Rating: 
Summary: Exactly What Tolkien Envisioned
Review: It's always a touchy subject when you're adapting a popular story for film, especially one with the following of this epic trilogy. By the time this movie finally hit the theatres, it was almost impossible to live up to the hype it had generated over the previous months (does Star Wars, Episode I, ring a bell?).I've lost track of how many times I read Tolkien's trilogy while growing up. The amazing thing about this movie is that it is almost exactly as I pictured Middle Earth in my mind and I can't imagine it's far from what Tolkien himself envisioned. Director Peter Jackson stays very true to the story while creating a movie that captures your attention and your imagination and holds them for almost three hours. The visuals in the movie are stunning, but not at the expense of character and plot development. This movie deserved more than the four Oscars it received and should be considered one of the best fantasy films of all time. All I want for Christmas is my Two Towers movie!
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Good, but ... for Aragorn... sigh
Review: It's an enjoyble 3 hours of fantasy. Unfortunately, I've read the book (I hated the book, it's really tough to read), and I found the potrayal of Aragorn in this film seriously lacking. I don't think anybody would walk out of the theatre being a fan of Aragorn, while in the book, ... he's one of the greatest heros. Most of the people were really impressed with Legolas... that elf really stole the show. We really need someone who have screen prescence to be casted as the actor for Aragorn. Someone like Sean Connery when he was young, etc. Just his entry to a scene should make one think that he is a king.
Rating:
Summary: Not much to say here.
Review: It's bloody brilliant--it has earned its slot in the High Nerd Pantheon, and resides next to the original Star Wars trilogy in the Temple of Revered Movies. In fact, it's so good that the general public has accepted it as brilliance--this is certainly the shining star of the first decade of filmaking in the first decade of the 2000s. Anything and everything has been said about this movie, and I won't waste your time. If you don't have it, buy it. If you have the original version, buy this. It's longer, true, but it feels much shorter. It's more coherant, it's more emotional--this is how this movie was MEANT to be seen. Anything else is denying yourself the true glory of this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Fellowship's extended DVD worth its weight in gold
Review: It's difficult to review these films without lots of superlatives. If you are either a film lover, aspiring pro or a student interested in what makes a film tick, these DVDs are priceless. Many DVD sets have a director and perhaps a few pivotal cast members talking about their work on a film - this DVD takes the time to question the production designers and other "below the line" crew to ask them how they put LOTR together. The documentaries here are excellent: a brief biography of Tolkien himself, all sorts of goodies on the making of this production, storyboards and crude computer animation for scenes, showing how the special effects were designed in certain scenes - you can even watch the crude animation and the finished scenes side by side! I particularly enjoyed learning about the Tolkien illustrators (especially Alan Lee) whose work influenced Jackson, and were then coaxed into leading the production design teams. Costume designers and illustrators will no doubt love the diverse galleries and pictures that are also available on the DVD. You do get a sense of what an adventure the film was for the actors, especially the four younger men playing Frodo, Legolas, Merry and Pippin, who are all at the beginning of their careers (literally so for Bloom). Their exuberance is balanced by more seasoned actors like Mortensen and McKellan. Elijah Wood rolls his eyes describing how Sean Astin overprotected him - just as Samwise Gamgee would - particularly on a helicopter shoot. I found this unintentionally funny in a dark sort of way (TANGENT ALERT). Both Astin and Wood grew up in front of the cameras, but Astin is 10 years older, more likely to know of the "Twilight Zone: The Movie" helicopter accident which killed actor Vic Morrow (father to Jennifer Jason Leigh). (Weirdly, Bloom would win a role in "Black Hawk Down" around the time of "LOTR" playing Todd Blackburn, the young Army Ranger whose fall from a helicopter figured heavily in the Battle of Mogadishu. I guess Elijah didn't read *that* script.) Interestingly, Sean Astin, whose parents are John Astin and Patty Duke, used to study with Stella Adler, who promoted the Stansilaski method of