Rating: 
Summary: One movie to rule them all...
Review: This movie has to be one of my top 10 favorites. It is positively a beautiful film. The classic characters are brought to life through incredible performances from the cast, and somehow Peter Jackson managed to capture the charm of the novels on film. No matter how many times I've seen it or read it, I still find myself in tears with the closing scenes. The costuming is glorious, and the scenery is completely believable. The sets ARE Middle Earth, and you are utterly lost in this story through the dramatic, wonderful way it is told. The DVD is great. The sound is better than I could have hoped for, and the picture is better than I had expected. A wonderful carry over from the theater. The special features are also a blast. The 10 minute preview of the Two Towers is great, leaving you on the edge of your seat to see the next film, which (regretfully) we have to wait for December to see. A slight insight into Gollum is given (at least how he is created in the movie), and even more great clips are waiting. Of course, the trailers are great as is everything else on the DVD. It would be an absolute crime against humanity to purchase the full screen version of this, considering even in the widescreen it is hard to take in everything in any given shot. Go with the widescreen, the full screen is so chopped it has a clostrophobic feeling to it. And of course, the VHS can't have as sharp of picture as the DVD, and believe me, the picture is great on this. I'm looking forward to the extended version, due out in November, but this is a marvelous movie and a delightful DVD. Pick it up and allow yourself to be swept away into middle earth. Remember: "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your front door..."
Rating:
Summary: Great movie, or rather one-third of a great movie
Review: Occasionally, a controversy arises in advance over whether Hollywood can do a book justice in the movie version. In the case of Lord of the Rings, make that three movies. New Line Cinema gave New Zealand director Peter Jackson hundreds of millions of dollars to film the entire J.R.R. Tolkien trilogy. These were shot simultaneously in Jackson's native New Zealand. The first, The Fellowship of the Rings, was released last Christmas and is now on video and DVD. The second will open in theaters in December, the third in December 2003. So far, Jackson has triumphed. While some purists have complained about certain elements of the movie (for example, about the lessening of the Hobbits' roles in fighting the forces of evil), most fans seem quite pleased. The movie has been a huge hit both here and abroad, which indicates its appeal goes far beyond the books' rabid supporters. The Lord of the Rings is an epic tale about courage and the dangers of power. It takes place in a time long ago in a place called Middle Earth, which both is and is not of our earth. It is peopled by far more than mere humans beings. There are hobbits and dwarfs, elves and goblins, wizards and assorted strange creatures. Once upon a time, a great but evil wizard forged powerful rings in the fires of the Mountain of Doom. The mightiest of these he kept for himself, but he lost it during a great battle. One day, a hobbit named Bilbo [Ian Holm] found it and kept it. Now he has decided to pass it on to his favorite nephew, Frodo [Elijah Wood]. There is great danger for Frodo because the wizard will stop at nothing to get it back. With the help of another wizard, Gandolf [Ian McKellan], and others, Frodo begins a long and treacherous journey to where the ring was created, for that is the only place where it can be destroyed. The movie is a visual feast. Computer generated imagery techniques have truly come of age. When you mix these cinematic tricks with the naturally awesome and exotic landscapes of New Zealand, the effect is magical. Some, but not all, of this is lost on the small screen, for The Lord of the Rings is designed to be seen larger than life. One of the movie's great accomplishments is the way it seamlessly matches the small and large characters. You would swear that Elijah Wood is a midget in real life, and Ian McKellan a giant. The cast is superb. Especially notable are McKellan as Gandolf, Holm as Bilbo, and Wood as Frodo. These actors will forever be known for these roles. Also mesmerizing is Kate Blanchett in her fairly small role as Queen Galadriel. The Lord of the Rings will not please all viewers. It runs three hours. The characters travel on and on and on, in much the same way Peter O'Toole was forever trooping across the desert in the 1962 classic, Lawrence of Arabia. Also, because this is the first in a trilogy, it doesn't have a true climax. It simply ends with the main characters planning their next moves. I personally can't wait to find out what they are.
Rating:
Summary: WOW
Review: I dont want to sit down a write a huge review like some of the other fans so il simply say. BEST MOVIE EVER. hope that helps!
Rating: 
Summary: Beware Defective Discs!
Review: This is the worst audio I've ever encountered on a DVD, and what a shame that it should happen to such a fine film. The audio on the 2nd, special features, disc, is spotty all the way through, with some of the features being entirely unintelligible. I had hoped that the film itself would be unaffected, but in the 27th chapter, the audio suddenly went bad, and you would need subtitles to understand the dialogue. The ambient sound was still fine, but the dialogue had faded to a whisper in the background. I will be returning my disc and hoping for one without defects.
