Rating: 
Summary: A masterpiece
Review: I have read the Lord of the Rings trilogy, like I would hope all do before seeing Fellowship, and I believe it an excellent adaptation. Not only does Peter Jackson allow for his cast to give an actual performance, unlike George Lucas, he also does an excellent job of filling in gaps. There wasn't the best of explanations, in the book, of how Gandalf escaped Orthanc, yet Jackson did his best to fill that in.Those who complain and moan about how people compare this to Star Wars, and putting shame to it, it does. Compared to Lord of the Rings, Star Wars is a joke, a mockery of cinema. Special effects in Lord of the Rings aren't done to play around, they're done only to further the storyline. When 12 year-olds review this movie and complain, it's easily equated to being TWELVE. Quit reviewing movies that are aimed at a much higher audience, and as far as people referring to "Viggo Mortsenson's Knight," how about you watch the movie first. He's mentioned by three names total in the movie, at least uee ONE of them to refer to him - Aragorn, Strider or Elissar. Complaints revolving around 'this movie is too long', and 'the movie was too dark', maybe you should also read the books. Every book was well-over 300 pages, which still isn't that long, and to do them justice, obviously, you need a lot of time. Tolkien ultra-purists are going to complain as it is, without Tom Bombadil, which would've likely added 30 or more minutes. As far as being 'too dark', that's the point of this series! Too dark?! That's right, there's a great shadow over the land that is trying to envelope all of Middle-Earth, and it's the job of the Fellowship to try and end it. Comparing this movie to Harry Potter is laughable, because Harry Potter is aimed at children, not an adult. Children shouldn't review adult-oriented themes, because they'll, first, not understand them, even some adults who haven't read the books won't understand the first time around, and second, not comprehend the overall meaning of the actions being taken. Get a clue, whiners.
Rating:
Summary: A cinema landmark
Review: I have read The Lord of the Rings, but that was back when I was a teenager, many moons ago, so much of the long and complex story has long since evaporated from my consciousness. From this vantage point, I simply do not care how closely Peter Jackson's adaptation hews to its source material. All I know is that The Fellowship of the Ring is obviously a landmark film, perhaps the best large-scale fantasy movie since Fritz Lang's Siegfried (based on a Germanic myth that Tolkien also drew on for LOTR, incidentally). Fellowship was clearly a labor of love for everyone involved in its making, and it shows in everything from the art direction and set design to the cinematography, writing, acting and, especially, Jackson's impassioned directing. It's surprising to read that Jackson says he prefers the theatrical cut, because the extended DVD is clearly superior, fleshing out several small points and adding several wonderful scenes that, while not strictly necessary to the narrative, add texture and feeling to the film as a whole. Very definitely the choice to make over the original version DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: I have read the Ring Trilogy and the Hobbit, several times since 6th grade (over half my life ago). So much of this movie fits the images in my head. And the ones that vary are quite acceptable. When I heard about some of the cast I was doubtful about how they could portray their characters, but was pleasantly surprised. Elijah Wood (Frodo) portrays the increasing burden of the ring with clarity. Ian McKellen (Gandalf) is more playful than I had imagined, however upon rethinking, I realize his delight and love of the hobbits and their lives. I would recommend this movie for J.R.R. Tolkien fans and those who have never read it.
Rating:
Summary: More than I Expected
Review: I have read the trilogy 14 times since the 70's,and was hugly disappointed by the animated version of the books in '78. I have anxiously looked forward to the live action film and I was NOT dissapointed! Considering the the enormous complexity of the material, I thought it was very well done.Well casted and incredably acted! Yes there were large amounts of material left out, but come on the movie would have been 6 hours long if they included everything,I thought they compressed the story well without sacrificing the major story line.A must have when it comes out on DVD, and I'm re-reading it for the 15th time! Loved it!
Rating:
Summary: Spectacular Tour-de-Force!
Review: I have read the Trilogy at least 25 times and have waited 35 years for this movie to arrive! The film delivers in every way - casting is superb, even Agent Smith of the Matrix playing Elrond works! Acting is full of heart and emotional intensity, and Elijah Wood embodies the innate goodness and purity of Frodo. Peter Jackson's pacing is flawless, keeps the audience riveted to the the screen for three hours. The sets are lush and perfectly rendered, with astonishing attention to detail. For those who have read the book, subtleties and allusions abound - just one example is when the Council of Elrond is heatedly arguing about the Ring. Their images are reflected in the gold surface of the Ring, fire sweeps around it, and a muted voice chants in the Black Speech "One Ring to Rule them All..." Don't see how its possible to wait an entire year for the Two Towers!
