Rating: 
Summary: Lord of the Rings wonderful but long!
Review: I went to see this when it was at our Drive In in carlsbad, NM. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Really my only complaint about this movie is the fact that at the end the movie just like stops! And you want it to just continue finish the story. It really leaves you hanging. So after the movie I went home and turned to the last page of the book "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" and it ended exactly the same way. I think that what they should have done was just release all three into one extremely long movie (i mean we're already sitting here so long just make it longer). ...
Rating:
Summary: LOTR Delivers on it potential
Review: I went to the Helsinki midnight premier of LOTR with incredibly high expectations. Being a Tolkien fanatic, a New Zealander, and a huge fan of all of Peter Jackson's movies my expectations for this movie could not have been higher. I was actually very nervous about seeing this movie, as I've been let down so many times with movies that promised a lot, but delivered badly (eg. Phantom Menace, Planet of the Apes, etc.).One word sums up my experience of this movie - ENTHRALLING! Like many reviews here, from the opening scene right through to the final credits time disappeared as I immersed myself into the world of Middle Earth. The characterisations were perfect, particularly Ian McKellen who stole the show, and Elijah was brilliant as Frodo. I also loved Chistopher Lee as Saruman. The scenery was awesome and immediately made me homesick for New Zealand though I'm not sure where those statues are! I agree 100% to all the changes that Peter made to the book. You just have to accept that a book is not a movie, and in 3 hours you can only show so much. Also, the movie definitely needed an increased role for women and the scenes with Arwen were great. The problem I had with Harry Potter was that it stuck too religiously to the book which killed the overall momentum of the movie - NO such problem with LOTR. From my perspective, it can only get better from here on out, as the Fellowship is probably the slowest part of the book, so the next 2 installments should be mindblowing (can't wait for Helms Deep!). If you are a Tolkien Fanatic (like me), be prepared to accept that a movie just HAS TO be different from the book. If you have not ready LOTR, then I would recommend you read FOTR BEFORE you see the movie as it will substantially improve the experience.
Rating:
Summary: WHAT WAS THAT?
Review: I went to The Lord of the Rings with GREAT expectations. I had been waiting for months and months, and had been torturing everyone in my family and school with all the new info I got on it. I was a little afraid, though, having read so many reviews and seeing so many specials that I would know every scene to the movie. I expected to a see a masterpiece, an epic movie, awesome on all levels. I still don't know what I got. It was anything but what I expected. It was . . . better? I don't know how, but it was so different than I imagined - sometimes I (unfortunately) pick out all the lines an actor said wrong or all the scenes the director could have done better. Too, in a case like this, I look forward to scenes in the book, and when they are edited I am dissapointed. In many of my favorite movies I have that feeling "I LOVE this incredible movie!" But I didn't. After seeing the actors talk and all the reviews, nothing prepared me for this. It was more natural than I thought it would be. Something funny happened when it came on screen. I forgot about the book (yikes!), I forgot about crucial scences that actually caught me by surprise in the movie. I never thought an actor did a bad or even a good job, I just watched the realistic fantasy unfold with all the people (not characters) of Middle-Earth. It did not seem like a movie at all. I am sure you know what the basic plot is, but let me just sum it up. Frodo, a hobbit, inherits a ring from his odd cousin Bilbo. Bilbo's old friend and advisor, Gandalf the wizard, discovers that the ring is THE one and only ruler of Middle-Earth. It holds powers too horrible to wield. So, Frodo must embark on a journey first to Rivendell where he is joined by a fellowship of 9 (including him) and then to the only place where the ring can be destroyed, in the fires of Mount Doom. The scenery, obviously is incredible, I was SO sucked into it all. The movie is also wicked funny - It rips me apart when they put a hilarious line in a terrifying/sad scene (in a good way). For crying out loud, this movie is SCARY! At one point I jumped 10 feet into the air screaming, and my heart didn't stop thumping furiously for another 5 minutes. Another amazing element was the emotion. It was horribly sad on some parts (I actually cried in a fantasy movie!), and scenes like when Frodo gets stabbed tear up your heart with pity. As for the acting, it wasn't