Rating: 
Summary: A different tale than the one told by Tolkien
Review: If you've read Tolkien's classic saga, you'll find yourself miffed at many of the critical changes and omissions. Nevertheless ... taken on its own, the movie is an exciting tale that's far more thrilling than Harry Potter. New Zealand's splendid landscape is a perfect setting for the movie - wide expanses of open plains, forbidding mountain ranges, beautiful rivers and valleys. The settings created by the filmmakers for other places in the book - Rivendell, Lothlorien (never named in the movie), and the mines of Moria - are equally compelling and beautifully crafted.Although the movie is almost three hours long, it never drags. The "fellowship of the ring" consists of nine members, and even within a three-hour movie, it is hard to do justice to the characterization of each of those nine. Frodo, Gandalf, and Aragorn are the most finely-drawn and compelling, with Sam Gamgee and Boromir close behind. Legolas, Gimli, Pippin, and Merry are supporting characters - they look exactly right for their parts, but the complex interplay that existed between them all in the book doesn't make it to the screen. Ian McClellan, who plays Gandalf, is completely believable as the gruff wizard, seen by the hobbits as simply the master of incredible fireworks, but actually an important leader in the fight against Sauron. The story's most critical "actor" is, of course, the Ring. Created by the evil Sauron, it would give tremendous power to whoever wields it - a power that ultimately corrupts. The message - that one cannot use an evil tool to accomplish good - is beautifully clear. To rid the world of this compelling evil, Frodo and the others set off on a quest to find the Cracks of Doom, where the ring was forged, and there destroy the ring. Many who are already evil seek the ring; others, once good, are corrupted by the desire to possess the ring and threaten Frodo as he journeys eastward. The movie chronicles Frodos's journey from the peace of the Shire east to the black regions of Mordor. The strength of the book, and one which director Peter Jackson translates well to the screen, is the compelling believability of this alternate world, peopled with creatures out of legend (elves, trolls, and wizards) as well as newer, imaginative creations of Tolkien's (hobbits and orcs). The battle and chase scenes are visually stunning, and the contrasts between the beauties of the untouched portions of this world and the ones which have been corrupted by the Ring's destructive power are vivid. Young children may find some of the battle scenes too frightening - at least one parent exited the movie with children under 9 who just got too scared (that's why the movie has a PG-13 rating!). At the end of the showing I went to, many members of the audience applauded. So did I ... and I wish I didn't have to wait a year to see the next episode!
Rating: 
Summary: Tolkien fans BEWARE!
Review: If your a BIG fan of Tolkien and his books, or are (like me) a near Tolkien expert, then you will like the bookends Only!If you buy this will stop and rewind 5 times, saing " how could they not have Tom Bombadil, the fog on the Barrow-downs, and not show how Merry, Sam, and Pippin pland to go with Frodo even though he tried to hide his departure from them. But no they just bump into eachother and are like duh, let's go to Mordor!".And that's just a few of the things left out. there are many other things, like they changed the ending,and put so much of Arwen (who, by the way, does not do anything in the books until the end of the return of the king) that they left out people and vital parts of the story. NO Tolkien fan will EVER say "Wow! I love it!" Tolkien would role over in his grave if he could see all the flaws. I only gave the 1 star because I loved the bookends! there cool but not worth $60! Now you have been warned. just save yourself a few bucks and buy the letherette version of all 3 books in one.
Rating:
Summary: u must think im crazy
Review: im not into this fairytale frodo fairy stuff so i dont like it. maybe it'd be easier to watch if it was shorter. it seemed to drag on and on especially in the 2nd film
Rating:
Summary: One DVD to RULE THEM ALL!
Review: Im sure that lines been used already! What to say about this film? Its a cinematic breathtaker! Just for the photography alone should you witness this acheivement. Other than that, the film will impress you! This DVD is worth the purchase because it has a 10 minute sneak preview for the two towers.
