Rating: 
Summary: A wonderous epic adventure unfolds.
Review: Now I love fantasy films and books. So I found the first installment to "The Lord of the Rings" movie to be truly superb and just plain fun. I think I am going to wait to buy the special edition DVD, because that one is supposed to have even more sepcial features on it. As of now, I've just only recently finished reading "The Hobbit" and "The Fellowship of the Ring" because I've been busy reading the Harry Potter novels. I saw "The Fellowship of the Ring" in theaters and it was wonderful! The casting was done brilliantly...Elijah Wood has finally gotten the media attention he deserves with his role of Frodo Baggins. I'm glad he got the role--he really did deserve it. I've never even heard of most of these actors (with the exceptions of Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Liv Tyler, Christopher Lee, and Cate Blanchett) until I saw the film. The plot is pretty simple and straight-forward, but the action and excitment is what makes this movie so worth-while! All the actors really do a tremendous job and the visual and sound effects are breathtaking. The Howard Shore musicial score is beautiful and I especially love the theme song by Enya called "Maybe It Be". Peter Jackson did an amazing job with the directing, too. The scenary is spectacular and I'm so glad they decided to film these movies in New Zeleand because it really does look like a Middle-Earth. "The Two Towers" continues the story and "The Return of the King" concludes it. I hope the other two movies will be just as amazing as "The Fellowship of the Ring". Sure, they left out some parts of the novel but, like the first Harry Potter movie, the novel was just too long to fit it all into the film. And unlike the Harry Potter film, you don't really need to read the whole "Lord of the Rings" trilogy before you can see the movie...but it would be a good idea to anyway because the books are excellent! So definitely buy this DVD, but personally I'd wait for the extended version DVD. Amazing film! A must-see. Final Grade: A
Rating:
Summary: What movie did you watch?
Review: Now I simply loved Lord of the Rings when I saw it on Feb. 24th, a few months after it came out. It was incredibly enjoyable and spectacular. Before I had watched it, I read The Hobbit, which I also enjoyed, and I am reading The Two Towers now, which is very fun to read. I read through the 57 5-star reviews with a few friends just to get a few laughs (and I got a lot actually) cuz people were complaining about the stupidest things. "It doesn't have DTS 5.1 sound", "Frodo's height changes", "the detail was too much", "I fell asleep", "I walked out 3 minutes into the movie" - on and on these people complain about a very good movie... You wanna whine about the special effects? They were incredible, and they made the movie move along nicely. One review even mentioned the movie didn't have any of the songs/poems of the book. Hello? It's a three hour long movie. They aren't going to throw in some song so we can watch a guy sing for 10 minutes on the screen. You want a guy running around in a costume the same size as everyone else pretending to be some giant monster so you can say it's not only good cuz of the special effects? Please, you have nothing to use against this movie. It is superb. While it isn't one of my favorites (Braveheart and Waterworld are), I enjoyed it immensely. You think you can do better? Go grab a video-recorder, find some cliff with a river, pick up some buddies of yers, sit around and read the book to each other, and make sure you catch every line on tape so you can say you made the movie how it should have been, so it 'follows' along correctly.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings"
Review: Now it's hard to say that a movie based on "the Lord of the Rings" would be a great idea! Yeah! What Tolkien fan wouldn't want that! Me. I belive that all you TRUE LotR fans out there where upset by the Jackson version of this film, (I Mean that even the Bashki version was a lot closer to the books and it took only half the time of the extended version!) But there is something that I must say, it's not Tolkien, this was Hollywood's work. Hollywood has had a long track record of ruining History, not to mention novels. Tolkien would be so upset for he spent 12 years on his work. But to slap it on the screen in tree is so upsetting. I belive that somethings are best to be read and imagined that seen. I know, though, that at any time I can go back to my battered copy of the book and re-live the adventure with Frodo, Sam, Aragorn, Gandalf, and all the others. Not just watch Elija Wood, Sean Astin, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, and other actors (some rather horrid [Liv Tyler]) mess up the story of such a gifted author.
Rating:
Summary: An Absolute Classic - Period!
