Rating: 
Summary: Stupendous Film!
Review: An absolute marvel to watch. I felt everything was perfect; characters, actors, special effects, cinematography, scenery, etc, etc. Looking back in retrospect, perhaps character development was lacking, but I believe the timelessness and excitement of the story made up for that. I just can't believe the people who say they were bored with the repetition of fight scene after fight scene, not to mention all of the carnage. What carnage? I mean, of course, there were many battles between good and evil and many creatures killed, but I saw none in such a graphic and horrific way. No spewing of blood, no flying of guts, no people left in pain and agony to die horrible deaths. If you want to see graphic carnage, try 'Saving Private Ryan' or 'The Thin Red Line.' Those were films with massive amounts of grotesque and violent death, not to mention an endless repetition of the same theme...(some good guys fight the bad guys, then move on, then fight the bad guys, then move on, then fight the bad guys, etc, etc.) Honestly, I do remember leaning over to my boyfriend when the Fellowship was in the Mines of Moria fighting the ancient demon and whispered, "How many evil creatures are they going to fight?" I didn't say it out of a sense of boredom or urge for the movie to continue forward; I merely felt sorry for the characters. I mean, wasn't it bad enough just to go to Mordor without having to worry about battling every other demonic figure on the way there? Finally, I can't stand the way people here are so narrow-minded to say that the movie sucked because there was no ending. Duh! The movie is part of a trilogy, so of course it doesn't really "end" yet! I admit, I was disappointed about it though (only because I have to wait a year to see the second part). All in all, it was an absolutely fabulous movie, one of the best I've ever seen! A definite DVD buy for me!
Rating:
Summary: All Right, Call Me A Geek
Review: Still speechless, I've seen THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING four times now. The film is cinemagic. Its scope is epic. Its delivery is perfect. The acting is unforgettable, and the story is timeless. Director Peter Jackson has created a singular masterpiece that, like CITIZEN KANE, CASABLANCA, and STAR WARS, will inspire hundreds -- if not thousands -- of creative minds to pursue interests in film and writing. His adaptation of the book (note: not a literal translation like the boorish HARRY POTTER film) almost cries out for academic study.Of particular note, Viggo Mortenson (sp?) is superb as Aragorn/Stryder. Of surprising pleasure, Elijah Wood brings a subtle intelligence to the role of Frodo Baggins, the hapless Hobbit who inherits the task of bearing the ring to the dark lands of Mordor. Of unyielding praise, Ian McKellan deserves an Oscar for his performance as Gandalf.
Rating:
Summary: Endless quest
Review: THE LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING is an epic movie in every way. I normally don't like fantasy-based movies but this one just blew me away. I enjoyed every minute of the 3 1/2 hours. I was hooked from beginning to end. It's rare that a movie of that length would keep anyone interested for that long. BUT IT DID! It was awesome. Visually it was excellent but the characters and the storyline is what will keep you hooked. The Characters are awesome. The acting was amazing. It was dramatic, emotional, and action-packed. The basic plot is about a hobbit (played oh so well by Elijah Wood) that acquires a ring of dark power and he has to destroy it. A lot unfolds along the way. THE LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING is pure magic and the ending leaves you craving parts 2 and 3.
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.
Rating:
Summary: The Most Wonderful Movie I Have Ever Seen
Review: "The Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring" is a brilliant start for the film trilogy. Every set is perfect. Every detail is polished until every scene shines. If you have read the books, I believe you will find that the sets are just as the books describe them. The Fellowship is played by an extremely talented group of actors and the soundtrack shakes with power. Elijah Wood embraces his role as the small yet brave and noble hobbit Frodo who carries the fate of his company on his shoulders. Ian McKellen is wonderful as the wise old wizard Gandalf who guides Frodo on this dangerous journey. Cate Blanchett is haunting as the mystical queen Galadriel and newcomer Orlando Bloom brings to life his elf character, Legolas. The graphics are absolutely breathtaking and the three hour film flies by. You will find yourself returning to theaters again and again to fully appreciate the best film we have seen in many years, and the unexpected and touching ending will leave you thirsting for the next installment.
