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Summary: Who says it didnt fallow the book???
Review: Like many other LOTR movie fans, I am sick of hearing people say that the Fellowship movie didn't fallow the book. IT WAS CLOSE ENOUGH! I have read the book, and everything they left out in the movie was just a bunch of fluff that did NOT really effect the story at all. I suggest you buy the movie AND read the book, that way you get the best of both worlds. Peter Jackson did an excellent job, because if he had added all that "fluff" in, the movie would have been 4 hours long, and half of it would just be boring. So love the movie, and the book!
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Summary: We all need a friend like Samwise. (Leave the kids at home!)
Review: Like many people I have dreamed, hoped, wished for a live-action film to be made of the Lord of the Rings. This is a story well worth the telling. Timeless and rich. Well, pretty much anything one could say about it would seem like a cliche at this point. But, this story and the film are well worth the praise they receive. I do think that some of the changes made for the film may annoy some purists, but I didn't personally mind. My only potential complaint is that I keep expecting to see "Neo" from "the Matrix" hanging out in Rivendell (for reasons that we all probably understand... eh Mr. Elrond). But even that would not take away from this awe-inspiring film. I literally found myself in tears in a few scenes. I cannot wait to see how I feel at the end of "Return..."! All I can say is that the Cinema folks had BETTER have a film festival when the 3rd film comes out. I will take a personal day from work and go see all 3 in a row!But I do have to ask... why did people think that this was a kid's movie? All the times I've seen it there were small children in the audience crying and screaming. THIS IS NOT A CHILDREN'S MOVIE. It is PG-13 for a very good reason. Some of these scenes are as heavy as the first 20 minutes of "Saving Private Ryan"! not quite as icky... but pretty intense. Not for kids.
Rating: 
Summary: Great visuals, but...
Review: Like many, I have also read the books and was aware of the story and characters going into the film. While the visuals, especially that stunning battle scene at the start of the film, were done to near perfection - it did miss the mark in a more fundamental way. Too much screen time was spent drawing out and languishing over several dramatic events of the film. I found myself thinking, "Okay we know this guy is going to die, let's move the story along". For example, we see a character get hit with an arrow, muster strength to fight some more, then almost die, then get hit with another arrow, again muster more strength and fight again, then almost die, then get hit with yet another arrow, and tries to muster his strength again... And to top it off this long drawn out scene is full of added elements that were not in the book. The film was littered with examples like this (the character that almost drowns at the end of the film - also painfully drawn out. Any time Frodo puts on the ring - painfully drawn out) Yes film is a medium different that that of a novel, but if Jackson wanted to make a three hour movie, he should have spend more screen time developing character and plot motivations. This would keep the audience from getting lost and from asking, "why are our characters going to this place?", and "who is this guy?". Once characters and key plot point is properly setup with their motivations explained, then the drama will naturally come out, and it won't need the added drama effects, heavy sound and score to force the audience to feel a certain way. Jackson simply lets the characters and story get buried with the overuse of dramatic effects. Very little time was spent developing Frodo and Sam, as likeable real characters. They just appeared as cardboard cutouts borrowed from the Phantom Menace, with no real motivation and human connection to anyone else in the film. It's a good film to see once, but just for the special effects.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT MOVIE!!!!!!
Review: Like most movies based on a book, the book is always better. That is kind of true in this case, but this movie is REALLY cool. The book has more details and some other characters, but the movie still does a great job giving you backround knowledge, and has really cool effects. It starts when a hobbit, named Frodo Baggins gets a magic ring from his uncle Bilbo, who leaves on a very long "holiday" which he will never come home from. A wizard, named Gandalf the Grey gets very interested in the ring, and finds out that Frodo has to destroy the ring immediately. So Frodo and his friends Samwise 'Sam' Gamgee, Peregrin 'Pipin' Took, and Meriadoc 'Merry' Brandybuck leave for Rivendell where Elrond, an Elf Lord, held a council to determin what they should do. It was decided that Frodo along with the 3 other hobbits, and 4 other companions go on a quest to Mt. Doom where the ring is to be destroyed. The movie is probably best for ages 11-adult, because some parts can be scary, but in battle scenes you can hardly tell what is going on, and the other battle parts aren't very gory. Over all for a long movie, it is one of the best that I have ever seen!
Rating:
Summary: One of the Great Movies of Our Time!
Review: Like the title say's, this movie is one of the best. It may be the best movie I have ever seen, although it is far from perfect. Peter Jackson did an excellent job on this movie and deserves every award he recieves. The only complaint I have is that some of the key story elements were left out like the hobbits meeting's with tom bombadil and farmer maggot. But, it is still an excellent movie that everyone should watch. I encourage the people who have seen the movie to also read the books. The acting was pretty good. Sean Astin played sam perfectly in my opinion. Elijah wood could have been a little better but he had the toughest role to play. Overall a great movie!