Review: Now that the inevitable hype upon its initial release has subsided, the time is right to properly appreciate and marvel at director Peter Jackson's classic masterpiece. For masterpiece it most certainly is and my personal hope is simply that the forthcoming sequels live up to what has gone before! Firstly however, it is pertinent to dissect the various criticisms that have been levelled at the film from some uninformed quarters. To slavishly emulate JRR Tolkien's original work would be virtually impossible; the book is far too detailed to allow such an undertaking but what has been delivered is a superb adaptation that maintains the sprit of the original publication. (Indeed, the original novel suffered from more than it's fair share of padding and the removal of sojourns such as the group's meeting with Tom Bombadil do not detract from the overall tale). The screenplay, in presenting the story, does indulge in poetic licence - but within the parameters of the overall theme. So to those who moan "it's not like the book", use a little commonsense eh?! Likewise, the "anti-climatic ending" - anyone with even a modicum of intelligence will appreciate that this is Part One of a Trilogy, an ongoing story, so if you're more disposed to a "crash, bang, wallop" finite ending then you're probably better off watching the latest Arnie release! Yes, it certainly leaves the viewer hankering as to know what transpires next but all will be revealed in December's forthcoming "The Two Towers". And finally, as to the whole "Star Wars vs. LOTR" debate, for my money there really is no comparison. Effects-wise "Star Wars" may have been ahead of its time on original release but, please, take just a moment to consider the simplistic storyline and shallow "characterisation" before even contemplating the remote possibility it could compare on any level with LOTR! So, what is it all about? At the beginning of time, nine magical rings are forged that bestow upon the various races within Middle Earth the power by which to rule. But a further, secret ring is also forged by the Dark Lord Sauron that has the power to bind all nine together and thereby plunge Middle Earth into a future of darkness and despair under his domination. Fate decrees that a young Hobbit, Frodo Baggins, eventually inherits this magical ring and who then undertakes to destroy it - and therefore Eternal Darkness - once and for all within the fires of Mount Doom, the place it was originally forged and the only location where it might be destroyed. So begins his perilous journey from within the comfortable safety of The Shire to the evil domain of Mordor assisted by a motley collection of fellow Hobbits, Elves, Dwarves and Gandalf the Wizard - all the while insatiably pursued by the terrifying agents of Sauron. So the adventure begins as we witness the intrepid band on their journey and all that they encounter on their way to the outskirts of Mordor, wherein the ring must eventually be destroyed. . Ian Mckellen is absolutely outstanding as Gandalf the wizard, the personification of the paternal grandfather we'd all like, the focal point of wisdom and guidance and his omission from the recent Oscar Winners was a grave misjudgement of the Academy's behalf. All round the casting is inspired but it is slightly disappointing that both Liv Tyler and Cate Blanchett's contributions are little more than cameo roles - this should be resolved however in the sequels. The imagery is breathtakingly stunning and the choice of location (principally New Zealand) genuinely inspired; wonder in awe as the camera sweeps into the depths of the mines thousands of feet deep or soars above the glorious landscapes - and the obligatory special effects are the pinnacle of the art. At three hours duration the film may appear lengthy but I for one remained absolutely captivated throughout and I defy anyone with a smidgeon of imagination not to be enthralled likewise. Faultless save for a few of those annoying "humorous" interjections Hollywood seems unable to resist entwining into plots, Lord Of The Rings is simply, a thoroughbred classic in the real sense.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing! Excellent! Awesome!
Review: Now that this edition is out, don't bother with the earlier version. The Extended edition is 4-discs of Tolkien glory. There are so many new and extended scenes seamlessly added that this Tolkien fan is happy indeed. Even the commentary from the Peter Jackson, Boyens, et al, is informative and interesting, and I usually don't care for commentaries! The movie itself is spread over 2 discs, but that's a minor irritation, because you're getting so much more on each disc. Easily the favorite DVD set in my collection!
Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: Now that this is out, why don't the same people do The Hobbit--live. The animated version falls short in many respects.
