Rating: Summary: A triumph for Tolkein geeks (and the rest of us too) Review: Friends of mine mock me because I've seen this five times. It's okay, they don't even know I've read book the twice that many.Like other geeks I had high expectations for this movie and I wasn't disappointed. First, it's well-written. The writers keep Tolkein's epic language and manage to make it accessible. Good mix of comedy, drama, tragedy. Second, it's beautiful in every detail, best art direction and cinematography since Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Third, it's HUGE. There's a lot happening and usually two different parts of the plot are being developed at once. The action scenes always relate to the meaning of the story so there's stuff to think about while you watch one hair-raising set piece after another. Fourth, unlike the recent Star Wars disaster, it's a movie where the actors actually ACT. Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen give the best performances and keep the movie grounded in a spiritual struggle, even when the FX threaten to take over the movie. Other characters are less well-developed but the stage is set for their development in the second & third films. Anyway, even the more shallow characters here compare favorably with the original Star Wars flicks. Bottom line: a triumph for fantasy geeks everywhere, not to mention a movie that will make the rest of you wonder why you thought Gladiator was all that.
Rating: Summary: Timeless Review: Friendship, loyalty, courage, love, forgiveness, compassion, heroism, frailty, fear, mourning, hope. Tolkien eloquently expressed all of this in his timeless story. And Peter Jackson captured - what I had always believed to be impossible - with perfection. I had re-read the trilogy just before FOTR released. Yes, Tom Bombadil was cut. Yes, Arwen's part was expanded. But these changes did not change the intensity [one whit] with which the more memorable events are experienced. This movie is visually stunning. The attention to detail is astonishing - all the way down to the Elven runes carved into the blades of a sword and the hand-tooling of the leather garments. Elrond's golden armor is beyond expression, not to mention Rivendell. It is quite evident that the actors put their soul into this movie and their efforts are fully realized on the screen. For this I am truly appreciative. Peter Jackson and company took my most beloved story and made it breathe. I have seen this movie 3 times and will most likely see it a few more before the DVD releases (rumour has it sometime in May). I will then hold my breath until The Two Towers releases in December.
Rating: Summary: Lord of the Rings Review: Frodo Baggins, the hobbit, inbarks in a quest to destroy The One Ring before Sarumon, the dark lord, gets it. He meets a wide variety of creatures such as hobbits, elves, dwarfs, and other things. See if he can destroy the ring before Sarumon gets it.
Rating: Summary: Dreadful Review: Frodo gets into trouble, Frodo gets out of trouble, Frodo gets into trouble, Frodo gets out of trouble, and so on, and so on, and so on... Put in some nice special effects and support it with booming sound and you have the so-called "masterpiece" LOTR.
Rating: Summary: Peter Jackson has reached divine status with LOTR! Review: from 'bad taste' to 'the frighteners' to 'heavenly creatures' to 'lotr', peter jackson has becom a deity. there is no other director, not even spielberg, that can measure up today. lotr is a wonderful epic fantasy, that will stand up to time as well as the likes of 'star wars' and is actually a much better film! peter jackson should be allowed to do whatever the hell he wants in film, because to say he has proven himself would be a gross understatement! with the book ends, free pass for 'the two towers', national geographic documentary...this gift set should be the model for all future gift sets!
Rating: Summary: This movie will be the best of all time! Review: From all the trailers and everything it looks like this will be one of the best movies of all time! From a crazy fan of Tolkien
Rating: Summary: Characters finding their own heroism Review: From Frodo and the other hobbits, to Aragorn, and including Boromir, Gimli, and Legolas, each character finds their heroism. One of the masterful touches in this movie is the subtlety - Jackson doesn't bang you over the head with Aragorn's reluctant acceptance of "his people." If you aren't attentive, you miss it, as well as a whole other bunch of things like Bilbo's trolls. I saw it on Thursday and again on Saturday. It exceeded expectations, as I went in wondering how anyone could film The Fellowship of the Rings in a way that didn't confuse the entire audience. The casting is nearly perfect (I didn't care for Elrond). The one disappointment is Galadriel, which other reviewers have mentioned. For those reviewers claiming the Gandalf character imitates Obi-Wan, bear in mind this was written decades before George Lucas dreamed up his elderly mentor. Better to say that Obi-Wan imitates Gandalf.
