Rating: 
Summary: ahhhhhhhhh
Review: I'm sorry...........I'm hopelessly obsessed with LOTR.......I've seen the first two at least thirteen times (FOTR more than that) but ROTK only five. I just love these moviiieessss aaaaaaaghhhhh..........matrix is dumb!!!!!
this was a weird review. I apologize.
Rating:
Summary: Awe-struck
Review: I'm still reeling from this film! The performances, costuming, props and special effects, direction, and cinematography are astounding. There were times whilst viewing this film when I was on the edge of my seat or grabbing my seat to hold on; times when my heart was pounding; times when I was moved to shed a tear by either sadness or greatness. The movie captures every part of human emotions, wraps them all up, and unleashes them at the viewer at an almost rapid pace; which can, at times, be a bit too much. The Fellowship Of The Ring is a very strong, very powerful, visually stunning, and entirely emotive film. And I give top marks to WETA for the highly notable achievement of creating a thoroughly credible height ratio effect for the Hobbits and Dwarves in regards to the taller races of Middle-earth. Brilliant!However, as much as I was stunned by this film, the screenplay and adaptions were absolute rubbish! In my opinion, Mrs. Jackson and anyone who worked with her should be fed to the Balrog, along with Peter Jackson himself for allowing it. Their were changes in characters and character, aspirations, and events. Tolkien's dialogue was rarely followed. Some reviewers say this doesn't deter from the story. It does deter from the story! That's exactly what it does. How difficult is it to follow a story and dialogue that has already been written? Editing is one thing and is understandable when approaching a big screen adaptation with time constraints, but arrant changes to a story are not. This I find unforgivable. In addition, no Fatty Bolger playing up appearances in Frodo's new house in Buckland; no Willow The Wisp; no Tom Bombadil; no Barrow-wights; no Rhadaghast The Brown, and very little attention payed to the Hobbits' stealth from and cat and mouse games with the Black Riders in The Shire. In addition, very little of Tolkien's dialogue was covered. The Fellowship Of The Ring is mainly dialogue, and takes place mainly in The Shire. What happened to Peter Jackson's boasting about how closely he was going to follow Tolkien's story? With all its faults, Ralph Bakshi's film follows Tolkien's story and dialogue more closely than Jackson's version does! Jackson is either pandering to his own ego (or his wife's), or just trying to make the film(s) appeal to more people than just Tolkien fans; and the only reason for the latter would be money. Aside from the above criticism, I was very annoyed by WETA's cheesy computer-generated Cave Troll and Balrog. This garbage belongs in a video game, not an important epic film. What ever happened to employing the talents of real artists like Ray Harryhausen or Jim Henson's Creature Shop? Is it just me, or are today's film makers relying too heavily on computer-generated effects, and using the words "can't be done" or "not within the budget" as a scape-goat to seeking alternative ways of creating effects, like the filmmakers of old had to do? However all scrutinising aside, The Fellowship Of The Ring is an overwhelming cinematic experience, and one which should not be missed by anyone; with the exception of pre-teens, to whom this film will only terrorise. This is a tremendous Christmas present, and I thank Peter Jackson and everyone involved in its creation for it. It's difficult to believe that there are two more films of this calibre to follow. I look forward to their release, as well as a few more viewings of The Fellowship Of The Ring. In closing I'd just like to say that Tolkien fans have still not been given a definitive screen version of The Lord Of The Rings. In fact, the only way I believe it would be possible to remain faithful to Tolkien's story and (even edited) dialogue, would be to make a complete mini-series for non-commercial television; basically, a visual accompaniment to the long BBC Radio production. Perhaps one day someone with enough integrity and who cares enough will.