Rating:
Summary: Thank You PJ & New Line
Review: Now THIS is what movies are supposed to be like! Although the theatrical version was well beyond my expectations for bringing such a complex (yet simple) story to the screen, the extended version of the film far outweighs the original release. The additional scenes and dialog are not scraps from the cutting room floor, but truly add to the characters and advance the story. As excited as I was to receive the theatrical version DVD, I fear it will now gather dust on the shelves as I can't imaging watching it without the added footage. The extended version now provides the feel of time passing and improved continuity from one scene to the next. The characters are richer and you are able to connect a bit more with them than in the theatrical presentation. One feature that is not mentioned in the product detail is that the Charter Members of the Official Fan Club are listed at the end of the movie credits. This nod to the fans takes approximately 19 minutes with legible fonts and respectful scroll speed. This is just another touch that Mr. Jackson has added that indicates that this movie (series) was not just created for the mass market, but was created by fans and for the fans of this timeless and epic novel. The Collector's Edition is nicely done. The storage case is constructed as a book-style weathered faux leather case which looks perfect on the shelf with the Argonath book ends on each side. Concept art with the look of pencil on parchment backs each DVD as you unfold the inner case. Every attention to detail has been paid, and paid well, in the design and presentation of this package. The 6 hours of special features are pretty meaty stuff. No promotional fluff or self-serving actor/director interviews as with other so-called "collector's editions", but features we're actually interested in watching. All in all, whether you purchase the Platinum Edition or the Collector's Platinum Edition, it is worth every penny and then some. Thank you PJ and New Line.
Rating: 
Summary: overall, a yawn fest
Review: now, don't get me wrong. i do believe that peter jackson is a very talented filmmaker. he proved that with Heavenly Creatures. but this film is just beneath him. not that i mind a good Man vs. Monster action sequence once in a while. i don't. but after our young heroes in the movie defeated the third scary monster and it became apparent that there would be a steady stream of new, scarier monsters heading their way, it all started to get a bit tiresome. there's only so much monster-combat action one can take in the span of a few hours. granted, the monsters looked impressive. so, yeah. great production value. decent acting and all that. but one of the best films ever made? come on, people. you obviously haven't seen very many good films. i don't mean to burst your bubble or anything, but this ain't no Citizen Kane. in terms of cinematic relevance, this is more akin to Major Payne. the one truly frightening prospect coming from this Tolkien franchise is that we'll have to endure two more 3 hour films full of all-new scary monsters waiting in line to be vanquished. oh yay. somebody wake me up when the hype is over.
Rating:
Summary: ...I was so wrong...
Review: Now, let me get started by saying that I don't easily confess I was wrong to others, but this is worth it. I've already reviewed this product, and at the time I was all for Harry Potter, so I gave this a 1 and called it worthless and overrated and all of that. Well, it's definetly NOT worthless, but it may be a little overrated. But, beside that, this is a really great movie, though I wouldn't go as far as to call it an "astounishing masterpiece", but I would go as far as to say it's one of the best movies I've seen in quite some time, and is better than Harry Potter. The special effects are dazzling, the actors are amazing, and I would say that if JRR Tolkien were still alive, he would be very, very proud. The only mistake I've made is not seeing it in theaters.
Rating:
Summary: PETER JACKSON: I SALUTE YOU !!!
Review: Now, some 24 hours after watching this movie for the first time, regained my breath and I think I can reasonably analyse the merits or flaws of this movie. Because, while I was there, ther was only joy, emotion: I was watching Middle Earth in front of my eyes. I was watching Aragorn, Gandalf , Frodo and others played by convinceable actors who clearly gave their best. I was watching a movie clearly made by a director tht respected and loved Tolkien's work, and also was wise enough that he must cut some parts to not kill the project commercially.
The point, as I see is: it doesn't matter at all if some things wer left out; if the movie is better for who read or for whom not read the books. The great quality here is the SPIRIT, THE PACE, THE TONE of the movie. They are perfect. The special effects has substance and serve the history. The cinematography is beyond comments, an OSCAR for sure here. The history, if you consider this is FANTASY, is perfect. JACKSON, you had a difficult task in your hands and you handled it with skill beyond limits. I SALUTE YOU!!! P.S. FOr me, the movie was too short!! I would stand in that chair for six hours with pleasure!! Thinking better, I would watch the three movies in a row without problems!! I can hardly wait for the DVD's that surely will be released after 2003!!
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