Rating: Summary: The Journey Begins Review: From its breathtaking opening scene, to its wrenching end, "The Fellowhsip of the Ring" leaves you eager for the second and third. "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" is the first chapter to the greatest 3 films EVER made. Based truthfully on J.R.R Tolkein's masterpiece, the movie adaption swipes through other unsuccessful triologies such as "The Matrix" and "Terminator". Triology Films have the unfortunate tendancy to lose its grip as the story through the films proceed, but Peter Jackson's ingenious version of "The Lord of the Rings" is by a milestone an exception, finally bringing the term "Film Triology" out of the darkness. The "Fellowship" begins with an awe-striking prologue featuring revolutionary visual-effects so brilliant, not once do you think about them. Within the country of Mordor, the evil Sauron has forged, in the fires of Mount Doom the One Ring. In it he pours his mallice and hatred, powers so great it performs an immediate magnetic force upon the one who bares it. Centuries after a great war to rid Middle Earth of the Ring fails, it finds itself into the hands of the most unlikely creature of all... Here is where we meet charmingly innocent Hobbit Frodo. The nephew of the famous Bilbo Baggins. By coinsodence the One Ring falls into the grasp of Frodo, who appears to have an unusual resistance to the Ring's evil. Learning of the Ring's terrible power, Frodo embarks on the journey that will eventaully toss his world upside down, and ventures towards the fires of Mt. Doom, the only place where the ring can be disposed. Along the way, Frodo is accompanied by the Fellowship, a team of 4 hobbits, a man, an elf, a dwarf and wizard oathed to guide the Ring Barer through the perilous journey to teh heart Mordor. The quest is a road of fear, heartache and pain, and soon Frodo begins to feel the magnetic pull towards the Ring, realising that he must complete the journey alone with his guardian Sam. This film is everything you look for in an epic: exquised battle sequences and intensity. The movie explores priceless themes, such as hope, friendship, bravery, trust and begins the unbreakable bond between two unlikely heros. Winner of 4 Acedemy Awards, harmonised by an amazing musical score, exploding with feeling and grace, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" is truly one of the greatest films EVER made!
Rating: Summary: The Best Movie of 2001. Review: From Peter Jackson ( Director of " Bad Taste" and " Dead Alive) presents a compelling, incredible and lush adapation of one of the greatest Novels in history. It's about the story of Frodo Baggins with Gandolf and Company who go on their quest to destroy the one Ring to rule them all, it's very faithful to the book and it's worth the 3-Hours. Own this movie if you love Fantasy and some of Tolkein's work.
Rating: Summary: Breathtaking Depiction plus all of the goodies! Review: From the begining, I was already excited to get this DVD, not to mention that a Special Extended Edition would still be released this November 12. This DVD is a far cry from the nonetheless disappointing Sorcerer's Stone DVD Release. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Harry Potter fan. I love the movie but the special features didn't do it for me. As for the Fellowship of the Rings Special Features, I was expecting a lot and my oh my, I got much more than what I expected. The various features on LOTR including the one produced by Houghton Mifflin, were a delight to watch. Immediately when I got my copy, I popped in the second disc in my player. There was more to that, the Featurettes were just entertaining. Lastly, the preview to The Two Towers was enough to make anyone crave for the upcoming installment this December in your local theater. I've read the books! I loved the books! I'm not saying that the book or the movie is better than the other! I'm just saying that, being both a fan of Tolkien and being a collector of DVDs, you can never go wrong with this purchase!
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