Rating: 
Summary: I'm not worthy
Review: I'm sure this movie deserves more stars than I'm giving it. But if it's not your thing, it's not your thing, and I don't think this one's mine. I never read Tolkien, and maybe that's the problem. This is a gorgeous movie, wonderfully rendered and quite enticing. But I fell asleep during it, twice. Its just way too much and too long. I had fancied myself a fan of fantasy, and watch quite a bit of science fiction. Princess Bride is my favorite movies. But this was sooooo deep. Its degree of success is probably the reason for my failure to enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: One of the only movies I will watch
Review: I'm very choosy about what I watch, but FOTR is just incredible! Peter Jackson and his team did an unbelievable job of capturing the spirit and passion of Middle Earth's cultures and provided one of the most enjoyable movies of all time. From the pure romance to super action sequences and tender moments with the characters, all things are done top-notch and strike true in your heart. This movie is the best! =)
Rating: 
Summary: Wait for the extended cut... if you can.
Review: I've already written one review for the cinema release of the Fellowship, and I still think it's one of the greatest movies ever made. I have every intention of buying the extended version when it comes out, but I just couldn't wait to have my own copy. For those of you debating between the extended cut and the wide release version, I thought I'd review the special features. First of all, the biggest bummer about this DVD release is a complete lack of commentary. I'm a big fan of commentary. The special features are really just a collection of previously released materials: internet movies, promotional presentations, etc. The two big things that impatient geeks like myself wil get out of this edition are the previews for the extended version, and The Two Towers. The Extended cut preview, including a brief intro from Peter Jackson is extremely short. We get glimpses of the missing scenes and a brief interview with Howard Shore about the additions to the score. For those of you who were unaware of such a future release, this is a hard way to find out. The Two Towers preview is quite a bit meatier and goes into locations, new characters and the making of Gollum. We still don't get to see what he looks like finished, but even the unfinished product is pretty amazing. Basically, if you are a big fan, wait, wait, wait for the extended version. If you just can't wait that long, the sound and picture quality of this version are well above average and the story remains as incredible as ever, so you can get a decent fix. I plan on giving this version away once I get my grubby little hands on the extended cut.
Rating:
Summary: Some minor changes; otherwise faithful, powerful moving epic
Review: I've been a fan for almost five years now. The first time I read this book, I was engrossed in a way I have never been before while reading a book. I have read all of Tolkien's works, including the Silmarillion, and not only understood it, I even *enjoyed* it. So I've been looking forward to this film as much as anyone, slightly worrying about unfaithfulness and cheapness (both can be seen in the cartoons The Hobbit, The Return of the King, and, to a much lesser extent, Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings). Although a few things have been changed or left out, this film otherwise remains extremely true to the book. Most changes as have been made, such as lines moved from one part of the story to another, are at least just as good, although some might be only slightly annoyed by Arwen and Saruman's somewhat larger roles. But really, Saruman's role isn't much bigger than it was in the book, and Arwen merely replaces Glorfindel. That's all. So far, this review has been aimed toward longtime LoTR fans. I'm addressing the worries many fans have about changes. Believe me. It's good. It's very faitful to the book, and it makes things come alive in spectacular ways - you forget that you're part of the audience, and not a tag along on the journey. The Lord of the Rings is an epic story, which has survived about fifty years, without diminishing in popularity or appriciation. In fact, it has been named the Most Popular Book of the 20th Century. To call it fantasy is like calling Frankenstein horror or sci-fi. This book literally created the genre of fantasy. There was no fantasy before Tolkien. He set the standard, and pretty much no one since has come anywhere close to what he did, in scope and quality. This is not your average, cheezy paperback fantasy novel adaption. Harry Potter fans beware: It is a powerful, moving epic, and the movie is an instant classic, bringing an enourmous vision to life.