Great movie for the family, or to watch as an escape on your own!
Rating:
Summary: Filmmaking At It's Finest.
Review: In 1977 George Lucas changed the entertainment industry forever when STAR WARS became the biggest movie of all time. That film not only altered the way films are made, but it also changed how films are marketed and even altered the very way we watch movies. What many people do not know is that STAR WARS was almost never made. Originally, Lucas wanted to adapt J.R.R. Tolkien's LORD OF THE RINGS for the big screen. He abandoned the project (partially because of legal issues) before starting STAR WARS. Nearly 25 years later, Tolkien's masterpiece has finally been transformed into a motion picture. The mastermind behind this colossal undertaking is Peter Jackson, an almost unknown filmmaker best known for a couple of horror movies and the indie flick, HEAVENLY CREATURES. Jackson is amazing. THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING is filmmaking at its finest; Jackson does everything right that most action directors do wrong. Granted he had a talented cast to assist him. Ian McKellen is perfect as Gandalf; Elijah Wood has just enough innocence and world-weariness to capture the essence of Frodo Baggins; Viggo Morensen personifies the nobility of the exiled king Aragorn; and John Rhys-Davies is a treat as Gimli the dwarf. Most of the other performances are just as moving. THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING is filled with fantastic places and wonderful creatures. But thes do not a good movie make. Other directors have had films with similar settings and characters and have failed. Jackson has succeeded because he has remained true to the heart of Tolkien. THE LORD OF THE RINGS is much more than just a tale of a motley crew traveling together to a destiny unseen. It is a tale of friendship. It is about life and how to be a better person. It is a story of how the most unlikely individuals can become heroes. It is a tale of truth defying falsity; of redemption and salvation; of good triumphing over evil. In the troubled times in which we live, we need stories like THE LORD OF THE RINGS. They remind us of the nobility in all of us. Movies don't get much better than that.
Rating:
Summary: Expect a regular movie, and you'll be pleasantly surprised..
Review: In a word: wow. In more than one word... As a person who has seen many book-to-movie adaptations and been underwhelmed by most of them, this one is one for the ages. The effects, the story, the complexity, and the characters are all there. The power of the Ring and its sway over those who desire it is intensely felt, all the way down to the subtle whispering of the "one ring to rule them all..." quote in the Mordor tongue when someone focuses on it. The CG effects, and the beautful recreated New Zealand scenery never get in the way of the story, but yet amaze us with their spectacular faithfulness to the imaginations of the audience (the gates of Gondor, the Shire, and Moria are especially incredible). Most importantly, the most powerful moments in ths first book are keenly felt, as a Fellowship is made and broken, and a hobbit takes up a burden that will ultimately change not only him but also control the fate of an entire realm. Casting for this film has shown Director Peter Jackson's wisdom, picking what is a near dead-on Gandalf in Ian McKellen ("X-Men"'s Magneto), Elijah Wood as the reluctant, angst-ridden, yet stoic hero Frodo Baggins, and Sean Astin (last seen as a "Goonie" leader) as the bumbling, yet faithful Samwise Gamgee, among many others. Some critics lament the altering and cuts, especially of Tom Bombadil and Glorfindel (replaced by Liv Tyler as elven maiden/warrior Arwen). Others purport that the non-faithfulness to the book makes the script weak and covered by "flashy CG". To those people (whose opinion I respect) I must say, firstly, that in a book-to-movie adaptation, some sacrifices must be made. In an encapsulation of a large work as Tolkien's "Fellowship", an exact recreation is simply not an option. Secondly, to dismiss the excellent acting and palpable feeling the actors convey when playing their parts as "weak" and covered by "flashy CG", simply because some small things were added or cobbled together, is to hold the movie to higher standards than the medium can provide. This is not the disaster that was "Final Fantasy". This is Tolkien, and Jackson and his associates have done incredibly well (as well as one can in making a movie based on a book) in paying homage to one of the most well-respected fantasy epics of the 20th century. For those of you who like sword and sorcery or like Tolkien - go see it! I recommend you go not being all hyped up with what we're saying or anyone else is saying. Set your expectations at your level and not at the level of everyone else's, and watch the movie for what it is. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
Rating:
Summary: Good as BBC Audio
Review: In all the theatrical, television, radio and local presentations, this is coming close to the best. The BBC had one (of several) radio programs that was fantastic (Ian Holm, Michael Hordern, et al). Sure, they had to cut some to make it fit into 3 hours (no Tom Bombadil), but the result is living up to dreams about as well as they could be. The transfer to DVD is excellent. The layer switch is noticeable but you are aware that you did not miss anything (this is good -- many layer switches occur between scenes and you are never sure if you missed something). Very impressive.
