The Lord of the Rings

Rating:
Summary: Abridged, but fun for the whole family
Review: I listened to this dramatization after I'd read The Lord of the Rings, and I enjoyed it. Though it's an abridged version, most of the important parts are included and you get a very good idea of the full scope of the story.

I think the character of Sam is particularly well done. He shows that courage is when an ordinary person does something extraordinary out of necessity, not because of an ideal. I also liked the Ents--they were just how I imagined them--and Merry and Pippin's clowning was fun. Hearing Tom Bombadil speak also made some sense out of all those Ring Dong a Dillos!

I would recommend this audiobook as a family activity. If you have children too young to read the book by themselves, they would certainly enjoy listening to this dramatization (though you may have to help the younger ones through a few scary parts).

Rating:
Summary: DISAPPOINTING DRAMATIZATION OF A MASTERPIECE
Review: IF YOU LOVE THE BOOKS, YOU WILL NOT BE PLEASED BY THE DRAMATIZATION HERE. TOLKIEN TAKES YOU INTO THE JOURNEY AND INTO THE STORY WITH HIS BOOKS. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS SET OF AUDIO BOOKS IS SOMEWHAT COMICAL. THE VOICES DO NOT MATCH THE CHARACTERS, THE SOUND EFFECTS BRING NO LIFE TO THE TALE. THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE TAKES AWAY FROM THE FANTASY, WHICH IS SO EASILY ENTERED THROUGH TOLKIEN'S BOOKS. I'M STILL SEARCHING FOR THE BEST WAY TO CLOSE MY EYES AND LIVE IN TOLKIENS AMAZING WORLD. I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN/IF I FIND IT HERE.

Rating:
Summary: The Other dramatization by Brian Sibley is MUCH better!
Review: There have been two dramatizations of The Lord of the Rings available for over 20 years now. One is the Mind's Eye which is essentially the American version and the other is a BBC production made in England. In short, the Mind's Eye production is very poor in both performance and sound quality. Listening to Gandalf and Sauruman speak to each other in one episode was like listening to two demented elderly people exchange pointless barbs in a nursing home. It was stunningly bad.

In comparison, the BBC production is marvelous. With at least two Shakepearean actors who have been knighted for their acting virtuousity, Ian Holm and Michael Hordern, the BBC version is awash in fine acting. Peter Woodthorpe portrayal of Gollum is inimitable. Brian Sibley also does a superb job of writing the play. He did such a good job, he was asked to consult on the film version that Peter Jackson just directed. Did you like the film? Then buy the BBC dramatization.

It took me years to find the BBC version to buy. Only the Mind's Eye version was available in the United States for years, nay, decades. In the end, I was forced to buy the BBC version in London itself. How times have changed. Now Amazon offers both productions -- Mind's Eye and BBC. Do yourself and your family a favor. If you are going to buy any Tolkein dramatization at all, but the BBC version written by Brian Sibley. It is marvelous.

Rating:
Summary: The Other dramatization by Brian Sibley is MUCH better!
Review: There have been two dramatizations of The Lord of the Rings available for over 20 years now. One is the Mind's Eye which is essentially the American version and the other is a BBC production made in England. In short, the Mind's Eye production is very poor in both performance and sound quality. Listening to Gandalf and Sauruman speak to each other in one episode was like listening to two demented elderly people exchange pointless barbs in a nursing home. It was stunningly bad.

In comparison, the BBC production is marvelous. With at least two Shakepearean actors who have been knighted for their acting virtuousity, Ian Holm and Michael Hordern, the BBC version is awash in fine acting. Peter Woodthorpe portrayal of Gollum is inimitable. Brian Sibley also does a superb job of writing the play. He did such a good job, he was asked to consult on the film version that Peter Jackson just directed. Did you like the film? Then buy the BBC dramatization.

It took me years to find the BBC version to buy. Only the Mind's Eye version was available in the United States for years, nay, decades. In the end, I was forced to buy the BBC version in London itself. How times have changed. Now Amazon offers both productions -- Mind's Eye and BBC. Do yourself and your family a favor. If you are going to buy any Tolkein dramatization at all, but the BBC version written by Brian Sibley. It is marvelous.

Rating:
Summary: MindsEye has the Ring
Review: Wonderful PBS adaptation of the Tolkiens Lord of the Rings. Great fare for driving and good enough to keep the kids entertained.