Rating: 
Summary: What can I add but wow!!
Review: Yes - this DVD is as good as everyone says. For the first time ever the extra material is as good as the film, and I have watched it all from start to finish a bunch of times. The movie is more evenly paced, with crucial scenes added in. Love it, love it, love it, and I can't wait for the next one...go PJ and NZ!!
Rating:
Summary: History, work of fiction, or religious experience?
Review: Yes to all of the above. I was one of the people who just couldn't wait the extra three months for the extended version of the DVD. This movie is one of the finest motion pictures ever made. Frodo Baggins - a Hobbit (a race of halfling creatures with big furry feet who eat no less than 6 meals a day) - his friends and Gandalf the Wizard begin the quest to destroy the One Ring of Power. The ring is in the possession of Frodo, who must cast it into the fires from which it came before it proves to be the undoing of Middle Earth. What makes The Fellowship of the Ring a masterpiece is that it has the feel of history - a deep, long history. Peter Jackson's direction and the actors' portrayals give these mythical characters something missing from most action and fantasy genre films - emotions. Sadness, joy, romance, and bravery to the point of sacrifice. Emotions that move you to tears and emotions that move you to cheers. The DVD package provides plenty of extras, and unless you are a fan of extended versions and "Making Of" documentaries, this may be all that you need. But whether you read the books, wait for the extended version of Fellowship of the Ring, or buy this version, don't miss out on Tolkien.
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Summary: I don't like the word "epic", but...
Review: Yes, Fellowship of the Ring is a long movie. So what? It was also an incredible movie. if 1977-1983 were the untouchable years of the amazing Star Wars trilogy, then 2001-2003 will be the same for J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" series.It's very important that you know you don't have to be the world's biggest science fiction or fantasy fan to love this film. My ex-girlfriend went to see this with me and she hates anything in the sci-fi/fantasy realm, and she still said Fellowship was a beautiful film with amazing special effects and a hell of a storyline. Get the widescreen DVD. NOT the fullscreen. If you get the fullscreen, you'll miss the breathtaking landscape shots, the short but sweet flight sequence, and the indescribable bird's-eye-view war scenes. According to amazon.com, this DVD will also be an extended version from the theaters, including part of the 2.5 hours they had to cut out. So watch this movie. As a personal favor to me. :) Really, turn the lights down and the bass up, sit through Fellowship just once and try to tell the world you don't want to know what happens in the next two films. Oh, did I mention it won four Oscars? And was sold out in my town for the first three weeks it played?
Rating:
Summary: The second disc isn't to be overlooked!
Review: Yes, I agree that the film itself is spectacular, but the special features disc (is anyone even watching that?) is well worth the wait too! I enjoyed watching the interviews (there's one for most of the main characters) and liked hearing about the actors' experiences from their own points of view. Also Peter Jackson gives a ten-minute tour of preparations for the release of The Two Towers, which gives you a look into the very idolized world of LOTR filmaking. Also you can watch the trailers and tv commercials for The Fellowship of the Ring as well as see Behind-the-Scenes shows for FOTR done by Houghton Mifflin, Fox TV Channel, and the Sci-fi Channel. There is more, but that is for you to find out! And if you're a fan of the music of FOTR, you'll be glad to know that there are nice little snippets of it in the second disc. So if you're like me and a total LOTR geek who can't stop admiring the film, you'll be pleased with all the little treats in the dvd version!
Rating:
Summary: So Enchanting! I had no idea!! !!!
Review: Yes, I am one of "those". I have my head buried in the ground. I read the "Hobbit" but did not continue on with the box set I own. So here's my hand ...SLAP IT! I have learned my lesson well. Countless fans of the series have shamed me for not reading the books. "Holly, do you have any idea what you are missing out on! The series of a century!!" So here I hide...I went and borrowed a VHS tape of the movie and after watching 20 minutes of "The Fellowship of the Ring" I drove staight up the rode from my house and purchased it on DVD.
It's THAT good. The movie reminds me of many favorites I have seen over the years..."The Neverending Story", "Legend", or even "The Dark Crystal". I am entranced. I am still recovering from from jaw pain as my mouth hung open while I watched the DVD three times in a row. I coudn't get enough of Rivendale, the Shire, or the Orcs and Goblins. So now I am part of the "In Crowd", I plan on reading the entire series the minute I finish writing this review...don't expect a new review anytime soon...:)
Rating:
Summary: EVEN IF YOU ALREADY OWN IT BUY THIS!!