Rating:
Summary: A hope for better movies
Review: In an age on CGI garphics and little story behind a movie, along comes the best story every written to the big screen. The long version of this movie comes out in Nov, it is 3:30 mins long, this version is 2:58 and later next year there maybe a final version released at 4:00 + mins.
How many Behind Enemey Lines, Windtalkers adn A.I.'s do we have to sit thought till Hollywood gets the message that you need a story and not just CGI garphics and action. Great Movie!
Rating:
Summary: The greatest work of imaginative fiction of the century!
Review: In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged One Ring , filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-Earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages fell, by chance, into the hand of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins.
From his fastness in the Dark Tower of Mordor, Sauron's power spread far and wide for the One Ring that would complete his dominion. On his eleventy-first birthday Bilbo Baggins disappeared, bequeathing to his young cousin Frodo the Ruling Ring and a perilous quest --- To journey across Middle-earth, deep into the shadow of the Dark Lord, and destroy the Ring by casting it into the Cracks of Doom. 'The Lord Of The Rings' tells of the great quest undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship Of The Ring: Gandalf the Wizard, Merry, Pippin, and Sam. Gimli the Dwarf, Legolas the Elf, Boromir of Gondor, and the stanger of the name of Strider (or Aragorn.)-----
I thought this movie was wonderful!!! Although it did miss a few good parts. A good part skipped was when the Lady Galadriel gave the Fellowship gifts. To Merry and Pippin she gave belts, to Legolas she gave a new bow, and to Gimli she gave 3 strands of her golden hair. But otherwise it was great!! I certainly can't wait for the 'Two Towers' to come out next Year. If you are a reader of Tolkien , You should surely see this fantasy-breathtaking excitment of a movie. You will hopefully enjoy it has much has I have and will!!
Rating:
Summary: You'll spend a week watching this
Review: In case you're been living under a rock for the past year, this is the first of 3 movies adapting JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy for the big screen. This is a review of the Platinum Edition DVD, which I purchased in the Gift set. THIS is the definitive edition, although in his commentary, the director does threaten to fix it all up yet again... so start saving now. For all you Tolkien fans, there is an extra half hour of movie added, which contains most of the character bits and fun stuff that you found missing in the theatrical release. It includes the full Lothlorien gift sequence, which you should force your friends to see before they see the Two Towers. The director and writers' commentary track is a delight. They tell us why they decided to keep some bits and discard others; it's clear that all of them have a deep knowledge of the books and related works, and made their choices to be true to the themes of the book while changing the exact details for cinematic purposes. I haven't yet listened to the other THREE commentary tracks, but I'm looking forward to it. The gift set includes a National Geographic DVD and a pair of bookends. The DVD is very interesting if you want to learn more about the life of JRR Tolkien and the influences on the story. The bookends are fun to look at, but don't seem to be heavy enough to hold up books all that well. You may want to save your money and get just the Platinum Edition DVD instead of this gift set; I don't regret it but I don't think it's a terrifically good value. Definitely a keeper. I wouldn't plan to find this DVD available used very often.
| 
