Rating: Summary: Not enough... Review: Yes, the movie was great... lots of good effects and all that; But the whole tale felt very rushed... (though, you might too if chased by myriad nazgul.) NEVERTHELESS, More waiting should have occured prior to the making of this film... it simply doesn't quite meet the standards set by the books. I'll buy this movie and all its sequels... but I may always be holding out for a remake... say, in about 2043 when they'll project the films right into your head for first-person perspectives... and all that.
Rating: Summary: Left Me Unsatisfied Review: Yes, the producers of this should be commended for the extras. However, the movie relied too much on CGI. In the end, I yearned for no tech movies that rely on acting and more human scale drama.
Rating: Summary: Beautiful Film, BUT.... Review: Yes, this was a beautiful film full of special effects, but if you were actually expecting to watch a movie version of JRR Tolken's LORD OF THE RINGS, you will be disappointed. Yes, of course you cannot expect a movie to reproduce an entire novel faithfully these days, though HARRY POTTER seems to be an exception. What bothered me most about this film were the changes that seemed to me to change the plot. Arwen saving Frodo from the Ring Wraiths? She was an Elven princess, above such menial tasks--no warrior princess, to be sure (they have combined her character with Lady Eowyn, who was a "shieldmaiden" of Rohan.) One of the underlying stories of LORD OF THE RINGS was to show how a hobbit, unaccustomed to adventure and warfare, had the courage to change so that by the end of the story, he and his companions were competent enough to take care of the villians that had invaded Hobbiton. So far, in this movie, Frodo seems anything but brave, falling when he should be standing up and fighting. The characters were miscast. Strider is all wrong; he does not give the impression of being a late-fortyish Ranger, out of the Wild. Sam is too tall, and Pip & Merry were too cute and silly. Gandalf, on the other hand, was not disappointing.Kids, don't figure you can do your school book report by watching this movie. It seems such a shame that with all the technology that went into this film, Elliah Wood could not stick to the story, but felt he could "improve" upon Tolken....
Rating: Summary: A masterpiece. Review: Yesterday (1-25-02), I saw this movie for the sixth time. Personally, I feel that if you're willing to sit through a three hour movie without an intermission two to three times, it must be pretty good. The movie was just wonderful. I guess I should give the author of the books the credit for how interesting the plot was, but the acting and special effects just made it that much more alive (heck, I cried). The cast was beautifully put together; there wasn't really any "big wigs," but I have seen most of these talented actors in movies before ("Gandalf" in X-Men, "Sam" in Rudy, etc.). Those costume and special effects people also deserve a lot of recognition because not only did everything look pretty real, but the bad guys actually looked scary (then again, I guess my opinion doesn't really count because I don't watch horror films...) Okay, now that I've stated how wonderful this movie is, I'd like to make a few notes. First, prior to seeing this film, I've never read The Lord of the Rings or anything. However, after seeing it for the first time, I went out and bought The Hobbit and the trilogy. This next part has to deal more with you, the reader. If you have any young siblings or kids, I would highly recommend not letting them see this movie in theaters. It is rather violent, so unless you have a desensitized nine-year-old (or older), I would either recommend them not seeing it until they're older, or waiting until it's out on video. Also, if you or anyone else you know has sensitive hearing (my brother, for one), don't let them see it in theaters (infants probably should be left with a babysitter too). The horseback riders make a sound that's a cross between a high-shrilled woman's scream and the sound of a scared horse. My brother didn't see the movie, but if he did, his ears STILL would be ringing (five hours later).
Rating: Summary: Terrific yet....... Review: Yet it was a little to long to sit in a theater and enjoy it. I haven't seen it on video but I saw it in theater. It must be twice the better on video you can actually pause and stop it and not miss things. This movie was hyped up to unbelievable proportions by fans and t.v personalities, and of course all the publicity this movie got. I was in a tif to see this movie. Saw it and was like, whoa this wasn't as good as I thought it would be. Don't get me wrong it was awesome! I loved the graphics the fast paced action, there was always something going on in the movie. I can not compare it to the book, but I know this was a good movie and it is worth the watch, fantasy or not fantasy fan. It is a cliff hanger though, so you have to watch the second movie or you'll be out in the cold. The movie is awesome-ly acted, terrifically fast paced and well worth the money.
Rating: Summary: Why can't I give this six stars? Review: You already know. It's beautiful, lush, action-packed, filled with great characters, and it really takes you to Middle-Earth. If you haven't read the book, shame on you. And if you have, but haven't seen the movie yet...Yes, it's true! The reviews were no exxageration!
Rating: Summary: Does the Impossible Review: You can't make a novel into a film without losing something. Important things from the book are lost. The gentle "Englishness" of the Hobbits is only hinted at. The songs and stories, the love of food, tea, and "Southfarthing leaf" that makes the world of the Shire worth saving is only faintly present. The song and stories of the elves are barely present. I do miss those things. But Jackson would have needed six movies to leave all that in. This film does tell the story quite well. It captures the epic scope of the tale. It has the moral core intact. It is done as rightly as it could be done. It is exciting to experience. I dreaded seeing the first installment. Now I eagerly await "The Two Towers." The Lord of the Rings was written by a man out of the nineteenth century who saw the rise of "industrialized evil" in the bloody twentieth century. To me, it has always seemed a requiem for a happier if poorer life. It also seemed to be about the necessity of that loss when evil rises over the world. Tolkien wrote that he hated allegory, but one cannot see the rise and fall of fascism is Europe and not see the lidless eye. This is a great book made into a different, but still great film. I recommend it heartily. Some notes on the DVD itself: I'm not so attached to special features that I like 2+ disc sets. This is a 2 disc set, with more discs coming in an extended version later this year. This movie cost so much to make, I understand the need to sell the movie more than once, and I hope they do make money -- it should be possible to do a job this well and profit by it. But I could have done with just the movie. Most of the special features were broadcast on TV or available as clips on the web.
Rating: Summary: See it, buy it, love it Review: You did see this in the theater, didn't you? This movie was billed as a film of epic proportion and it actually was. This was a must-see on the big screen, and now it is a must-have on DVD. The extra features alone make it worth the purchase. But in case you did not see this one in the theater ... This movie is as true to the book as can be expected, or perhaps even more. The cartoons were abominable but Peter Jackson really comes through on his movie. The scenery is breathtaking. The casting is phenomenal. The acting is first-rate. You will swear Elijah Wood is actually a hobbit. He was robbed at the awards this year. His performance was simply stellar. And I am a fan of the book so I was even skeptical. I was won over virtually immediately as they showed Hobbiton and Bag End with the famous round door in the side of a hill. You will not be disappointed with this movie.
Rating: Summary: Worth Buying Even If You Have the Other Version Review: You don't have to be a LotR [addict] to want this. We own no other LotR merchandise besides the movie. Consider this the director's home cut, with a different editing of events for greater clarity, without the time constraints often forced (unnecessarily by knee-jerk distributors) on film makers. We considered it so superior that we retired the original cut into storage. One only drawback: because there were far more commentary tracks than any rational creature needs to hear, the film had to be split into two discs. You will have to stop and switch them. To keep it short: it's worth the money. We're glad we got it.
Rating: Summary: Super WOW! Review: You dont have to know who Tolkien is (i didnt!) nor do you have to be a child to enjoy this. All you need is to be able to have an open imagination and creativity. This movie had me stunned throughout and sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for more to come. I thought it was about time they bring back some fantasy, non-fictional movies with taste!! I am looking forward to the next movie and cant wait til this one is out in the market!!Great movie for all ages!
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