Rating:
Summary: A must see movie
Review: I've been a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien's since I first read the Lord of the Rings when I was in high school. I never thought that the books would be able to be put to film because of the complexity of the story. I am very glad to say that I was mistaken. Peter Jackson did a wonderful job with the film. The story starts off with mostly back-story. We see how the Ring is forged and the first battle to destroy Sauron. We learn that the Ring was not destroyed and how it seems to have a mind of its own and is trying to get back to his Master. We follow it in brief snippets as it travels from Isildur to Gollum and finally to the least likely of heroes, Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit. From there the 'real' story begins. It is the 111 birthday of Bilbo and all of the Shire is turning out for the party. Gandalf the Wizard (played by Ian McKellan) comes to the shire with a cart full of fireworks for the celebration. He is met by Frodo Baggins (wonderfully played by Elijah Wood). The party commences as Bilbo plans for an escape from the Shire and a return to 'adventures'. At Gandalf's insistence, he leaves the Ring behind for Frodo. From there, the story picks up speed, with Frodo, along with Hobbit-friends, Sam Gamgee, Pippin Took and Merry Brandybuck, hightailing it from the Shire for Bree, being chased by the dark servants of Sauron, who are searching for the Ring. At Bree they meet a suspicious character called Strider. He takes them under his wing and leads them finally to Rivendell, but not before Frodo almost dies at the hands of the Nazgul, the dark servants. It is here that the one thing that bothered me about the film adaptation happened. We get a bit of a romance story between Arwen, the daughter of Elrond, and Strider, who we learn is a king in hiding, whose real name is Aragorn. We only get a brief glance of this romance in the book - here it is thrown in our face so that even the most unobservant viewer can't miss it. Tolkien wasn't big on female characters, and it shows in his books. I think that should have carried over into the film. Other than that, though, I was very pleased with the film. At times, it seems that Mr. Jackson was doing a travel film for New Zealand and I know that by the end of the film, I was ready to go for a visit. His location shots were beautiful, especially the Shire which reminded me of an English country village. Rivendell and Lothlorien had an otherworldliness that I expected for Elvish cities/homes. Even Isengard and Mordor were chillingly done and exactly as I pictured them when I read and re-read the books. Parents with young children should be aware that this is a sword wielding culture and the swords and arrows do draw blood, although it is done in such a way that it isn't graphic. We see characters kill with bow and sword. Characters are wounded, and the wounding is treated realistically - in other words, it HURTS! Also, the final scenes show one of the main characters (Boromir, played by Sean Bean) killed by being struck with multiple arrows as he defends two of the Hobbits (Merry and Pippin) from orc/goblins. I think most children could handle it and I did see children in the theater as young as about 7-8 who had no problems. If the child is sensitive to this type of thing, I would recommend that the child be a little older, at the parents discretion. The biggest disappointment for me was the end. The three-hour running time went by too quickly. As I watched Frodo and Sam walk off toward Mordor alone, I was all set to watch the next movie to start after the credits had finished rolling. This was a sentiment that I heard from many people as we left the theater. Mr. Jackson has himself a hit, and two more to follow in 2002 and 2003.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie - Lame DVD extras
Review: I've been a J.R.R. Tolkien fan since I was 10 years old, and I can't give this rendition of LoTR more praise. It's true to the story (though missing a few not-so-essential chapters) and lets us experience it in a way the books never could. The extras... well, hope you weren't planning on knowing "how they did it," because you won't get it here. Be prepared for disjointed previews of the movie you already own and continuous commercials for all of the other LoTR merchandise available. There's an awesome preview of "The Two Towers" that has me anxiously waiting for more, though, as well as a preview of the Extended Edition due out in November 2002.
