Rating: Summary: Epic- In Greatness and Length Review: I had never read The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings before I knew that this movie was coming out, but I had always heard good things about them, so I read them, and then I saw the movie. Both movie version and book versions are phenomenal! Of course the story is great, but that isn't everything. This movie has great effects, and some of them are as simple as forced perspective! Some of the actors are mediocre, but Ian McKellan for one is amazing. This is the first in a series of three movies that tell the story of Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), a hobbit who has been charged with the task of destroying the One Ring of Power, forged by an evil sorceror thousands of years ago. This is no easy task though, because it can only be destroyed in one place, which is deep in the lair of Sauron, the sorceror. To make matter's worse, the Ringwraiths, nine spirits of humans turned evil and loyal to Sauron, are searching for the ring. To make matters even worse, Saruman (not to be confused with Sauron), a wise wizard, has gone insane and now yearns for the One Ring, and has created an army of his own to retrieve the Ring. This is an amazing film, but there is one tiny problem. This movie is a tad long, but it's worth it.
Rating: Summary: This Movie ROCKED Review: I had never read the Lord of the Rings trilogy till last year, and when I saw the movie, the pages of the book finally came alive. The scenery was stunning, the song by Enya at the end was beautiful, and the cast was perfect. All four Hobbits were perfect, Elijah Wood was the perfect Frodo; wide eyed and innocent looking. Viggo Mortensen; whom I've been watching since "Witness" back in 1983, has finally received the recognition he deserves, and the major breakout of Orlando Bloom made me absolutely weak-kneed. Yummy-Yummy is all I can say. And I can officially boycott the Academy Awards for snubbing the movie in favor of A Beautiful Mind, which was good, but had NONE of the perks (Aragorn, Pippin, Frodo, Legolas) of The Fellwowship. Excellant direction, filming, casting, scenery, detail, acting, visual pleasure; even if you can only appriciate one of these aspects, you will love this film. It is truly a vision realized.
Rating: Summary: Fellowship of the Ring a perfect beginning Review: I had never read the trilogy before I went to see the movie. I had read the Hobbit. I give credit to the production team o this Epic Film. The landscapes are outstanding. From the moment you enter the Shire you are taken away to the world Tolkien describes. After seeing the movie I immediately went out to get the books to make sure I would not miss the tiniest detail. Tolkien put a lot of work into his novels by describing every detail and Peter Jackson does a wonderful job of bringing it to life.Ian Mckellan is the perfect actor for Gandalf there could be no better choice. The Hobbits are all played well Elijah Wood does a wonderful job of Frodo a Hobbit who wants to go on adventures but does not want to leave his beloved home in the shire. Sean Astin as the devoted Sam Gamgee. Although I do not particularly agree with the changes to Pippin and Merry they are well played. The effects in this movie are indescribable. A perfect mixture. Sometimes it is nearly impossible to tell which is real and which is not. The cinematography is perfectly mixed and you can barely believe how well they showed the hobbits as 1 half the size of humans. The score for the film is moving to say the least. You feel the happiness felt while you see the shire you feel the change when you see Mordor. The script is wonderful leaving all the important points in and even adding some stuff that is pure fun. I tell everyone to go see this movie. It is the blockbuster movie of my childhood and it is an epic that noone should miss.
Rating: Summary: A tad too long Review: I had no idea how long this movie was. I started the DVD at 12:30am when there was nothing else on TV. I figured it would be the standard two hours. Boy was I wrong. The movie just went on and on. The song at the end of it should have been Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On and on ... and on some more. I'm not saying I was bored by the movie. I actually thought it was excellent. I haven't read the books so it was completely new to me. The characters, story, setting was all beautiful. Perhaps I enjoyed this movie so much because it's the first and only fantasy movie that was done well. I'm a fan of the "Final Fantasy" games and this movie is how I would expect one of those games to be made into a movie. Not like the horrible "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" movie. Anyway, I think this first movie gives out a little too much information. Being new to the story I had to get used to the odd names of towns and characters and then I had to pay close attention to the story and what was going on. The ending is really disappointing because you're left hanging without knowing what will happen next. I understand this will be in the second movie but still it's a bit of a downer. I look forward to the next Lord Of The Rings movie.
Rating: Summary: J.R.R Tolkens creation rocks! Review: I had no idea what the "Lord of the Rings" or "The Hobbit" was like until I watched the movies and read what books I could get my hands on. I watched the movie and fell in love with the plots, characters, and stories. This is a definate must see!
Rating: Summary: Excellent film for all ages and backgrounds! Review: I had not read the books as a child, but that did not stop me from understanding the plot, nor thoroughly enjoying this wonderfully made film. If you have not read the books either, and are even mildly interested in this film, you should buy it, enjoy it, and share it with others.
