Rating: 
Summary: Incredible, Tolkien Would Be Pleased
Review: As a fantasy reader, I've read The Lord of the Rings trilogy twice, and it is by far the best fantasy I have ever read. When I discovered they were making a movie out of it, a true-to-life live-action movie... I was excited, but also a bit wary. See, I didn't know of any of Peter Jackson's earlier work, and so I had no idea what to expect (I did learn that he directed The Frighteners and Dead/Alive later on, both of which I'm a fan of, but to any who know those films...this is a whole different animal we're talking about in this film). I was pleasantly blown straight out of my seat upon seeing it in theatres. I didn't have a single gripe about it, because, in essence, it was perfect. Or so I thought. Then, on Christmas day, I laid my eyes upon...the Extended Addition! *cue hallelujahs right now* And I was surprised that, by God, the movie got better! Now, one movie over two DVD's seems quite a bit, but the whole trip is well worth it. The added scenes are integrated perfectly and the extra time diminishes the film in no way. Though, I would have loved to see anything involving Tom Bombadil, who is in my opinion one of the coolest characters ever...why, I don't know, but he's not necessary to this film. The battles are amazing, the acting is mind-blowingly good, and the sets, effects, costumes, go above and beyond any expectations. The attention to detail is mind-boggling and lovingly done. So, I recommend this not to just fans of the books, but to anyone who loves a damn good movie. Come on, I know you guys are out there! And if you don't think you can stand going through 3+ hours, just give it a try, you'll still love it. And if you don't, I will hunt you down and bash you like an enraged Uruk-Hai!
Rating:
Summary: Loved it!!!
Review: As a life-long addict of the written trilogy (and all of Tolkein's other works) I was always worried about how such an event packed story could be presented on screen. This movie really hits the target - several incidents are missed or combined but this does not detract from the overall theme of the primary quest.
I was totally absorbed by the superb characterisation. Most people have commented on Ian McKellan's role and, of course, Elijah Wood - I also felt that excellent choices had been made for Bormir, Legolas, Gimli - in fact all the principal characters.
The movie really brought the book to life for me, with superb imagery.
I saw it with my two teenaged kids - neither of whom has completed the written trilogy yet - and was delighted that they enjoyed it as much as me.
I can honestly say that I feel that it is the best film I have ever seen - I can't wait for the next two parts! And I will collecting the DVDs to treasure for ever!
Rating:
Summary: This one is the best of them all!
Review: As a life-long fan of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, I am ecstatic that Peter Jackson has recreated the story so powerfully on film. The cinematography is beautiful, and Howard Shore's soundtrack hits the mark dead center! In this excellent extended version, 30 minutes of additional footage contains the drama and dialogue I knew I would want to see: the Rivendell discussion is longer with more input from the men present (and Elrond is much more cautious about Frodo taking on this challenge). More is shown from the stay at Lothlorien, particularly the gift-giving scene where Gimli tells Galadriel that a lock of her hair would be more valuable than the gems of a dwarf mine. Several other snippets of drama enrich the story on screen, and being a fan of the books already, I'm more interested in seeing Tolkien's ideas than Jackson's adaptation. The hours of documentary and commentary from many actors and crew make this edition worth the wait. But more incredible than these things is that Jackson filmed scenes with the special edition DVD in mind. There is new music added to the original score and new footage not shown in the theater or on other DVDs. This plantinum extended edition or the collector's edition must not be passed by for any Tolkien lover, as the sales have already shown.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Movie, but I've got to rip on it.
Review: As a long time fan of the books, this movie was at once spectacular and lacking. The landscapes and sets were awesome, so many things were exactly as I pictured them. The casting is execellent too. I expected the script to be watered down, but not as badly as it was. The thing that bothered me most was there was no sense of distance, everything seemed a day's journey away. The movie was long, but they should have had more camp scenes in between stops. I felt the Council of Elrond was weak. I didn't mind the expanded role for Arwen, but I thought Aragorn was out of character. Gandalf as well. Who is this Lurtz guy? Please. Plot elements that are subtle in the book are glaring contrasts in the movie, often it seemed to get a point across, such as the lure of the ring. All that aside, I'll go to see it again. The lanscapes, sets, and special effects alone are worth it. The butchery of the script could have been worse considering they cut so much and the movie is still three hours long.