Review: Yes, I know that many of us Tolkien fans bought the earlier addition. I remember being disappointed that so much was left out in the movie. However, the new edition--while it ONLY adds a half hour of footage, makes such a difference!! The other DVDs are icing on the cake!! BUY IT YOU WILL LOVE IT!
Rating:
Summary: From a skeptical woman
Review: Yes, I was a skeptic being a woman. I was leary of seeing this movie thinking it was going to be another male action/adventure movie. But Oh I was shocked. I went with my husband and brother both who are 31 and I'm 30. This movie was pure eye candy. Right before it ended I checked my watch thinking we were about half way through. Now this is from someone you gets irritated after an hout in a theater seat. The 3 hours flew by and left me wanting more. I will definately be anticipating the next two. I would tell anyone to go see this movie, except for children, we left are 2 sons home. Thank goodness...they would have had nightmares!!
Rating: 
Summary: Epic but flawed
Review: Yes, Jackson messed with the book, deleting some sequences, altering and adding others. And cinematically most of the changes were harmless, even though Tolkien purists will take notice and shake their collective heads. However, there is one exception that hurts the storytelling arc: It is not so much that Arwen rescues Frodo but that she uses "elf magic" to stop the Ringwraiths. If elves can summon such enchantment by uttering a few words, then surely they could destroy the ring (better yet, why doesn't Legolas use elf magic to fight off the cave-troll?). In Tolkien's world, magic was far from easy and often was very enigmatic. In the book, it took Gandalf's and Elrond's combined strength to create the water barrage (with Gandalf taking credit for the horses). In addition, it is Frodo who resists the mesmerisms of the Ringwraiths, thereby letting us (the audience) know that he has the self-discipline and stalwart soul to be ring-bearer. In the film, it is Arwen who stands against the Nazgul, uttering throwaway lines like some idiotic Xena. Frodo is weak during this sequence, yet later Elrond comments on his strength. In this instance, Jackson must use exposition through character to negate the damage done in the previous scene. Tolkien carefully crafted the trilogy and with few exceptions there were reasons why things happened the way they did. By altering such sequences, Jackson has damaged the delicate framework of the story. Yes, in total the movie is an exciting interpretation of the first (and second) book, but the underlying structure of the story is hurt by the director's deviations. I am not necessarily a Tolkien fanatic but rather a storytelling fanatic. I did not mind many of Jackson's embellishments, such as the Merry and Pippin escapades, but when the fantasy's logical structure is damaged, that's when I realize that the filmmaker succumbed to commercial pressures (I can hear an executive saying tripe such as, "make Liv Tyler a warrior princess because that's the fad, dude"). Let us hope this sort of thing does not happen in "The Two Towers" (maybe Liv can save the day at Helm's Deep).
Rating:
Summary: Better than original release
Review: Yes, the movie is long, but it really is better this way. My sister, who tolerated the theater version (didn't read the books) honestly enjoyed this extended version. Background information as well as better pacing dramatically add to the cinematic experience. There's a handy bathroom break included, as you get to switch DVDs.
Rating:
Summary: Some one finally got it right!
Review: Yes, the movie was a dream of cinematography. Yes, they made mistakes, left out parts, made Frodo a bit wimpy. But they did a great job on packaging this onto DVD. Without watching the movie you can still spend hours being entertained by the cast members, documentaries, music and a great teaser for the next installment. Taking a book like Lord of the Rings and making it into a movie is a major gamble. There is no way to please everyone. Putting in half the stuff they left out in the first movie alone would make it 6 hours long. I am glad they're coming out with an extended version. They have a teaser for it on this DVD also so I know I'll be buying it too. Putting back some of the things left aside. The things they chose to leave out or change sometimes leaves me wondering. Having Arwen defy the Ringwraiths at the ford instead of Frodo takes away the watchers first real insight into the heart of a hobbit. But I'm not a filmmaker. I couldn't have made the decision to leave out Tom Bombadill or the barrow wights. I'm glad I didn't have to. I'm glad Peter Jackson got a chance to share his love of this story with the rest of us who love it too. I highly recommend purchasing this DVD for your collection. Even if you don't like fantasy, this film is beautifully composed, the countryside is epic, the action heroic and the characters... classic. Even with the departures from the novel you can tell there was a love of the story in the director's heart. Get it, enjoy it. Watch all the good stuff with it!
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