Rating: 
Summary: Great Movie
Review: "The lord of the rings" is a great movie for fantasy lovers. I have to say the computer effects were great. It is much less boring then the book, although that ment cutting out A LOT of stuff from the book. If you're looking just for action, this is probably not for you. But if you are looking for a great story, then this is it!
Rating:
Summary: An epic
Review: Peter Jackson, after this movie, has become my favorite director, easily. And yes, before the movie, Tolkien was and still is my favorite author. Peter sacrificed 16 months+ of his life to film 3 movies in a row. Now thats impressive. Think about the massive crew in filming. They also sacrificed 16 months in filming. Most of them away from their families also.
The movie was great. It was adventurous with a hint of romance. I didn't really like the fact that Tom Bombadil was nowhere to be seen, or that famor maggot had a very brief apperance, but since they have no true reason in the novel, it would confuse the viewers. The composer was very talented. I loved the music, but when I watch it at home, I always have to have the captions on because the music is kinda loud compared to the actors. The movie is great! But be sure to read the books then watch the movie. And if your not keen to fantasy, watch the movie for the beautiful scenery.:o)
Rating:
Summary: One Movie to Rule Them All!
Review: I consider myself a Tolkien fan. According to my calculations (which aren't always correct), I've read the Trilogy at least 15 or 20 times and the Hobbit equal amounts. I've even read the Silmarillion. When I heard the movie was coming out last year and I saw the trailer via the Net, I was as excited as anybody. I immediately found all the information I could and even purchased the soundtrack before I'd seen the movie (great, powerful music). I never got around to seeing it till March, as things don't get to the theaters in Ukraine as quickly as they do elsewhere. I was astounded, amazed, the movie completely blew me away and crushed all my doubts. True, Tom Bombadil was erased, but his part wasn't crucial to the plot and the movie was long enough as it was. True, Arwen replaced Glorfindel and her role was extended, but oh well, Liv Tyler did a good job acting her. But my favorite actors were Ian McKellen doing a superb Gandalf and just as I imagined him, Ian Holm doing great as Bilbo Baggins, Elijah Wood doing an acceptable Frodo and Christopher Lee doing the best as Saruman. His role here beats down his role as Dooku in Attack of the Clones. Other actors include Viggo Mortensen (as a fairly good Aragorn) Sean Astin, Sean Bean, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Orlando Bloom, Hugo Weaving, Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd. The backgrounds were truly awe-inspiring and weren't all CG, like Star Wars 1 and 2, a lot of them were painting. The sets were amazing, the best being Isengard (those canyons!), The Shire, Rivendell, and Moria. The special effects were the best and weren't overly used at all. It was Computer-generated images at their very best: the frightening cave troll, the hordes of shrieking goblins, the terrifying Black Riders, the octopus-like Watcher, and last but not least, the nightmarish fiery Balrog, his fight with Gandalf being my favorite scene. They did a perfect job of mixing "shadow and flame" to create a literally living ember. Three minor complaints: 1. The whole scene in Lothlorien I did not like. It was much too dark and creepy, the book describes is as a place full of light, a forest made mostly of aspens, and yet with a sad sort of feeling to it. Jackson made it almost like Mirkwood. Also, they turned Galadriel into some sort of sorceress, which she wasn't. 2. The fight with the cave troll, which wasn't there at all in the books. Though the battle was well done and action-packed, it was almost too much extended. I felt like shouting aloud in the theater, "Just die, you stupid troll!" 3. The transformation of Gimli into a stuttering dolt. I look forward to seeing the Extended Edition, which should enhance his character. Galadriel's gift-giving scene should help a lot. Other than those, I have no other complaint to make. I've already pre-ordered the Special Extended Edition and have seen the trailer for the Two Towers, which I very much look forward to seeing. A must-see for all fantasy and Tolkien lovers!
Rating:
Summary: I am treading a very fine line here...
Review: I have not seen the movie for several months and that may cause my review to be a little inaccurate, as I am sure I have forgotten or left out some of the good things about the movie. All I can do at this point is to say what I remember most clearly - the best and the worst things about The Fellowship of the Ring.
I think that the first thing that springs to mind when watching LOTR is the utter cinematic beauty and magic of the spectacle before our very eyes. I could watch LOTR over and over again just to savor this emotion, and I would still not be bored, because you will always find something new to delight you on every viewing. For that reason alone, I give this movie 5 stars. There are very few movies in the world today that I feel this way about. Having said that, there are many faults with this movie that become increasingly clear every time you watch it. The screenplay is in my opinion the most glaring of these. It is not so much the style of the dialogue, which manages to mirror that of the book very well, as the fact that at certain times in the movie the dialogue simply doesn't make any sense. I have read and re-read Tolkien's masterpiece and while I don't consider myself a purist, I do object to characters' personalities and perspectives being changed for no real reason. And I'm not talking about Arwen either. I'm talking about the way Elrond talks about Aragorn, the man who was supposed to be more like a son to him, and the way in which Aragorn seems strangely, inexplicably unwilling to become king of Gondor, something for which he has supposedly been preparing for about 70 years. I am also unsure what Jackson thought he was doing making Saruman out to be some sort of servant of Sauron, when the book clearly states that Saruman wanted to have the ring all for himself and had absolutely no intention of giving it up to Sauron.
