Rating: 
Summary: Forget the literary elitists...this is a wonderful movie
Review: Bottom line... this is a wonderful movie that contains all of the elements of the great story laid down by Tolkien. Notwithstanding the pretentions of the literary snobs who take issue with "this or that" as compared to the book, if you sit back and take in this movie as it comes you will not be disappointed. It is simply a wonderful experience. The cinematography, acting and pace are first rate. This movie is truly a masterpiece and can be enjoyed by all in the family.
Rating:
Summary: The best movie ever made (at least until "The Two Towers")
Review: Peter Jackson has created his masterpiece. He was a great director with such films as "Bad Taste" and "Meet the Feebles", but "The Fellowship of the Ring" will finally get him the credit he deserves as one of the best directors today. "The Fellowship of the Ring" is a perfect movie. The casting could not have been better. Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood appear on the screen and we don't see actors, we see an ageless wizard and a brave yet simple hobbit. The locations were exactly as they should be according to the book, from the beauty of the Shire, to the majesty of Rivendell and Lothlorien, to the dark wasteland of Mordor. The script was perfectly adapted from the original story. Some changes were made, which is expected, but it is still the story we have known and cherished our entire lives. The score fits the movie just as it should. The music makes the locations come to life, the heroes and villians more powerful, and the deaths of certain characters more heartfelt. The special effects were phenomenal without being overdone. We see sweeping shots of huge armies in battle and larger-than-life villians, but it all seems completely real and believable. But most important of all, the movie had true emotion and feeling. Fans left the theaters as satisfied as a hobbit after his sixth meal. As for the DVD, the quality is the best I have seen. The colors are crisp and vivid, and the sound is just the way it should be. However, the extras are nothing much, just trailers and documentaries that you saw on TV last year. The reason behind this is that a Special Edition DVD and VHS will be out November 12, 2002. This edition will give the movie an extra half-hour, and contains four discs. All of the good extras, including an audio commentary, will be there. If you love this movie, buy it now and get the Special Edition later. If you get just one, pay the extra ten or fifteen dollars and really get your money's worth this November. (Besides, Charter Members of the official Fan Club get their name in the credits, so every Member will want this one anyway. Watch for my name!)
Once you have seen the movie, Decmember and "The Two Towers" will seem so much farther away. Anyone who has read the books knows that the saga will continue to get better as the story progresses, the War of the Ring deepens, and the peril greatens, eventually leading us to the heart of Mordor and the greatest finale ever conceived. Peter Jackson shot the entire trilogy at one time. They have all been filmed. We can be assured that the movies will continue to be this good. We can also be assured that this trilogy will not meet expectations, it will exceed them, as we have already seen in "Fellowship". The trilogy will end up being a classic for all time, like the original "Star Wars". The world will never grow tired of "The Lord of the Rings". And that is exactly how it should be.
Rating:
Summary: Thrilling!
Review: When I first heard that a movie was going to be made out of my favorite book of all time, my first reaction was absolute horror! I considered Lord of the Rings to be singularly untranslatable to screen and started reliving my nightmares of the 1980s cartoon versions. I was slightly less apprehensive when I learned that it was not going to be a cartoon and that the director was Peter Jackson. With my fears still not relieved, I walked into the theatre expecting to be horrified and to leave in tears with what they had done to a masterpiece of literature. I was pleasantly surprised when the movie started playing across the screen. Elijah Wood played an excellent Frodo and Sir Ian McKellen was a breathtakingly realistic Gandalf. The special effects, while not the focus point of the movie, were certainly amazing. The costumes accurately reflected LOTR and were brilliant in and of themselves. Although having already read the books was helpful to understanding the movie, it is absolutely not essential to the enjoying of this magnificent retelling of Tolkien's classic tale. While some characters were missing, it hardly detracts from the storyline. Readers will miss Tom Bombadil, the Sackville-Bagginses, and Sam's Gaffer but their absence does not make this movie any less enjoyable. The most common complaint I have heard refers to the larger role Arwen, daughter of Elrond, plays in the movie. Without her introduction early, the marriage to Aragorn in the Return of the King would have been highly confusing, as she does not come into the story later, save for a small paragraph in the Two Towers where her name is not even mentioned. Also, while I am not a feminist, the lack of strong female characters, except for Galadriel, was somewhat alleviated by her appearance and made the movie more appealing to female watchers. Tolkien purists, I am sure, will probably disagree with me. Overall, I would have to give this movie 5 stars, both as a movie alone, and as a retelling of J.R.R. Tolkien's book. Thus far I have watched the movie 8 times and read the book 15 times.
Rating: 
Summary: Longer???
Review: Did this already REALLY long movie just get longer???
