Rating: 
Summary: Excellent adaptation of the book
Review: Seen this at least 15 times so far...the extra discs are great too!
Rating:
Summary: A-PLUS
Review: Set in mythic Middle Earth, a young hobbit named Frodo Baggins inherits a magic ring from his elderly cousin Bilbo. The dark Lord Sauron lusts for the powers that the magic ring holds, knowing it will enable him to enslave the people of land. In his effort to thwart Sauron, Frodo recruits the fellowship of a wizard, an elf, a dwarf and others on a mission to destroy the ring by casting it into the volcanic fires in the Crack of Doom. However, the ring unleashes its own power as a result of the struggle....This movie deserves an A+!
Rating: 
Summary: An "Impossible" Filmic Achievement
Review: Several years ago, when I was told that plans were being laid to film J.R.R. Tolkien's massive literary epic "Lord of the Rings," my response was instantaneous.
"Impossible," I said.
There were two reasons for my reaction. One is that I know of only one successful film of any novel of this size. That is Sergei Bondarchuk's all-night-stand version of Leo Tolstoy's "War And Peace." And even Bondarchuk was unable to film that novel's second epilogue, which deals with the philosophy of history.
This leads to the second reason why I doubted the viability of the "Lord of the Rings" film project. Probably no novel can ever be filmed in its entirety; what is lost is the point of view of the writer-creator.
The first two parts of Peter Jackson's film version of "Lord of the Rings" have now appeared; and I have, of course, been proved right. Jsckson has made changes that are bound to annoy true-believing Tolkien admirers.
For example, if my calculations are correct, Frodo is not a boy when he sets out on his dangerous, agonizing quest as the Ring Bearer. He is a mature hobbit of around 50 years of age. The pivotal role of Frodo's relative Bilbo Bsggins, who found the One Ring of Power in the "prequel" book called "The Hobbit," is downplayed. (This probably leads to some confusion among people who have not read the books; they may wonder why this elderly personage is in "The Fellowship of the Ring" at all.)
In the second film, "The Two Towers," (not yet released for home viewing) the fate of the elvish Princess Arwen is depicted as entirely different from that delineated by Tolkien. Smeagol, or Gollum, who is always referred to in the books as black in color, is depicted by Peter Jackson as white. And no doubt other such discrepancies could easily be noted.
But the amazing thing is how very effective Jackson's filmed "Lord of the Rings" is. Actually, perhaps it should not be regarded as amazing at all. Jackson is an artist in another medium than Tolkien's words. He uses film, the instrument of his art, to create powerful variations on the great writer's portentous themes. The result is brooding and powerful--perhaps as brooding and powerful, in its own way, as the books the films were based on.
I recommend both the books and the films very highly. But if you want to introduce your child to the clash between good and evil, the "Lord of the Rings" films are a bit much. Better for you to pop "Harry Potter" into your machine for the little ones.
Rating:
Summary: Lord of the Rings *ka-ching*
Review: Short review -
The film is a terrific adaptation of the books, but my review loses 1 star for squeezing 2 DVD versions out in less than a year, just to make a buck. Shame on you Mr. Jackson.
Rating:
Summary: You Need To See this one NOW
Review: Simply amazing. not one bad thing about it. I want it on DVD now so I can have the goodness at my home! It's your duty to go see this one!
Rating:
Summary: If you don't have this dvd..BUY IT NOW!
Review: Simply put the best dvd ever! The movie is phenomenal and they stay very true to the book (although there are some slight revisions...i.e. Arwen's bigger role in the movie & the wizard's fight). I have the original version that came out in August last year and then got the extended one for x-mas and w/o a doubt the extended one is better. Scenes like the gift giving in Lothlorien have been included (since the gifts given play a role in the next two films) and so much documentary and behinds the scenes footage on the other two discs. Spectacular movie and a definite must see!
Rating:
Summary: Reality Fantasy
Review: Simply put, Peter Jackson does Tolkien supreme justice. As an avid (but not rabid) Tolkien fan, Jackson's insight into the tensions between the characters, the Journey, and the irresistable pull of the evil forces controlled by the Ring is parlayed into a believable saga that leaves me eager for more. The 70's animated rendition of the same tale left a sour taste and distrust for any attempt at putting Tolkien's tale into celluloid, but Jackson has managed to squash all doubts by creating a masterful picture of Fantasy as Reality. The casting and imagery are superb. Well done, lad!
Rating:
Summary: GO SEE IT NOW!
Review: Simply put, the best movie of 2001 in EVERY aspect from acting to action to graphics to story to sound to costume to plot; it's all executed PERFECTLY!!
I can't praise this movie enough (and ironically, I didn't think it was a big deal before I saw it)! Do yourself a favor; GO SEE IT NOW! (And leave the kids at home.... loud noises and semi-violent/scary scenes will give them nightmares.
It's 3 hours longs, but it's worth every second of it. I will preorder this movie on DVD ASAP and highly anticipate the release of the remainder of the series!
Rating:
Summary: A Film and DVD Box Set of Wagnerian Proportions
Review: Simply put, this film and the box set it's now been packaged in is a work of art. You will never need to watch the original again as this new version reveals a level of detail that paints a richer Middle Earth and its characters. But those of us who have both versions will not necessarily be disappointed as there does not appear to be any repetition in the special features. I watched one of the documentaries on the new set and was very impressed with how thorough it was. This is a truly comprehensive set that will satisfy and appeal to everyone from newbies to Tolkien fans. Needless to say the film, and I sense the two to follow, are destined to become classics that will be cherished for generations - more than can be said for last year's good yet not so memorable Oscar winner. I wonder if Jackson will return to film the equally famed prequel, "The Hobbit", as well.
Rating:
Summary: One DVD to Rule them All...................
Review: Simply put, this is the greatest DVD yet produced. Not since seeing Star Wars in 1977 at the age of 13 have I been so moved by a film. At the age of 39 I thought I was too jaded to get swept up in a movie. FOTR changed that. Add the 8 hours of extras in the Appendices, and this is the DVD to Rule them all. The Two Towers extended DVD is also very good, and the Return of the King will surely round out this collection as the new "King of the DVD".
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