Or why Merry and Pippin had to act like such complete idiots (other than to provide comic relief, that is). In fact this last point puzzled me; those two weren't the smartest hobbits around, but they were by no means [that bad], as they manage to prove in the later books. Jackson's now going to have to change their personalities in the movies if he wants to stay true to the books. Having said all that, I have to admit that almost without exception the cast did a fantastic job with what they were given. The credit has to be given however, for standout performances: Ian Holm as Bilbo, Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn, Sean Bean as Boromir, Sean Astin as Sam and Liv Tyler as Arwen. These were the main characters who stood out when I watched the movie for the first time. I could go on nitpicking things here and there, like how some of the CGI down in Moria looked decidedly fake, how there was absolutely no need for Bilbo to grow fangs like Jack Rabbit, how they could have improved Galadriel's...um...transformation, and so on. But I won't. Sure the movie has its faults, but then what movie doesn't? And the fact that the movie is not perfect and yet has managed to secure a place in so many people's hearts somehow makes me hold LOTR in higher esteem. Like another reviewer said, it is a masterpiece, even if it is a flawed masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Peter Jackson NAILED it!!
Review: Before the movie, I re-read the book. Peter Jackson simply nailed it. He was able to make the book come alive without compromising anything. The movie was truly AMAZING. Battle scenes were brought to life in such vivid detail and yet so true to the book, I was stunned. Anyone who reads the book also appreciates the importance of maintaining dialogue from the books. Jackson's attention to detail and ability to capture the appropriate mood of each scene cannot be understated. Truly an impressive work. For fans of the movie itself, there are some wonderful extra features that should not be missed.
Rating:
Summary: The Story - From Imagination to on-screen Visualization
Review: I first read LOTR in 1969. Since then, I've re-read it at least a score of times more. I had to imagine the characters and the world of the hobbit. Frodo Baggins was a little guy with hairy feet and the weight of the world on his shoulders. WOW!!! Now I see Frodo on the big screen and Elijah Wood IS Frodo Baggins. Gandalf is just the way I pictured him, sometimes jovial and friendly, sometimes severe and stern. Suroman is as devious as expected and his slick and oily tongue fit the character perfectly. I can't wait for the Two Towers to hit the screen, and Return of the King in 2003.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Amazing
Review: That is all I can say about this movie. Beautiful storyline and excellent graphics. Followed the book very well. Can't wait to see LOTR: The Two Towers.
Rating:
Summary: Isn't it too draggy?
Review: First off I'd like to put down reviewers who dismiss this movie. And if you are not the patient viewer you tend to write off this movie as too lengthy, to draggy and the characters seemingly carry on and on about something and nothing. Although some would commonly agree that the romance between Aragorn and Arwen the Elf Princess was magnified to support the movie somewhat, I say this this is the most affectionate adaptation of the classic trilogy novel. If you are into those Harrison Ford type thriller-adventures or those Blow-em-up action type movies, then this movie or movies of this genre is not for you. So I say it's not fair comment to pan it. Although I saw more acting from Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen and Sean Bean. I say that overall it is the ensemble of characters that shares equal screen presence that is nicely executed in this movie that impressed me. Although some important chapters was omitted or 'fused' into one scene. I say it is still one of the more faithful adaptations that does not stray from the overall feel and plot of the book. But for those who have never read the book, I find the narrative part of the book not too hard to absorb. I would reccommend the pruchase of the extended collection for the more enthusiastic fans of this movie to see what parts of the book which is now included...
Rating:
Summary: Worth a (30 year!) wait
Review: First read the books about 1972. It has been a long wait for
the movie but worth it. Wish I could give more than 5 stars. I loved the touches of humor that got added. ... The dwarf tossing. Pippin in general, and the falling
armour had me rolling on the floor laughing, though I want them
to grab the damn chain. And how did Gandalf got his staff back
from Saruman to use against the Balrog?
Rating:
Summary: If you have the attention span of a billy goat...
Review: ...then don't see this movie, and certainly don't read Tolkein's series. You will never get it, and your cluelessness about myth and the eternal struggle will disown you like wholesome language off a Dead Kennedy's album. On the other hand, if you like to read, and want to witness a very good enactment of a the best mytho-poetic epic of the 20th century, one that actually does Tolkein justice ( unlike that cartoon abomination in the late 70s), then Pete Jackson's rendition of Tolkien is an absolute must. It is just a shame some people who did see this movie and reviewed it had to leave the grazing comfort of their hillside herd to throw one of their "tin cans" at a movie of such wonderful magnatude. Myth, imagination, magic, fire, homeric wars, demons, alien worlds and beings, incredible special effects, a dreamscape of incredible forces both conscious and unconscious duking it out for the salvation of the world, all the stuff our intuitive selves feed on for daily bread are here, FINALLY brought alive by someone with the skill to do it. Yes, there are minor flaws...no Bombadil, Glorfindel replaced by Arwen, the changed bar room scences at the Pony...but overall, a true lineal descendant worthy of the epic itself. I could go on scene by scene, but others have done this already, and did a good job of it as well. But if you are a myth-lover with even a smattering of poetic sensibility, you will love both this movie and the series. Don't miss either, or you will miss one long fantastic vacation without ever having to leave your seat.
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