Rating: 
Summary: Over rated
Review: Jackson's version of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings is somewhat disappointing. Although the cinematography and cast was of great quality, his inconsistency to detail, diversion from the book and jagged scene to scene jumping has left me utterly disappointed and dumbfounded of what all the hype is about. There were a few sub-plots that Jackson chose not to investigate to the fullest (eg. the broken sword) and yet he chose to add to a few plots of his own. I can only hope that the next two movies are an improvement on the first one.
Rating:
Summary: This is what movies were made for...
Review: This fantastical film was nominated for a best picture Oscar, so it seems even the uptight Academy members couldnt avoid giving it some nod of praise, besides just the usual good cinematography and best score banalities. But they werent brave enough to actually award it The prize, though it certainly would have deserved it. Tolkien's literary work is, without a doubt, a sprawling masterpiece. But anyone who has read the work and seen Peter Jackson's epic film knows the two are quite capable of standing independent of one another (you don't need to read the book to know the movie is good, and vice versa). And that is how one should consider the film, a piece onto itself. Yes, Jackson has managed to keep the spirit and integrity of the story (which stays amazingly true to the book), but it is not a direct translation. The book sets a lazy pace and spends much time celebrating Middle Earth's inhabitants with songs and legend; the quest is the backdrop placed for us to enjoy the characters. The film, however, is all about evil vs. good and the bloody fight to preserve it. Jackson has managed to inscribe a new passion and adventure for our senses in a way that only a great visual storyteller could, and in a way only a movie could. Lord of the Rings far surpasses any movie released in 2001 and it is unfortunate that many equate commercial success with substandard movies. Or believe a movie needs to be drama-based to be worthy of serious consideration. The fact is, the translation from literature to a credible, intelligent film without losing any of the original substance is, in itself, remarkable. Add onto that the years of pre-production, impeccable casting, filming, post-productions---this movie deserved to win Best Picture for it's unyielding dedication to detail and devotion to making it a Reality. The fact that it is a genre-specific film is probably the only reason it has been denied its right to stand by the greats. To make a movie that grand in scale without disintergrating the project into hollywood mush, To create an entire world translated from imagination to an interesting visual reality, To allow the characters to shine DESPITE the intimidating scale of the backdrop and story is a testament to Jackson's skill and direction. This is a movie that connects with its audience and creates escape; this is true storytelling that goes beyond clever camera tricks and overdramatic actors. This is one of the best films ever made; this is the type of storytelling magic that films were made for (in the grand tradition of the original Star Wars triology and ET and the Matrix). AFI needs to revise their top 100 list.
Rating:
Summary: An Epic Fantasy Comes to Life
Review: J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved Lord of the Rings comes to life on the big screen in Peter Jackson's excellent adaptation. This movie is superior from begining to end. Although it runs right at 3 hours, the action and suspense held my attention throughout and left me wanting more. The actors; Ian McKellen as the great Gandalf the Gray, Elijah Wood as the young hobbit Frodo, Viggo Mortensen as the swashbuckling Aragorn, Sean Astin as Frodo's companion Sam, and Ian Holm as the aging but wise Bilbo, give riveting performances throughout the film. The special effects are top notch, especially the battle with the Balrog of Moria and the numerous encounters with the mysterious Orcs. Anyone who has read the beloved Tolkien trilogy knows the story of the Ring, and it is accurately told in the film. The ending is left wide open for the sequel, The Two Towers, which I am eagerly anticipating. Watch this exciting film, which should rank as one of the greatest fantasy films ever, and experience the wonders of Middle Earth.
Rating:
Summary: The root of modern fantasy is now on of the best films ever.
Review: Classic tale becomes classic film...period. I do not believe the casting could have been done any better. Ian as Gandolf. . .what a choice!
This film is for everyone, whether or not you enjoy sci-fi or have never even read this trilogy, it is simply a must-see for all.
The effects are amazing and you feel drawn into Middle Earth while watching the film. I have yet to meet somebody who has not been able to put this film into their personal top ten list.
I cannot wait to go and see the new film when it comes out this Christmas. Looking forward to watching the Ents KICK...!!!
Well, basically see this film. It is inconceivable for someone to not love this picture. A++++++++++
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: This is a great DVD! They really pulled out all the stops and made a fantastic film. It's one to own!
Rating:
Summary: Lord of the Rings Rocks!
Review: This is truely one of the best movies I have seen in my entire life. The story just builds and builds and the action never stops. After viewing it, you'll wish that December were already here so that you could see the next installment of this excellent series. If you haven't seen it, you surely must! If you have already seen it and don't own the DVD, buy it! You'll be sorry if you don't add this movie to your DVD collection.
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