Rating:
Summary: Movie was good, but....
Review: Liked the movie, all but the casting Cate Blanchett as Galadriel. Her ability to carry the role was lacking. Everyone else did well.
Rating:
Summary: Enough can't be said about this movie... it's FANTASTIC!!!
Review: Living in Japan, it was a total disappointment for me when I heard the movie would be coming out in March instead of December 19, 2001. Being a great fan of Tolkien's work on "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings", I knew I had to see it and have been excited and impatient for it to come out. So finally the other day I went out with my friends and my father to go and see it. And let me tell, I sure was glad I got to see it! It's one of the best movies I've ever seen! "The Fellowship of the Rings" is the first installment of three movies which will be coming out. The hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) is very surprised and shocked when he finds that his uncle Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm) has left the Shire to go be with the Elves. Bilbo leaves everything to Frodo, including the magical ring which he had taken from the strange creature Gollum (Andy Serkis). Frodo thinks nothing of it but his good friend, Gandalf the wizard (Ian McKellen), troubled about the ring when he sees what a strange reaction Bilbo has when he leaves it. Curious, Gandalf tries to find answers about the origin of the ring and finds out that the ring is actually the Ring of Power from the Elven lore: One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them Lost for centuries, if this ring should fall back into the hands of the evil Sauron (Sala Baker), he would be enabled to destroy everything which is good in Middle-earth, bringing the land into darkness. Frodo and his hobbit friends Samwise 'Sam' Gamgee (Sean Astin), Peregrin 'Pippin' Took (Billy Boyd), and Meriadoc 'Merry' Brandybucktravel (Dominic Monaghan) to Rivendell to seek counsel from the Elf Lord Elrond (Hugo Weaving) on what to do with the ring. It is decided that the ring must be destroyed and the only way to do that is to cast it into Mount Doom, located at the very center of Sauron's dark kingdom. Thus the Fellowship is created to help Frodo in his journey. The Fellowship consists of Frodo, Gandalf, Sam, Pippin, Merry, Aragorn the Ranger (Viggo Mortensen) who is not what he seems, Legolas of the Elves of Mirkwood (Orlando Bloom), Boromir a man of Gondor (Sean Bean), and Gimli the dwarf from the Lonely Mountains (John Rhys-Davies). Together the nine set out for Mount Doom. But the way is treacherous and the dark, evil Ringwraiths are searching for them... Also starring are Christopher Lee as Saruman the White, Liv Tyler as the beautiful Elf Arwen, Cate Blanchett as the mysterious Lady of Lothlorien, Galadirel. As I said, enough can't be said about this movie. Everything just seems to go so well and smoothly, from the acting, directing, sets, costumes, music, graphics, and cinematography. In my opinion the people who stands out the most for their astounding acting is Elijah Wood (Frodo) and Ian McKellen (Gandalf). Of course everyone is terrific, especially Orlando Bloom as Legolas who is my favorite character in both the books and the movie. I was also very much impressed with Sean Bean as Boromir. The end, though changed from the book, gave him such a noble death that I didn't complain much about the ending. And of course the cinematography and sets were just so real you just wish you could visit Middle-Earth. There's the peaceful Shire, the dark and worldly Bree, Weathertop, the beautiful Rivendell, the terrifying Mines of Moria, the mysterious Lothlorien, and more places which I would like to see. The graphics are just so well done that it's hard to tell what's real and what's computer graphics. There's the spectacular battle scenes, the scary creatures like orcs, Uruk-Hai, Balrogs, and cave trolls, Legolas' faster than lightning arrows, the short hobbits and tall wizards, and much, much, more. The music by Howard Shore was just perfect in all places, making it so that at just the right moments you are made to feel peaceful, frightened, curious, and excited. Enya's song, "May It Be", was just so beautiful and splendid. Of course everyone movie has some of it's bad points though there are very few for this movie. Many people are probably a bit put off that a lot of the story is changed from the original book, "The Fellowship of the Rings". Some parts are taken off (Tom Bombadil, the letter from Gandalf at Bree, nothing much is explained about Bill the pony, etc.) and some parts are added (many of the fights scenes, Aragorn's meeting with Frodo at the end, etc.). It didn't disappoint me that much, I knew the end had to be hyped up a bit for the audience but there was one thing which I was kind of upset of Galadriel. In my opinion the character of Galadriel was portrayed well. In the book she was beautiful yet had authority, was kind but was somewhat mysterious. But in the movie she was made to be very mysterious and given an image of a scary and creepy Elf, there was no beauty to her. Though I bet Cate Blanchett could have done a better job, I think she was directed to be that way. But still, this movie is one of the greatest movies I've ever seen and could recommend this movie to anyone. Best for kids 13 and older since in some places it's a bit violent and the whole movie would be a bit intense and scary to younger children. I can't wait till "The Two Towers" and "The Return of the King" come out!
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie - Can't Wait to See The Rest Of The Trilogy!