Rating:
Summary: Same sound problem -- caused because of clipping...
Review: I had the same problem with the sound, and fixed it by sending it through my television and turning the volume down a bit. The only explanation I have is that the DVD was recorded with very high gains on the battle scenes, and some stereo systems can't handle the full signal. Tempering it by sending it through an intermediary source helps it not to clip. It does tell me that I need to go out and get a new receiver before the next films come out on DVD :D. Awesome, and every bit as thrilling as it was in the theatres (though I miss the big screen). All Hail Jackson!
Rating:
Summary: Magnificent
Review: This movie is a masterpiece. Combining intense action shots, rolling landscapes, and well-developed characters, this movie is the archetypal adventure. But the wonder of this movie is that it is not limited merely to the surface level of action and adventure; it conveys deeper themes about life. In allegorical form, it shows the epic distinction between good and evil, the utter corruption of sin, and the sovereign care of God. It shows the joys of simple living, and the beauty of culture in middle-earth. All of this lifts you upward to the climax of emotion and gratefulness for the life God gave both the hobbits and us humans. Though I missed seeing the Lord of the Rings in the theatre, this DVD made up for that tragic blunder. All the same, you may wish to wait for the extended edition, containing an extra 30 minutes of footage over 4 DVDs, to come out in November. It sounds very good.
Rating:
Summary: Sadness in the heart of happiness
Review: Ohh my god I never have cryed so much in my entire life. this is the saddest movie. The action is awsome and the story is better than anything i have ever seen before. i love this movie. Elijah wood is a realy good actor in this movie,but i pictured the hobbits fatter. Gandolf the wizard was the perfect gandolph. It is a scary movie. you love the characters so much that when they are fighting you get sad and can realy feel their emotions
Rating:
Summary: True To The Book
Review: The Movie -The Fellowship Of The Ring is true to the book. I love the books but the film felt just right! It will be appealing to most readers and certainly to those who never read the book. If you have seen this film and loved it and have not yet read the book please do read them. The books will give you an even richer experience. They will also help you enjoy the films even more. I do miss the poetry which had to be left out of the movie because of length most likely. Also parents use caution!! Do not bring anyone under the age of eleven to see this movie. As an eight year old the imagery here would have given me nightmares for months!!
Rating:
Summary: The real LORD of the Rings....
Review: This movie is such a masterpiece,you cannot explain how great it is in words....Peter Jackson has made a classic book,into movie magic.Great casting,excellent special effects,and just a magnific' job!Peter Jackson(PJ) brought the story to life!This is a movie everybody should own!It has some violence that parents of younger children should look out for.But,if you are mature enough,you should bring this masterpiece into your household!SO buy Lord of the Rings(LOTR)today!
Rating:
Summary: Superb movie -- very good DVD.
Review: If you only want to buy one Lord of the Rings: Fellowship DVD, you might want to get the Extended DVD edition to be released in November 2002. That DVD will have an extra half an hour of new footage inserted into the film, and lots of original supplementary features. But me, I'm a sap. I want both versions of the film. I saw this film in theatres more than twice as much as I've seen any film since my pre-teen years. Why? Well, aside from the possibility that I have the geek gene -- LOTR: FOTR is the best fantasy movie ever made. There's action, great visuals, but most importantly (and this is something that's sadly lacking in modern Star Wars films) heart. The title of the film is "Fellowship", and that's also the theme. A bond of Fellowship or friendship which allows for some very intimate and heart-wrenching moments. Sam and Frodo's friendship. Merry and Pippin. Gandalf and everyone. Superb chemistry brought forth by great writing and dead on casting. For the unfeeling among you, there's a few beheadings. (g) And visually, this film is stunning. Wonderfully detailed and intelligent designs that require multiple viewings, pauses, zooms to appreciate it all. The DVD transfer is superb, making the visuals even better. In particular, I think the Balrog looks at lot better on the DVD than he did on the screen. There's some very sharp colours on this DVD. As for special features, this August version has mostly recycled TV and internet specials. But there's also a ten-minute preview of the Two Towers, the next LOTR film. And a preview of the extended DVD. The previews have me eagerly awaiting the next releases in this franchise. I highly recommend this movie. (And for the record, I've read the books, but I actually think the film adaptation improves on some things. The characters are more developed.)
| 