there. The flesh and blood, the PEOPLE in it were. Elijah Wood (Frodo) was so cute and perfect. Every line he said was thought out, true, and you could identify with him in even the smallest things. Ian McKellen (Gandalf) - I loved him! He could be such a funny wizard, with quaint friendships mixed with immense power. Viggo Mortenson (Aragorn) was such a subtle and hardened character. He does not let his pride get in his way, and his sharp eyes melt to softness when he speaks to Arwen. Speaking of Arwen, Liv Tyler was so good. She was gorgeous, a vision of light, who wasn't in the movie as much as everyone feared. In fact, she was so good, I kind of missed her! Cate Blanchette (Galadriel) was even more beautiful than when I had scene her in specials and pictures. Also, she was FREAKY! First she was scary, then terrifying, then kind and wise. Wow! Since we're speaking of elves, Hugo Weaving (Elrond) was wonderful. In his younger years he looked great, and it was so interesting seeing his distrust of men, considering he was half human. The hobbits. Ian Holm was a perfectly friendly and frightening Bilbo, and Sean Austin (Sam) was so wonderful. He was not especially bright, but he just had this love and loyalty for Frodo that no one could ever shake off. I really liked Merry, played by Dominic Monaghan. He was fun loving, but a fairly wise hobbit. And Billy Boid (Pippin) was great! He was suitably foolish and sometimes just watching his face made you laugh. As for the others, I'll begin with Sean Bean's portrayal of Boromir. And I'll end it there - he was so touching, proud, and pitiable I don't even want to think about it. Christopher Lee (Saruman) had THE voice and personality of Saruman. John Rhys-Davis was a rather funny and feisty dwarf. And finally, Orlando Bloom (HOT HOT HOT - Legolas) did a remarkable job. This "young" elf was so amazing. He was deadly in battle, he is so brave in the sight of most danger, and yet when the Balrog comes, the expression on his face is extremely alarming. He is the most scared of all of them (save Gandalf, who is preparing himself), for he knows well what a Balrog is. Orlando Bloom expresses his emotions through subtle and tender expressions. I don't know. See it yourself.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful, WONDERFUL Film!
Review: I went to the theater to see THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING about a month after its release, not really expecting much. I didn't really think that it was possible to create a live-action version of THE LORD OF THE RINGS and not have it ruin the book entirely. Well, when the lights came up at the end of the movie, I knew that it was possible. I went to see it once more afterwards and then bought the first edition DVD when it was released. The special features weren't that great and I thought that it might have been a little better. But when the Extended Edition DVD was released, I couldn't wait to see it. I got it as a Christmas present and immediately watched it. It was great! There's about 45 minutes added to the already 3 hour long film. Almost every scene is extended and there are some completely new scenes! If I hadn't gone to the theater to see this film, I wouldn't even be able to tell where the extended moments begin or end. I listened to all of the commentaries and found that the Cast was the most enjoyable one. My second favorite was the commentary with Peter Jackson, Phillipa Boyens, and Fran Walsh. All commentaries tell a lot about the movie. It'll take you months just to watch all of the special features loaded onto this 4-disc set. There's documentaries, interactive maps, photo galleries, storyboards, pre-viz, and much, MUCH more! If you love this film, The Lord of the Rings, or are just looking for a GREAT movie to sit back, relax, and enjoy, buy this Extended DVD! If I could choose from more than just five stars, I would!
Rating: 
Summary: Snore...
Review: I went to the theater, expecting a big, climatic action packed movie all the way through. Thats not what I got. I got a long, confusing, corny movie that was boring the whole way through, except for a few certain parts. I'm sure if I actually wanted to understand the story, I could, but I don't want to have to use 100% of my brain power on a weekend, not in school, to understand a movie. Oh yea, and this is WAY to long. It's not as long as Titantic, but this movie is a solid 3 hours 15 minutes long! Don't take the kids with you. Or maybe they can just fall asleep in the theater. See, there is lots of fighting and cool parts of the movie, but half the time, you don't even know why their fighting. But, the fight scenes are awesome. Oh yea, and after the 3 hours 15 minutes, the movie isn't over. The sequel is a direct sequel that takes place right after the ending of the first. If you like the books, you'll drool over this and want to see it over and over. If not, and your just a casual movie-goer, skip it.