Rating: Summary: Simply Amazing Review: I had not read the Lord of the Ring's trilogy until the summer before this movie was released in the theatres. I went through the books quickly and found myself at the theatre four times to watch this film. I have never spent so much time in a movie theatre for one film in my life! Plus I've watched the DVD 3 times at home. I love this film. Each time I watch it I truly escape to another world. Although Tolkiens books do have more wonderful detail, the movies do them excellent justice. You get emotionally attached to the characters and follow it as if you were in the movie yourself. Even my fiancée loves this film and has sat through it at home a couple times herself. The cinematography, the special effects and the amazing actions and battle scenes. Unlike anything else ever seen. The DVD is worth every penny and these books should be a standard for every 8-9 year old to get them hooked don reading. Amazing film, looking forward to the next.
Rating: Summary: A non-fan converted! Review: I had read "The Hobbit" in 7th grade, thought is was just okay. In addition, I was put off by Lord of the Rings books. I never saw The Fellowship of the Rings when it was playing in theaters because I was uninterested in what I thought would be a bizarre Dungeons & Dragons-type film. (my favorite movies, for reference: The Natural & Field of Dreams). I saw the FOTR on DVD last night and was blown away. The acting was spotless (even the usually detestable Elijah Wood did a great job), and unlike so many recent films, FOTR doesn't tell its story with the assumption that the viewer is an idiot (read: George Lucas). Much of the drama goes unspoken (the way a film should be), such as (spoiler ahead) Frodo's pained look when Gimli tries to axe the Ring - you can see he has already become attached to it (like his uncle was). Simply awesome. There seems to be layer after layer to this story and I look forward to reading the books. I've been thinking about the film all day and can't wait to see it again. I am almost speechless at how much I enjoyed this flic, and I am not one to get overly excited about movies. Just thought I'd let those put off by the fantasy subject matter know about my little conversion: this film is about more than just Hobbits, Wizards and magic rings... buy it and discover what I mean.
Rating: Summary: Incredibly layered movie Review: I had read the trilogy when I was in junior high - many years ago and of the many books I read back then, it was one of the few that stuck in my memory. I was very excited to see it was coming out in the theater. It definitely did not disappoint me. I saw the movie 5 times and each time it only got better. After seeing it the first time and getting through the special effects and intense scenes - and there are some intense scenes - I enjoyed the next 4 viewings even more. After the initial shock I was able to think more about the dialogue, develop the characters in my mind and realize what a beautiful, deep story Mr. Tolkien created. The vocabulary and creativity of story line is something that is truly lacking in today's literature - and I am a huge reader. Each bit of dialogue in the movie held me spellbound, stuggling to remember it because I knew that it meant something more than what was being said. I too was very moved by the scene where Frodo steps forward during the creating of the Fellowship and volunteers to take the ring to Mordor. The visual of Frodo's small, insignificant size amongst all those large and authoritative elves, etc. reminded me of scenes in my mind of the young David in the Bible volunteering to take on Goliath. I was also impressed by how the good characters, especially Aragon appeared so incredibly cool as he prepared to take on the Ring Wraiths and Orks. He almost appeared as if he knew that good was going to overcome evil and since he was part of the good, he was indestructable as long as he pursued what was right. The movie was beautiful, intense, touching, funny and incredibly deep. Those who complain that they didn't get many parts, well, I would encourage them to read the books or look deeper while viewing the movie a second time. So often the movies of today are a light bit of meaningless entertainment not even worth coffee afterwards to discuss. Here was a movie that was so full of discussion material, my friends and I still discuss it 5 months after it came out. Most of the other movies I've seen since then I can barely remember the title let alone the dialogue. I know it is a movie I will not easily tire of like 99% of the movies created today. I also agree, it was robbed at the Academy Awards. My hope is that the Academy realized that Two Towers and Return of the King will be back for tries two and three and one of them will get best director and best movie.
Rating: Summary: An amazingly good movie Review: I had seen the first movie without the special extended edition and loved it. But this extended version is 10 times more amazing. The new extended parts of the movie just add more delight to an already delightful movie.The commentaries by the actors and actresses are funny and eventhough it is rather long I have watched it over and over again.The movie shows how they make the hobbits shorter than the men and Elves , how the Hobbits makeup , feet and wigs are put on and how the actors keep themselves busy.They show costume design and so much more that there is just to much to list. The extended scenes either 1 , make more sense out of the movie or 2 , make the movie more enjoyable. I have read the first book and I am on the second book (which , by the way I have seen in the movie theater 2 times because it was so good)and the movies really keep to the story.Elijah Wood as Frodo , Ian McKellen as Gandalf , Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn , Sean Astin as Sam , Sean Bean as Boromir , Orlando Bloom as Legolas , Liv Tyler as Arwen , How can you get any better? New Zealand is so beautiful as Middle Earth you really can not beleive that it is part of our world. My advice to anyone who loves Lord Of The Rings as much as I do(and that is alot)should spend those few extra dollers and buy the special extended series , trust me you won't regret it.
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