acting, usually known as "the method". (I.e, the actor "becomes" his or her role, and Nic Cage has an excuse to eat cockroaches - yes, just read about his role in "Vampire's Kiss".) By the final reel of "King", he comes off as one of the strongest players, even outshining Wood. Sean, keep up with the air traffic control - especially if it helps your performance! As far as the acting is concerned, "Fellowship" is so full of moments and terrific scenes that it really does seem to get better upon multiple viewings. A standout example is that of Sean Bean as Boromir. It's easy to dismiss Boromir as a weak, would-be Judas (particularly if you've seen "Ronin" or "Goldeneye", rather than his excellent British TV work as "Sharpe") but after the initial shock of his choice fades, on second and third viewings, Bean is touching, a troubled yet courageous knight who finally redeems himself. Boromir is even easier to sympathize with if you view the extended "Two Towers" DVD, which sheds insight into his father -the steward of Gondor- and the dark expectations heaped upon Boromir, his first son and heir. It also helps bridge the relationship between Boromir and Faromir. All the "LOTR" films, but especially "The Fellowship of the Ring", seem more like historical drama than fantasy. The last piece to attempt this, the "Mists of Avalon" miniseries, does not come close in terms of depth and believability, despite being based on truthful historical trends (i.e. the passing of pagan Europe to Christianity and the ensuing turmoil). The scenery is also breathtaking: Jackson's aerial shots of the snowcapped Mountains of Moria, where one of the Fellowship sacrifices himself for his friends, are absolutely stunning. Strangely, a "pro" review snippily suggested German "mountain films" as a major influence on the cinematography and film! If you're a non-film geek, a suggestion that something is reminiscent of a "German mountain film" is usually a back-handed swipe, since those stories are often lumped together with Nazi cinema. Leni Riefenstahl initially distinguished herself as a "mountain film" actress and later directed "The Blue Light" before "Triumph of the Will". These films had their heyday during Germany's withering Weimar regime, and anticipated a lot of the same themes (purity of man and environment, social Darwinism) that were later developed in Nazi propaganda. Ergo, Peter Jackson films a beautiful, snowy vista, and it's automatically a "homage" to these films and thus suggestive of Nazism? This is downright insulting when you consider that this entire saga is about a fellowship of different races uniting and saving Middle Earth. Moreover, the love for nature is inherent to Tolkien's original text. Jackson has built on top of detailed, thoughtful words - creating a gorgeous, treacherous, seemingly real world. George Lucas's recent films have been just as beautiful visually - stunning, really - and yet they seem much more "fantastical", unreal, than what we see in the filmed LOTR. Moreover, not only do Jackson and company seem more passionate about the world they've created in these films, their characters are more passionate...fully-breathing, fully realized...as well. (And I say this despite being very excited about the third Star Wars prequel.) After the popularity dies down a bit, expect some academics, especially those with a Marxist bent, to find lots of faults with the film - especially considering its large budget. (Again with the "German mountain film" suggestion). Some academic critics seem to believe the last good fiction film was "Battleship Potemkin". Don't let these people ruin your enjoyment of intelligent, beautiful films.
If "Fellowship" has an Achilles' heel, it's that it must serve as exposition and explanation for the second two films, as well as parts of "The Hobbit". Despite that, it manages to be a feast for the eyes, ears, and brain.
Rating:
Summary: See this version before "The Two Towers"
Review: It's like this-
This movie is a visual masterpiece of epic porportions. It has an amazing cast, who do amazing jobs as actors. The crew who did the pre- and post-production work should have been payed a great deal more for the work they put in. Peter Jackson was okay, even though the books direct themselves. To put it kindly though, he surpasses George Lucas and Steven Spielberg any day with his limited use of CGI special effects.
This version of the film is a must see if you wish to see "The Two Towers." If you've read the books, you're okay. This version helps to explain the Lembas bread, amongst other things.
Also, it adds more of a story to what we saw in the theatres of "The Fellowship of the Ring." It gives amazing insight to the characters, and helps to fill in certain timeline gaps.