Review: Long ago, Sauron the Deceiver forged several rings to give to those who saught the power to rule, bringing them into a sort of alliance with each other. Three were given to elves, seven to dwarves, and nine to mortal men. However, Sauron did not tell the recipients that another ring was forged - one with tremendous power that he himself would yield. One ring to rule them all! But an alliance was forged once the treachery was discovered. Elves and Men defeated Sauron. The ring should have been destroyed, but the King of Gondor, Isolder, decided to bear it instead - to his doom. After he was killed, the ring was thought lost forever, but (through a tumultuous series of events) the ring ended up in the hands of Frodo Baggins. Realizing that the ring is indeed the One Ring and that it must be destroyed, a group of nine set out to bring the ring to Mordor. There it will be cast into the flames from whence it was forged. But the journey is perilous and many shall fall along the way. And the ring itself, seeking its original master, will betray the Fellowship of the Ring.
When I first heard about this new adaptation of the greatest Tolkien novels, I was skeptical. I had seen earlier versions and had not been impressed. I read these books, starting with the Hobbit, when I was about 8 years old. They were recommended to me by my dad. A true fan was born! So, I wasn't sure how true to the books this movie would be. But, then I saw a special about the making of the movie, and decided I had to see this movie. It seemed like Peter Jackson was dedicated to getting this movie right.
This movie is amazing! Peter Jackson makes a valiant attempt to bring the worlds of Hobbiton, Mordor, etc. as real to us as New York City, London, or any other real city. The actors do a wonderful job bringing the characters to life. You can truly believe that Elijah Wood is Frodo Baggins. We can witness first-hand the struggle of Aragorn as he is portrayed by Viggio Mortenson. And Ian McKellen is remarkable as Gandalf the Grey - just as I pictured him!
Of course, due to length constraints, the movie can't have every scene from the book. Frodo's journey prior to meeting Strider is cut rather short. However, it does nothing to hurt the continuity of the story. Also, Jackson has seen fit to give Arwen a much larger role. I say more power to you, Jackson. I always thought there was too little in the trilogy about the great Lady Arwen. The special effects are perfect and help to bring the magical story to life. I went to see this film with several other Lord of the Rings fans and we were all in agreement - This movie rocks!! I can't wait for the next part of the trilogy!
Rating:
Summary: One ring to rule them all
Review: Long had fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" novels waited for a film worth making. The first in New Line Cinema's adaptions of Tolkien's novels, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING is just that. In fact, it is the best film since about 1994. Elijah Wood plays Frogo Baggins, the young Hobbit who discovers that his Uncle Bilbo's (Ian Holm) magic ring is actually the source of a wild hunt which involves elves, orcs, and other creatures of Middle-Earth. After being informed of the nature of this seemingly indestructable ring from wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen in one of his greatest roles), Frodo sets out for Rivendell while being chased by the hooded Ringwraiths. When finally he narrowly escapes death and arrives at the city of wonder, it is decided that a group of people shall bring the earth to Mt. Doom and destroy it - led by young Frodo. Thus the first live-action adaption of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Fellowship of the Ring" hits full-thrust. Peter Jackson's THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING is a beautiful masterpiece of fantasy adventure, filmed in gorgeous New Zealand to give it that ancient, mystical feeling. Jackson's directing is terrific; he also scripted. As a matter of fact, the script is the film's only problem, and a slight one at that. Tolkien fans may find themselves disappointed, as about 1/5 of the novel has been deleted from the film; for those people, I recommend the Extended Version. But true die-hard Tolkien/LOTR fans will find a gorgeous film. Terrific special effects, terrific direction, terrific acting, terrific film. Of course, there is also Howard Shore's finest achievement as a score and some beautiful contributions by new age favorite Enya. The first installment of THE LORD OF THE RINGS is unmissable. If you have not seen it, you have no idea what you're missing. It is, possibly, the greatest film of all-time. Leave it to one "Ring" to rule them all.
Rating:
Summary: Anyone that doesn't give this 5 stars is WAY to critical!
Review: Look, Iv been seeing reviews for the movie saying things in the prospective of "They made to many mistakes, Its changed from the book" ..... GOOD!!! , I read ALL of the four books, I don't want to go to a movie and see exactly what Iv all ready read. The "Lord of the rings" was a great book, but there was MANY of time I fell asleep reading it, becouse of the slow dialog. My point is, it gave me a completely new perspective of the story, Like "ANY" story told, somone ALLWAYS tells it a little bit differnt. Its even kinda fun to point them out, if you can do that. Then be glad you are seeing somthing differnt for a change. Other then my tought on other reviews, This movie is one of the ONLY movies that I thought was so well done. That Id see it more then once at the movies (it beeing 3 hours long). I know for a fact, the critics that say such things about it, would think the movie was great if they never read the book or if the book never was, and they just made a new movie. Good job!
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