Rating:
Summary: Don't miss this one
Review: I highly recommend seeing this movie. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this movie at first and I delayed seeing it. After I finally saw it, I wanted to turn right around and see it again. This is a must see movie. Do yourself a favor and go see this movie. You will not be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: it was bad
Review: I saw the movie on Christmas Day. I have to admit that the battle scenes and the special effects on them were good, on that I would rate it excellent. But thats all that kept me from walking away from the movie. The rest was plain boring. The plot in its self was good, but it took 20 minutes to climb a friggin mountain. Then when they got to the top there were even more. And most of the mountains hardly anything exciting happened. If they were to cut out the parts where nothing happens there would be two or less movies. Buy it on DVD when it comes out so you can skip that ...(stuff). DON'T WAIST YOUR TIME IN A THEATRE WATCHING IT!
Rating:
Summary: If there was a Nobel Prize for film.....
Review: This movie, while a great film by itself, is doubly wonderful if you loved the book long before the movie showed up. If one reads articles on the production, you find that nearly the entire cast and crew both loved the book and were determined to remain loyal to it. They succeeded. Watching the film is almost eerie at times...it's an astounding thing for Tolkien to write a world so vivid that we could picture it perfectly...and then have it perfectly pictured for us on a screen. I have now seen it eleven times (as opposed to a maximum two times in the theater for any other movie) and each time I find more complexity in it. Peter Jackson's directing is a marvel, not only for the good choices he made to streamline the story, but most of all for the unified vision of what he's trying to say which is the hallmark of any good (great? incomparable? yes that's it) film. The acting is superb. All of the actors live into their characters; I was most impressed with Ian McKellen, who had apparently never read the book until he got the part and yet was able to become Gandalf in every nuance and expression. Also especially impressive were Sean Bean as Boromir and Elijah Wood as Frodo; it will be interesting to watch Frodo's transformation completed in the other two films from fear to despairing strength. The special effects don't even need to be discussed. Nothing like this film has ever been seen before; and I expected it to be spectacular, but the one detail that blew me away nevertheless was the pits of Isengard. I was dumbfounded. On an equal par with the effects, the score is an amazing piece of work...movie scores are fairly banal by and large, but every once in a while you get one without which the film would not be complete. Howard Shore created something amazing and got a well-deserved Oscar for it. I could go on for days...the film is astounding, but it takes a true lover of the book to realize just how astounding it is, and what a monumental cinematic achievement is was to bring such a book to vivid life. I will be happily standing on a sidewalk shivering in December with a friend and a sleeping bag for as many days as it takes. Thank you Peter Jackson and crew; you deserved every Oscar and it's just too damn bad the establishment isn't ready to recognize this sort of greatness yet (probably because it's never been seen before). But Lord...if they gave it to Titanic, they'll give the stupid statue to anyone. Fellowship raises the bar for all film in the future; I expect such a bar only to be exceeded in the next two Decembers, if ever.
Rating: 
Summary: Wildly immaginative, action packed, but too fast.
Review: When I first read the book, I didn't get more than 100 pages before closing it and throwing it into the attic. So, when I heard that the movie was coming out, I made no plans to see it. However, when a friend came over and we decided to see a movie, we figured we should see TLOTR. It was amazing! The immagination, the wonder, the action, the acting, the scenery, the beginning with naration that shows the ring on its journey, all of it was brilliant. Suffice it to say, it was nothing like the book. I can not wait for the next two. Most people know the plot so I won't trouble you by going over it. The bad guys were superb. The
Nine(former kings of men who are now like Dementors on horseback,
the orcs, the cave troll, the tentacled water creature, the fire demon, Sauron the evil leader, Saruman a former wizard who switched sides, the new mutant orcs. Basically, there are a lot of bad guys, for a lot of battles. Most of the movie is the journey, but the beginning, with the hobbits leaving the shire and being persued by the nine at every available instance, is too fast. They are attacked far too much by these cloaked warriors. Jackson could have at least left a few minutes in between each attack. Also, bring earplugs. I've seen this film twice now and the second time, with earplugs, is much more enjoyable than the first. A great movie, but a bit rushed.
Rating:
Summary: A movie even a mother could love!
Review: In our family of 4, only 2 of us wanted to see this movie. I wasn't one of them figuring I could wait for the video, but the 4 of us went to see it anyway. Boy, was I wrong! I was completely enthralled with this movie and loved every minute of it. I never read the books and enjoyed this movie so much that I'm unable to wait for the next installment coming later this year and ordered the books! So if you're a mother wondering whether you should go with the family to see this movie, definitely do so. You'll be amazed by all of it and will be glad you went. Sometimes we just need to be entertained and this movie does it from start to finish.
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