Rating:
Summary: brilliant film of the literary classic with great dvd extras
Review: I've been a Tolkien devotee for nearly 25 years and have needlessly raised my hopes over several attempts at bringing his masterwork to the screen, but Peter Jackson has done justice to what many agree may be the best literary work of the 20th century. This initial dvd offering features two discs -- one for the film itself (as released in theaters) and another for special features. ( A four-dvd edition will be released in November 2002.) The film is a remarkable and faithful adaptation of the first volume of Tolkien's trilogy. Jackson masterfully carries this literary masterpiece into the 21st century with breathtaking sets, gorgeous costumes, sumptuous music, gloriously eye-popping special effects, and a touching attention to detail that evokes history-laden cultures. One does miss Tom Bombadil, and wonder why screenwriters decided to make Frodo ignorant of Bilbo's imminent departure from the Shire for example, but mostly one can understand the cinematic justification for changes that were made and just bathe in this beautiful film -- whether or not you are a devotee of JRR. If you are hesitant to see this film for fear of being disappointed -- race out and get it now. You will NOT be disappointed. From the introductory voiceover to a beautifully realized Hobbiton, the opening is mesmerizing and the film just keeps getting better, in some ways revealing Tolkien's rich and complex world even more clearly than the books. The characters are well-realized and the cast is exquisite. You can tell that the people who worked on this adaptation cared about the books even more than they cared about the bottom dollar, and I hope the awards start rolling in for Jackson, his right-hand man Richard Taylor and their talented cast and crew. The special features include: three documentary features -- "Welcome to Middle Earth" (a publisher's in-store feature, 17 minutes), "Quest for the Ring" (originally aired on Fox TV, 22 minutes), and "A Passage to Middle Earth" (originally seen on the Sci Fi Channel, 40 minutes); fifteen featurettes about the cultures and locations depicted in the film; two teasers, a trailer and six tv spots; a preview of the extended dvd edition due out November 12, 2002; a preview of Entertainment Arts' video game, "The Two Towers"; an 11-minute behind-the-scenes preview of the film, "The Two Towers"; and an Enya video. There is also a coupon and rebate booklet for such varied items as sword replicas, jewelry, posters, etc. "Welcome to Middle Earth" features a charming introduction to Robert Unwyn who, as a boy, originally reviewed The Hobbit for his publisher father and, fortunately for us all, gave the manuscript a thumbs-up with the comment "should appeal to all children between the ages of 5 and 9". Years later, as a publisher himself, he received the manuscript for The Lord of the Rings (originally presented as a single volume) and wrote to his father for advice, telling him that he thought the book was wonderful but would probably lose a thousand pounds; his father replied "IF you believe this to be a work of genius, THEN you may lose the thousand pounds" -- and off they went! This 17-minute feature also shows Tolkien's Oxford hall and home, describes two Houghton-Mifflin companion volumes and is really a wonderful treat for fans. The three features include interviews with Peter Jackson, WETA Workshop's Richard Taylor, artists Alan Lee and John Howe, and actors Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Billy Boyd, Cate Blanchett, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, Liv Tyler and Sean Astin. The preview promises that "The Two Towers" will be amazing and one gets the impression that this team, as the fellowship members go their separate ways and new characters are introduced (including Gollum!), truly understand the story they are bringing to life, and will dazzle us all again soon. There is something to be said for waiting until November and getting the four-dvd special edition, which will include 30 extra minutes of film (particularly in Hobbiton and concerning Gimli's enchantment with Galadriel). But for those of you who cannot wait -- this two-dvd set is highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: great story of good vs. evil
Review: I've been hearing about this book for about the last 20 years, since I was in college. All those dungeons and dragons fanatics were always going on about the book. I haven't read it. I haven't even seen the movie. I did see about the first 2 minutes of a pirated VCD that one of my friends bought on a trip to Taiwan. And just based on my viewing of the first 2 minutes, where they show the maps of Bob Gandolf or Fyodr or whatever, and there's a lot of fire buring in the mountains or something, I would have to say this is one of the great epics of the last century. And from the reviews and articles that I have skimmed, it looks like a great tale of the forces of good prevailing over the forces of evil. I highly recommend this book, although, like I said, I haven't read it and probably will never get around to reading it. It's a big one. You need some time to read this one, and I'm pretty busy with my kids and stuff. I don't even think I'll ever be able to watch the whole movie, at least not at one sitting. I heard it's a long one. But I do recommend it to those who are looking for an epic story of good versus evil.
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