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The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition Collector's Gift Set)

The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition Collector's Gift Set)

List Price: $79.92
Your Price: $59.94
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Amazing and simply breath taking.....
Review: Lord of the Rings as you know is a tale about a young hobbit named Frodo who inharits a powerful ring from a fellow hobit named Baggins. From there it takes off with flying colors and keeps you on the edge of your seat from scene to scene. This amazing movie stayed true to the book and is a must see for fans and people new to the series alike.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Bringing Tolkien to life in a wonderous way....
Review: Peter Jackson captures both your heart and your imagination with the film version of "Lord of the Rings" - the first in a series of three films which promises to bring the J.R. Tolkien classic to life, on the screen.

LOTR was the foundation for me in a lifetime of love affairs with books - first read in 1967 at the age of 12, it changed my tastes from childhood readings to adult fare; it swept me up in the powerful imagery of Tolkien's vivid vision of an alternate world.
I fretted all year at the thought of the film, and was pleased at the choice of director, and that no stars with names that are household words were to be featured in the roles. I could not resist seeing the film on Day 1, and in all 3+ hours, I was captivated by the screen. I attended with a friend who had never read LOTR, and was able to realize how well Jackson has succeeded in helping the film exceed expectations of lifelong Tolkien fans, as well as introducing the epic to those who are unfamiliar with the story.

The cinematography and special effects are quietly brilliant, the use of the unspoiled territory of New Zealand was a marvelous choice - the Shire is particularly well captured in the film, as is the lair of Saruman, who is chilling in his role of a brilliant genius turned evil. Possibly his best techniques, of the many used in the film, was the way he conveyed the evil lust that overcomes those who are tempted by the power that possession of the ring entails. Seeing Bilbo, Baromir and Galadriel all succumb to the NEED for the ring through the eyes of Gandalf and Frodo was chilling, and better conveyed visually here than in the book. Jackson does not let the special effects overwhelm your sense of story, much as Lucas did in the first Star Wars trilogy. The music is perfectly adapted to both story and cinematography, and was a highlight of the film for me.

Jackson captured the spirit of the story - the teamwork and love that grows between comrades faced with insurmountable odds; in particular, he makes the odd-looking Frodo (Elijah Wood) very slowly into the character that many noble men and women will place their trust in. Frodo and Samwise' (Sean Astin, excellent in his role) friendship is real and transcends the screen. The larger than life roles of Gandalf and Aragon/Strider (Ian McKellan and Viggo Mortensen) were well cast and memorable - both actors became their roles, and both captured the sense of honor that those who protect the endangered hobbits on their noble quest, must have. McKellan particularly, although nominated for a supporting actor role, made Gandalf his own. Here's a role that could not be recast successfully again; McKellan is the ultimate Gandalf. Jackson has succeeded in directing successful characterization on the screen, and sacrificing some bit players from the book to the texture of the main plot.

There is no question that this film succeeds on the level of epics, and we are fortunate in this decade, to be able to keep it alongside "Crouching Tiger"...while waiting for the saga to continue to unfold.

Bravo!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Movie
Review: I was surprised at how well the movie went along with the novels. I was sort of disapointed that they left out the whole Tom Bombadil part. I'm sure they had thought about it but in the end it had to be cut. This will definitly be a movie I will see again. I will definitely buy it too. I can't wait until next year and the year after when Two Towers and The Return of the King come out!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It's a movie, people. A M-O-V-I-E.
Review: You know, for the LOTR purists who thought this movie was (...) and would have been satisfied with nothing less than a 25 hour movie that contained every single word of narrative and dialogue from the Tolken book, get over yourselves. I'm sorry that Arwen rode a horse. I'm sorry that a character was left out entirely. I'm sorry that the movie didn't match your imaginations. I really am. But you have to remember; this is a movie. Though it's adapted from a very well known novel, it's meant to stand by itself, and not simply to please those who like the book.

If you're a fantatical Tolken fan, and will only be satisfied with a rock solid adaptation of the 500 page book, then please God, don't come to this movie so you can merely complain about how different it is. I've known fans of LOTR that have come out of this film going , "that was awesome", because they were ready to like a movie, and didn't just go in to pick out every single way the book was different from it, because, let's face it, pointing out the differences between a 500 page book and a 3 hour movie is like shooting fish in a barrel.

Anyway, as far as movies go, this one, I think, is great. At worst, you'll think it's good, and a fantastic technical achievement, and at best you'll think it's the best movie of all time, and walk out of the theater (...) that it's over.

For those people who went into the movie and brought a pencil to bash the ways the movie lost the book, forget it. I mean, just forget it.

Meanwhile, I'm going to go see it again. I'm almost glad I haven't read the books yet, so I'm not inclined to treat the movie with the same skepticism and spite that some people have.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Thank God For Peter Jackson
Review: I went to see this movie and was so excited i could barely sit still,i wasnt disapointed it was spectacular.The orcs and the fighting scenes (especially those in Moria) Absolutely took my breath away.I can garentee this movie will win best picture and best actor for Ian Mckellen (Although Christopher Lee and Elijah Wood Probably have a chance) And best director.Dont believe these people who say that this movie is rasist or sexist cause thats just a heap of bullcrap made up by people who are obviously feminests.of course no movies are perfect Galadrial and the Lothlorien sequence (...) and so did the flight to the ford but i can ignore those but the unfogivable mistake however is replacing Glorfindol with Arwen,I was outraged.still this is definetly the finest film ever made,at least until the rest of the trilogy is released.If you have not read the book and have seen or plan on seeing the movie i strongly recomend that you do read it,it will give you a much greater understanding of the film.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Fellowship of the Rings...
Review: was AMAZING! From the first frame to the credits, the movie was absolutely breathtaking. The cast played their roles perfectly, while the music played with the movie. Peter Jackson gives great direction, and the story itself was epic. Everyone should go see this movie.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: They didn't capture the grandeur
Review: What's up with orcs going straight up and down sheer vertical pillars in Moria, like bugs out of The Mummy? The film had a fuzzy look much of the time. The music was annoying to me, too many choir voices all the time. They didn't capture the grandeur of the book, as Led Zeppelin's Battle of Evermore did.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Minor flaws not enough to diminish excellence of this epic
Review: The book is a fantastical adventure story with enough fans to fill a whole country of Tolkien-mad citizens. And now, after many years, comes the film. The film adaptation of this classic book.