Rating:
Summary: Too Much Hype
Review: I went to this movie expecting "the best movie of the year" but I unfortunately got "The most hyped movie of the year". Sure there were some dead guys chasing the Hobbit trying to steal a ring (sounds real exciting doesnt it), but I think I laughed at parts not intended for laughing... The movie is 3 hours long on top of that, at the end of the film I proclaimed that I would very much want to be thrown into that volcano with that stupid ring than sit through the other 2 sequels. So save yourself the cash and the rear sore from sitting so long, and buy yourself the book instead. Unless that isnt worth reading, I wouldnt know because I never read it, I wasted enough of my time watching the movie. That is why this movie gets 2 stars, for my 2 chuckles I had during the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I went to this movie expecting that the movie makers would take liberties with the plot and character's personalities. They always try to "improve" the original. I had heard of the changes made to Arwen's character, but I was totally unprepared for the corruption of the other personalities as well. For anyone who is an ardent fan of the Lord of the Ring trilogy, I would think they would be very unhappy with how this interpretation was handled. The only positive comments I can make are that 1) the film locations were very good; 2) that the special effects were also very good; and 3) the "nationalites" of the characters were accurate. At least they didn't make Gandalf an elf or Bilbo a dwarf. Other than that, I feel that the screenwriters must have only read the crib notes for The Lord of the Rings, or they read it with one eye closed! No one could have read this magnificent creation and so badly missed the meanings and character's relationships! Gandalf was depicted as almost senile; Aragorn was a confused, unfocused wimp; Elrond was cast as a mean-spirited and bitter host not inclined to be of any help; Frodo a gutless wonder; Galedriel as a sinister "witch"; and poor Bilbo was a witless old hobbit. The roles of Merry and Pippin were also badly presented. Granted, they are young hobbits, but they didn't deserve to be made into thieves who "accidentally" got involved in the Fellowship. The film missed so much of the internal workings of minds and hearts that Tolkein bestowed on his characters. I realize that the book had too much to be put in a reasonably-timed film, but to go so completely away from the "heart" of the story is sad and very disappointing. Don't go to this film thinking it represents an accurate telling of the original story.
Rating:
Summary: I liked It
Review: I will bw quick. I have loved the books for a long time. This movie was spectacular as a movie. It is not the book. If you want to experience the book... read the book. If you want a great movie see this movie. Nuff said
Rating: 
Summary: A DVD can hold up to 4 hours on a side
Review: I will never buy this DVD because it's unnecessarily spread over 2 disks. The original was about 3 hours, the extended version has about 30 minutes of extra footage. The only reason this is split on 2 DVDs is to include director's commentary that I could do without. That is too much of a trade off to have to get up half way through to swap disks.
Rating: 
Summary: VISUALLY STUNNING, YET SOMEWHAT "EMPTY" CLASSIC
Review: I will probably get stoned for not finding this classic movie as great as everyone else in the world seems to. Granted, Peter Jackson's vision and treatment of the film are exquisite. Some of the visual effects, the scenery, art direction, costuming, makeup are mind-boggling and surreal as all get out. The acting is impeccable...Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Ian Holm, Sean Bean, and Christopher Lee especially. Liv Tyler and Cate Blanchett are merely decorative in given such small and not fully developed characters. I also had some difficulty with some of the heavy British accents, and the film felt a little too long, and repetitive. There are some brilliant moments though...Sean Bean and Viggo Mortensen's final scene together is truly moving and heartfelt; Sean Astin and Elijah Wood's touching scene in the boat is also very moving and evocative. It is a beautifully done movie. However, since I am not a follower of Tolkien's and view the movie on its own merits, I didn't quite feel the same awe and wonder with some of its contrived mechanisms. But, one can't deny its brilliance in film=making.
RECOMMENDED.
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