The computer imagery was completely integrated into the movie. If nobody wins an Oscar for this, something is seriously wrong with the Academy voters. The smaller fight scenes were also incredibly well done. Yeah, it's hack-n-slash, but it's well-done hack-n-slash, and that's a-okay in my book. They're really violent. There will be several moments where you'll sit in your seat and go "Whoa." It's not for the squeamish. All the actors did a great job. Special props go to Ian McKellan, Sean Astin, and Sean Bean. McKellan was to Gandalf what Patrick Stewart was to Professor Xavier, namely a man who seemed born to play this role. Astin played another Hobbit, Sam Gamgee. Forget "the Goonies" or "License to Drive" or any of the other '80s stuff he was in. He was totally convincing, and, even though I'm a huge devotee of all things '80s, I had no trouble buying him in his role. Bean is one of my favorite actors, based on his work in the British film versions of the "Sharpe" novels. Going into this movie, I was afraid he was going to play another sleazeball, like he did in "Goldeneye" and "Patriot Games." But Boromir wound up being one of my favorite characters. Yes, he was flawed, but he ultimately found redemption, so Bean can hopefully avoid being typecast as a villain. Wait until you finish reading this, then get up and go see this movie right now! But you should be prepared that this is obviously the first part of a trilogy. There's a huge cliffhanger at the end, so you'll be wishing it was Christmas 2002 already. I know I am.
Rating:
Summary: A dream come true
Review: Phenomenal! There are films and there are movies and this is classic film. For as much as I knew about the film before arriving, I truly was surprised by how affected I was. More than once I found myself surprised by tears. I loved the humor, the tight editing, screenwriting and the solid acting. There is such strength in this film in so many places. I loved hearing the names and places pronounced and I just bathed in the richness of Arwens' elvish. I loved that there was so much depth in the film, costuming, settings, and languages. I loved the rolling R's. One of my few quibbles about the books (I've read them a dozen times or so) is the dearth of female characters. This film has made up for it by highlighting and developing the existing female characters. As for movie quibbles, I do have to admit that Galadriels' transformation at the mirror made me squirm a bit. This film is absolutely not directed to children like Harry Potter was. One would think that the PG-13 rating would serve as warning but some people don't get it. I don't remember blood or gore but there is a tremendous amount of violence and implied violence. The film adaptation is as perfect as you can hope from a book of this depth. Three hours truly felt like 1½ or 2. It's truly a beautiful film and easily stands as a classic epic. It's quite possibly my favorite of all time and it is my dream come true.
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