Rating:
Summary: What the theatrical release should have been
Review: As a long time LOTR fan, I eagerly awaited the first movie. Although it quickly became one of my favorite movies of all time, I still lamented some of the detail that was left out. I understood that it had to be edited and that no exhibitor would ever book a 3-1/2 hour movie at normal ticket prices.When I heard the first information on this edition, I decided to forego the first DVD release and get this one instead. The wait was worth it! Although there are still a few details missing and a few things to quibble about, the result is simply stunning and can stand in its own right. Three and one-half hours of this movie is, quite simply, worth the investment in time. I'd recommend this to all fans of the original book - an audience that's proven its willingness to invest the time to get the most out of the experience. I'm more anxious than ever to see "The Two Towers", and then to get its extended edition! In the history of movie "franchises", this is the crown jewel. A breathtaking accomplishment, if Peter Jackson never did another noteworthy thing in his life, this alone would elevate him to a legendary status comparable to his source material. His ability to bring this story vividly to life is almost as awesome as Tolkien's in writing it in the first place. (See also my review of the book where I state my opinion that's it's the greatest work of fiction in the English language - not excluding Shakespeare!) I have no doubt that all three movies, when they've been released both thearically and in their extended editions, will prove among the most profitable and enduring ever filmed. I only hope that sometime along the way, the Academy sees fit to reward them with something more than technical Oscars. Did I mention that I *really* liked it? ;-)
Rating:
Summary: Tolkien's Masterpiece Becomes a Film Classic
Review: As a long-time fan of Tolkien's classic works, I couldn't have been happier with the first film adaptation of his benchmark series. Obviously the film-makers are not only top-notch in their field, but also true fans of Tolkien's work. The adaptation of the original "Fellowship of the Ring" to this movie was flawless. In fact, this is the best book-to-movie adaptation I've ever seen. Although I could act like a fan-boy and complain about the parts I like that they skipped, I have to admit that the changes they made for time were well-chosen, and that the things that were cut that were not for length were mostly for the purpose of maintaining the mood and feel that the filmmakers were trying to get across with the film. As for changes, I cannot imagine the few alterations in the plot that they made as being more well-crafted than they were. Often the changes were simply for the purpose of setting up various parts of the plot that will come out in parts 2 and 3. In fact, I thought that some of the changes actually improved on Tolkien's original! Which considering how classic and well-written the books are is quite a statement. Overall I haven't been this awestruck by a movie since I watched "Star Wars: A New Hope" for the first time as an 8-year-old. The only complaint I have about the movie is that I can't wait to see the next chapter!
Rating:
Summary: Which version do you want?
Review: As a long-time LotR fan, I waited for the theater release last Christmas, the DVD release in August and the extended edition release as well. I love the extended edition, but there may be quite a few people who would prefer the original theater version. Here are the most significant additions to the extended release: A lenghty sequence near the beginning showing the Shire and more about the Hobbits' lives. Bilbo is shown beginning his book about his adventures. Later at the Birthday party he and Frodo have a quiet moment to talk about their relationship. Jumping ahead to the Moria sequence, there is a lot more footage of the company's journey through the mines. Finally, the sequence most fans are looking forward to: Galadriel's gifts to the fellowship. Significantly extended and highlighting the dwarf Gimli's admiration of the Elf Queen. Having said all that, which one is right for you? Fans seem to come in two catagories. Those who like the movie very much will want to get the theatrical edition. It moves along more and fans of this sort will not miss a line or two from the book. The obsessed, like me, treasure every moment of the experience. Each line is treasured and having them returned to the story enriches it all the more. The added material slows down the pace of the story. For some this will seem tiresome - you need to get the original DVD. Don't get the extended version just because it's longer. For others, this will be like getting thirty more minutes in paradise. You know what version you need. Hope this is useful. See you in line for The Two Towers!