Rating: 
Summary: Middle Earth Comes Alive
Review: I have read the trilogy several times. It is amazing in its scope. As a quest to destroy the ultimate evil has to be huge. Director Peter Jackson has done a very good job in maintaining that scope in just under three hours. He has treated this classic tale of fantasy with great respect. Hobbitown looks just as described. I vividly remember reading about when the Nazgul Ring Wraiths first appear. I remember trying to visualize how four hobbits could hide under a root without being seen when the black Wraith is standing directly over them, and yet not be seen. I remember reading about the trip through the Mines of Moria, the Wizard Gandalf's battle with the balrock and how the Fellowship broke apart. The movie depicts each with the size and scope of the book. The only other set of movies I know of with this scope is the Star Wars Trilogy. But there, the actors always seem to be having a good time, almost like they were acting in a Saturday Serial. The Good Guys can't die. In contrast, the actors here take their roles much more seriously. They play their roles as if they can die. Without that seriousness, the movie would not work. The cinematography, sound track and special effects are very good. There are no effects done simply for the "WOW that's cool!" value. (See e.g., the candy frog comming to life and jumping out of the train window in Harry Potter and the Sorcer's Stone.) If the effects had been eye candy, they would have detracted from the movie. Instead, the special effects and computer generated characters, backgrounds and images take a back seat to the story. My main gripe with the movie is that it could have been shortened by half an hour if every fifth shot was not of the Ring in Frodo's hand. It becomes very distracting and annoying. This is the ony reason I did not give this movie a 5 star rating. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie and book series
Review: I have read the whole Lord of the Rings series and loved it all! I have been very anxious for the "Lord of the Ring" movies to come out and the first movie "Fellowship of the Ring," didn't disappoint me. It was wonderful and was like seeing your friends come to life! The sets were very artistic... awesome! I'm an artist so I could appreciate all the work that went into the sets as well as the costumes. I don't think it is really a movie for young children, as it is too advanced for them and I noticed many children in the threatre twitching in their seats from boredom! I will definitely add this DVD to my collection of Tolkien's works. The books are worth buying too and some sets have beautifully illustrated pictures of the heroes. The director variated from the books a little in the movie, but the story for the most part follows its original plot. I love it!
Rating:
Summary: An epic saga - but moves slowly
Review: I have seen all three parts of the trilogy. Clearly, the "Return of the King" (part three) is the best part. This is actually one ten hour movie rather than three movies. Publishing constraints and move viewing patience were behind the division. I am not a fantasy fan. Mention wizards and elves and I am as ready to run from you as I would from a Star Trek convention. But I enjoyed LOTR. At ten hours, this is an alternate world rather than a 90 minute entertainment. And the finale not only satisfies completely, it throws light back on the earlier installments. Saying that, I could have done without 3 or more hours of this saga. An editor would have been welcomed. "Fellowship" sometimes moves at a glacial pace. The constant run-ins with strange creatures and other obstacles gets to be repetitive. Ok, the journey to return the ring is not easy. I got the point after the first three or four challenges. Enough, already. This is not a problem in part three, which moves so fast you don't believe it is three and a half hours long. In parts one and two, you will need caffeine to stay awake through it all. I am very glad that I saw all three parts as I consider this a great movie with a spectacular ending. I just would have liked it better if every page of the novels wasn't filmed for our boredom.
Rating:
Summary: Lord of the rings The fellowship of the ring
Review: I have seen many films over the years, but this film is a pleasure to watch, and the acting is first class.
It may take nearly 3 hrs to watch but you are glued to the screen for the entire film. I was not a fan of Tolkens work so when I went a saw the film I was not sure what to expect, in the end there is only one word to discribed this film. Amazing.
I will look forward to buying the DVD and watch this many times over.
I am counting the days till the second film is released.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent DVD of a Great Movie
Review: I have seen The Fellowship of the Ring four times in theatres and now twice at home since purchasing the DVD on the first day it was available. I could watch it twice a day for the rest of my life and not get tired of it. You don't need to have read the book. The story explains itself admirably as it goes along. If there's something you don't understand, just be patient-- it will get explained eventually. Yet it isn't overexplained either-- very little pure exposition. I have only two complaints: (1) The movie is too short. (2) In remastering the soundtrack to issue the DVD they made the music too soft in comparison to the dialogue. One of the joys of the movie is the music, and there are times on the DVD where you can barely hear it. Some people have complained that the movie isn't faithful to the book. OK, yes, there are changes in detail, and some events have been left out. Yet the net effect is to tighten up the plot and better justify some later events that otherwise seem to spring out of nowhere in the books. I think Tolkien himself would have liked it.
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