It's a tough act to follow for the director. How can you transmit all the power and greatness of the book onto a screen to delight both die-hard fans and passing movie-viewers alike? But here, its been done. Here is a film that both:

a) Shouldn't leave those who haven't read the book alienated, drawing in its audience
b) Should ensure that die-hard fans don't leave the cinema quibbling about differences between the book and the film.

In fact, there are some difference between the book and movie, and the story does spill over into the second book, but these are minor and should only affect the enjoyment of fans whose criteria for a good adaptation is only that it should be exactly as the book. Which, on its own, would not have made a good film.

The film is also quite a way better than its rival the Harry Potter film. It reminds us of what the master story of fantasy books is and keeps us eagerly anticipating the next film.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: I know I'll get hate mail just for telling the TRUTH!
Review: What an intro! The movie's introduction was a mind-blower! Excitement coursed through my veins at how the director captured the set of the movie, the special effects, the brief history of the prequel (The Hobbit), the armies clashing, the god-inspiring musical score, everything! it is probably among the most technically and artfully advanced scenes I have ever witnessed. But. . . although it had the best special effects, the story was narrow and tainted with holes in the plotline. The movie will never succeed the craft of the novel and I know that. Some parts were just fast-key like the Elf witch and her "test." The film had no background to her story. Awful just plain awful. While other parts of the movie felt slow and mostly boring. I know novels are supposed to present danger at every turn, and the good guys always win but movies aren't really cut out for it, making the film a repetitive one, instead of being a truly suspenseful one. Not to say the movie didn't have suspense (like oh, say Gandalf and his "fiery shadow" friend). It had a truckload of edge-of-your-seat action, but once you got through the first hour and a half, there is hardly any suspense to offer. And what's up with this little band of heroes wiping out army after army? Imagine 9 heroes (an elf, two humans, a dwarf, four hobbits, and a wizard) defeating at least 150 villians and one hero (a human) defeating ten ring wraths. A little too much exaggeration, no? It's pathetic how the film portrays a hero single-handedly slay horde after horde of villians. I know these guys are the heros, but hell, they aren't superheroes are they? They are skilled but not gods. Jesus Christ that was really annyoing. Plus, the dwarf and the elf in the party really don't add main focal points to the movie. If they do then I missed it (stupid me). They have only trivial ones without a hint of true charaterization. Sure the elf has arrow-shooting accruacy of a computer and the dwarf loves to roar and engage combat, but come on where are your true emotions? Are you not flesh, bones, and feelings? Poor characters, indeed! Lastly, the length was horrible, long, and throughout the movie I kept saying to myself, "will it end now? Please end now. God, make it end." And i know others in the audience felt the same way. It was contagious! I observed people around me mumbling, grumbling, and being uneasy in their chairs. I even saw a mere child dozing off right next to me! They all wanted to strecth their little, stiff legs, didn't they? Overall, read the book if you want to experience Lord of The Rings. The movie tries to capture every little detail in the book and fails and succeeds at the same time. I know this movie will have mixed reviews, and majority will love it, and the tiny few who are honest, well good for you. Unlike, the Phantom Meance, I won't try to convince myself that it was a movie of godhood spectrum. The technology and presentation were mesmerizing and unforgettable, but the characters were out of place and elusive than the sheer scope of the novel. However, it sure makes up for the Phantom Meance in every department.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Middle earth comes to life! -- Then falls off a cliff
Review: I attempted to look at this movie from an objective standpoint when I went to see it. I figured that if I went in not worrying about how things were in the books, that I'd be happier when leaving the theatre.

Needless to say, that didn't help. So I gave up on it.

Mr. Jackson and his team of scissor-wielding editors did a good job of botching a movie that could have made him the most famous director of all time. How? By leaving out details that should have been there, by creating a sappy love-story when there should have never been such, and by re-arranging key plot elements to where I felt like if I hadn't read the novels, overall the story wouldn't make much sense.

The story didn't seem to "flow", per se. The hobbits were nicely done for the most part, but many of the other characters were mighty flakey. Gollum's history became nothing but just Gollum. Boromir was nothing but a greedy slimeball. Gandalf didn't do much in the form of magic. (I'm still sad that they skipped the scene of him battling the riders at Weathertop). Bree lost a lot of substance. The scissor-wielders cut out much-needed explanation in lieu for buttering up the battle scenes.

Did I mention that when anyone spoke elvish, they suddenly looked like they turned into translation drones? Scary.

I don't have enough room to finish my 800-page long synopsis, so here's my summary: I gave it two stars... one for the camera sweeps of Barad-Dur and Orthanc and one for the guy who sat behind me that yelled "Mister Anderson!" on the first close-up of Elrond. I don't think the crowd (most of whom left half-way through muttering about disappointment) laughed harder at anything else the rest of the movie.


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