Rating: 
Summary: Not For True Fans
Review: As a long-time reader of The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, and all of the supplemental works, I can honestly say that I was extremely disappointed by Peter Jackson's version of the Lord of the Rings. To start with, many unnecessary scenes were added to this film that were not in the original text written by JRR Tolkein. The fight scene between Sauron and Isildur, where the ring was lost for a time, was not in the book at all, except as a short narration by Gandalf. Another fight scene which was only a brief narration in the book was the fight between Gandalf and Saruman. Throughout the movie Peter Jackson has seen fit to add in material which can not be found in Tolkien's original writing. Jackson also goes too far by removing some of the best scenes in the book. The pride of the elves, Lorien and Galadriel, have virtually no screen time at all. The Dwarven dark failure, Moria, is a muddled run through some caves with little comment on their history. The views of daily life in the Shire are cut to nothing at all. In fact the entire journey to Bree takes moments of screen time, removing entirely the wonder of what a grand journey these hobbits are taking for the first time. The hobbits instead creep from shadow to shadow and rely entirely on the humans to cart them around like baggage. In the end the movie follows the Holywood formula of promoting style over substance. It shoves aside the central point of the novels, which is the meek (the hobbits) growing into their own, for that of violence and flashy special effects. I know that this film was enjoyed by many, but I feel that the true fans of the original novels will be truly disappointed with the mess Peter Jackson has made of these classic works.
Rating:
Summary: ********** Finally! Perfect Visual Adaptation of The Trilogy
Review: As a long-time Tolkien Fan and a person who has read The Trilogy three times, I must say I was absolutely astounded and captivated by the new Tolkien movie, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." I am very proud of the Producers, Directors, Actors, et al ! It seemed as-if everyone had read the trilogy and understood their parts, not just memorized lines form a script. The scenes were amazing! Hobbiton has been brought to life in a way I really did not believe could be accomplished on film. The Shire lives and breathes and will inspire thousands of people to read Tolkien's works. This film series brings the world of Tolkien to the big screen and into people's homes like never before. This is wonderful! I had to sneak the books home and hide them under the bed & pretend to be reading something-else, so my Mom wouldn't catch me. Now, teenagers can just sneak out for a night of Magick and Adventure. I was a bit disappointed with the portrayal of the male elves--they seemed to be a bit too "human" and less ethereal (and wise) than they are portrayed in the books. However, over-all, I believe this movie portrays the characters in the Trilogy better than most people can imagine. Luckily, the film is more fast-paced than the Trilogy, and most of the important scenes are retained. However, I still believe reading the Trilogy is crucial to understanding the film (and who wants to wait an entire year for the next chapter, so to speak?). This film will bring a whole new generation to the world of Tolkien (and, Hopefully, a new generation of Book-Lovers). I am so impressed with this film, that I have nothing negative to say, whatsoever.....and this coming from someone who's Wife quoted Tolkien on our Wedding Invitations !
Rating:
Summary: Unworthy Interpretation of a Modern Classic
Review: As a longtime fan of Tolkein's trilogy, I was looking forward to seeing Peter Jackson's big-screen adaptation of "Fellowship" as much as the next moviegoer, if not moreso, but unlike the majority of moviegoers and critics, I walked out of the film on opening night terribly disappointed by it. This film suffers from more problems than I can even keep track of; for starters, the script is abominable. It strays wildly from Tolkein's original text, often distorting the authour's intent, frequently without any justification whatsoever. The biggest insult of all comes during the film's last few minutes, when Viggo Mortensen's Aragorn is heard to remark: "Let's hunt some orc!" If there's a Tolkein fan alive who didn't recoil in reaction to the insertion of that dreadful modernism, I for one will be quite surprised to learn of his or her existence. The film's pacing is sluggish and feels more like a drawn-out, formulaic travelogue occasionally punctuated by repititious, claustrophobically-shot battle sequences than it does the spirited, multi-layered adventure yarn I first read in my youth. Judging from the restless audience in the theatre on opening night (several members of which rose to exit numerous times during the last third of the film, apparently under the mistaken impression that - at long last - it had ended), I'm not alone in my assessment. Also problematic are "Fellowship"'s special effects, which are an easy five years behind the times, and unfortunately not all that special. Too many of the film's digitally-rendered backgrounds and landscapes (most notably the tower of Isengard and the Elvish city Rivendell) look like old-fashioned matte paintings shot against a blue screen. Especially dreadful are the pivotal scenes set deep within the Mines of Moria, which were pitifully lit and altogether too dark to to focus on without losing track of the film's action. The only thing keeping Jackson's "Fellowship" from being a completely unwatchable travesty is the strength of its impressive ensemble cast. Sir Ian McKellan is wonderful as Gandalf and Elijah Wood and Sean Astin are very impressive as Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee, respectively. A pity they were cursed with such a clueless director and crew. If you want my advice, you're better off saving yourself the seven or eight bucks it'd cost to see this film at the theatre and spending the night at home reading Tolkein's classic.
|