The documentaries are amazing, and are a must see for book/movie fans alike.
Finally, if you buy this, check out the Easter Eggs. There is an MTV spoof of the Council of Elrond, as well as a full trailer for "The Two Towers."
Purchase this movie, and enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous entertainment & visual journey unparaleled story
Review: It's never been better than this, it's everything movie making is about. This is the film every child waited a lifetime to see. This film breaks a barrier, like 2001 & Star Wars, it sets the new standard. Combining a great story, script, costumes and visual effects like no film before it. I can't wait to see the "Two Towers".
Rating:
Summary: Get the original
Review: It's pretty obvious that this is the real film Peter Jackson made from the start. The Frankenstein's monster hacked up thing you saw in the theater was for the attention deficient Public who can barely sit through a 2 hour movie let alone a 3 1/2 hour film. On the DVD it states that Peter Jackson added bonus footage for the special edition. This version is so much more comprehensive, it's clear that from the writing and storyboard stage of the project that this is what he intended to make from the get-go. That being said, this is truly one of the greatest films ever made. Awesome!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies in these times
Review: It's really amazing how it was done, and the results are incredible. The actors are excellent, and Elijah Wood is wonderful for the lead. Of course, the story is good, that's why Tolkien is one of the best writers in history.
The movie lasts three hours but it's worth it. It is about the Hobbits, a group of small people. One of them is Bilbo Baggins, and he's weird. But the weirdest thing is that he's the owner of a very powerful ring, because of all the trips he has done. But the trouble starts when he gives it to his nephew, Frodo Baggins, to destroy it for good.
Wonderful movie. It's really enjoyable.
Rating: 
Summary: Poor Tolkien is rolling in his grave now!
Review: It's sad how people rave about how 'good' this movie is. I've seen it twice - once in the theatre and once at home. The time at the theatre, I think that my mother had more fun watching my facial expressions (Shock, dismay) than from the movie; and the only reason I watched it the second time was to prove to my father that it barely even followed the storyline. Mind you, both me and my father have read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings (My father has read the book anywhere between 25-30 times in the past years, possibly more; and will read it many more times in the future, same as I will).
Throughout the whole movie, my father was steadily swearing at our television and saying,"THAT'S NOT IN THE BOOK!" There is barely any relation to the book, as I have already said. Some examples are:
-It said nothing about Frodo moving to his other house before he left on the quest.
-It skipped Tom Bombadil entirely, which I found highly annoying.
-At the inn, Frodo did NOT mention that he knew Gandalf. He also didn't disappear for no reason either.
-Arwen did NOT save Frodo, it was her brother.
-Etcetera, etcetera, I can go on forever. And that's only, let's say, the first half of the movie?
And there are people who hate the movie and have NOT read the books, refusing to do so now because they think that the book is as bad, or worse, than the movie. And it scares me even worse to see the people that have read the book say that the movie follows the book to a 'T'. Poor Tolkien is rolling in his grave by now, poor man. It's sad that such a classic should have been butchered so badly. I will most definately NOT see the following two, nor let my father see them for fear that he would most likely destroy the television.
In my view, I don't recommend the movie, I do recommend the books though.
Rating:
Summary: wow
Review: It's truly amazing, the new version of the film. In the booklet there is a list of chapters,and it's ful of new scenes and extended dialogue and action. Whereas the theatrical version kept most material that dealt with Frodo, the extended version gives a cleare, better, funnier, more touching view of the rest of the cast. For example, Celeborn maybe had one or two lines in the theatrical version, but had his own scene and a dozen more lines in thisnew version. Galadriel gives gifts to the rest of the fellowship, Aragorn sings a love ballad to Arwen, and Sauron's voice echoes in Rivendell at the Council of Elrond, to name a few. I fell in love with this movie the second the prologue began in the theatre when i first saw it, but this new edition proves any (small and meager) objections false. Truly, The Fellowship of the Fing: Special Extended edition is even better and even more undoubtedly the best movie in existence....That is, until the next two movies come out....
|
