Rating: 
Summary: Shallower than many other movies and very violent.
Review: Even though a maximum of technology appears to be employed, this movie leaves a weird feeling. It is not the technical flaws that are responsible for that - which may come from the sheer impossibility to concert details of digital AND real performances to a correct whole ... No, the weird feeling this movie leaves is through the absolute absence of humor, the gory perfection of pure violence, and strange timing. The movie is humorless and pale, it drags and at the same time hurries. The characters do take themselves mighty serious, and no superficial eye blink can take away from that. This is not changed by the massive amount of violence on display. We witness someone dying from hemorrhagic shock as someone was stabbed at the end of movie - one of the gut-wrenching scenes shot with pure realism. Some of the monsters look like putrid bodies with decayed teeth. This movie does not rely much on the imagination of the audience, which is probably why it uses up so much time to properly displaying so many details that in fact do not add to the story. It makes sense to sell it to many people in order to generate the necessary income (after all, industry is industry and I have nothing against that), but in the genre of taking fairy tales to the screen, the Harry Potter movie is a whole leap better than this one.
Rating:
Summary: Bored of the Rings
Review: Even though I am not a fan of the Hobbit series I normally look forward to a three hour blockbuster if it is reasonably well edited, has characterisation and plot developement, and some flashy special effects. 'Pearl Harbour' seemed to have some of these things even though it wasn't a great film. With Lord of the Rings all I noticed was pretty sets with no logical or developmental scene setting, characters that sounded, and made me feel like taking, a Mogadon, a no sense plot and literally oceans of screen time in which absolutely nothing happened either to give proper characterisation or make you care about any of the characters- it felt like going from one pretty postcard to another pretty postcard whilst being stuck in an airport lounge waiting a long long time for something to take off. I took my mum and though we don't have the same taste in film we found ourselves verbally parodying the incessant banality long before we walked out. If you are going to film a book word for word then you should make sure it has some narrative drive at least, and surely aim it at an audience who havn't read the sorce material as well as those that have.And 'based on the book' should mean the director using an imaginative adaptation as well. Many great works of literature have not been filmed succesfully because they cannot be literally transcribed, such as 'Tristram Shandy' and 'Ulysees'. I am afraid Lord of the Rings falls into that category.The ending wasn't bad, but this reviewer couldn't last the distance.
Rating: 
Summary: A must-own DVD for cinephiles!
Review: Even though I find it extremely annoying that New Line released two different sets of DVDs for this one movie (and this particular release does not have the option of seeing the theatrical version of the film) I LOVE this DVD. I have sat through all six hours of the documentary footage and two sets (out of four of the commentary) and found it completely fascinating and inspiring. Most of the documentaries on DVDs are kind of [inferior productions] made for HBO deals but all the documentaries on these discs are full of insight and knowledge. I heard somewhere that P.T. Anderson (director of Punch Drunk Love) never went to film school - instead he learned everything he knows about filmmaking from watching the commentary on laserdiscs. Well I DID go to film school and this DVD is easily as educating (and much less expensive) than any class at USC. I think this is one of the best films ever made, one that will stand the test of time, and is a huge credit to Peter Jackson's egoless dedication to make the best, truest version of one of the best, truest pieces of literature the English language has produced.
Rating:
Summary: FRODO LIVES!!!!!!!
Review: Even though I read the book before I saw this, I still loved it! Everything about it is beautiful! The costumes, the scenery. It just gorgeous! Granted there are many things I wish Peter Jackson left in (& left out...), but it still a marvell. The cast was superb, (except Liv Tyler...) especially Elijah Wood, Ian McKellan, & Cate Blanchett. A must see!
Rating:
Summary: The best film ever!
Review: Even though it was one of the most anticipated movies for years, Peter Jackson didn't fail to impress the veiwers by sticking to the plot, and making it one the best fantasy films of all time. The acters were perfectly cast, Elijah Wood being the perfect Frodo Baggins. I was very happy with the film, it even led me to read the book! Im not even a book fan. Well done!
Rating:
Summary: 10 TIMES BETTER THAN HARRY POTTER!
Review: Even though Lord of the Rings is about 3 hours, it has a dramatic edge that Harry Potter does not. Another thing about it is that this year and in 2003, two more sequels will come out. The ending basically sets the stage for the next film which is called the Two Towers. Overall, if you see one movie before Star Wars comes out, see Lord of the Rings.
Rating:
Summary: this is how the movie should've been
Review: even though there still should been more scenes, this extended edition definately filled in alot of the blanks that didn't make sense. the segway into parts of the movie made more sense. and the recognition of legolas as prince of mirkwood is made more apparent not just some elf running around.
Rating:
Summary: A classic!!!
Review: Even though this movie is yet to be released and wont be till December. It looks extrememly promising. If it even captures half of the book then it will be an instant classic. I am expecting this film to revitalize the fantasy movie genre and become the first movie to tap into that genre and succeed tottally and successfully. I am a huge fantasy novel fan and have waited years for a good fantasy movie...(Willow was awesome so was Legend but a little bit more of an epic type film would be nice)...this movie may be what ive been waiting for and from the trailers that have been released it looks like im right.
Rating:
Summary: the best i've ever seen
Review: Even thoughI'm only 13 I have still seen many movies. This is the best me,my faimly,and friends have ever seen.the world of the elves and hobbits are the most magical&peaceful you cant help but wonder how the dark lord & the ring come to them and there peaceful ways. this is the best movie ever if you havent seen it and are thinking of going I urge you to go and see it.I hoped this has helped. bye.
-Danielle
Rating: 
Summary: A visual feast
Review: Every dime they've spent on this trilogy is on the screen. Whether it's set design, costumes, make-up or digital wizardry - even the acting - they've gotten the biggest possible bang for every buck. The movie is a continuous visual feast from beginning to end. It's just that by the time the last course comes out, you've been sitting back from the table with your hands folded across your chest for almost an hour. And, since the final installment won't be out until Christmas 2003, you know there won't be a dessert. The creators' devotion to the events in the source material is admirable but also a limitation. Tolkien often substituted internal back-story and characterization for plot development and this is glaringly evident on film. The plot breaks down into a three hour chase sequence that feels uncomfortably repetitive. If you don't know where the first book ends, you'll be treated to a least a half dozen false endings that utilize every visual and musical cue to indicate the credits are about to roll...then cut to more dialogue. Every third person in the theater looked at their watch when this happened. I didn't realize so many folks had day-glow watches these days. I am not saying the movie is a waste of time. The elements that make the Rings trilogy great - Tolkien's imagination and love of detail and his depiction of the individual's potential for good and evil - are evident. But there have been so many movies inspired by his work that - unfortunately - it takes the luster off the master's story when it finally sees its moment in the sun.
| 
