Rating: 
Summary: Overblown Epic?
Review: A cinematic milestone or overhyped rubbish? Fellowship of the Ring turns out to be a bit of both. An undoubted epic but i doubt if it will be remembered as a cinematic milestone in years to come. It's certainly a bold effort to bring Tolkiens saga to life but as to living up to the hype then i doubt if any movie could live up to the build up this movie received. So inevitably at the end of the film you're left with the impression of 'what was all the fuss about'. I haven't read Lord of the Rings for nigh on twenty years so i went into the theater with few preconceptions. the film is a fairly close adaption of Tolkiens narrative, straying from the book in a few places, omitting some characters. The plot peaks early and drags a little at other times. Anyone seeing the film should remember its the first part of a trilogy so at the end of the film there is a feeling of a lack of completeness which is only to be expected. Will parts 2 & 3 live up to part one? I doubt it, The Fellowship of the ring is the most exciting part of the trilogy anyway, parts 2 & 3 will inevitably follow the law of diminishing returns for movie sequels. Though maybe like The Empire Strikes Back, part two The Two Towers may well be appreciated for its own qualities.
Rating: 
Summary: Flashy !! Very Flashy !!
Review: I suspect if I were ten years younger or alternatively had read Tolkein as a kid, then I would really love Lord of the Rings. The scenery in the movie is perhaps the most spectacular I have ever seen and the opening sequence grabs your interest.
That's why it's a pity somewhere around the middle of the movie it gets boring. Yes!! That's right. Boring!! It just becomes a series of fights against one monster after another.By the time you get to the fiery devil thingy that killed Gandalf, it's just one monster too many and you just pray for the movie to end.
It's not a bad movie but it's a trifle overblown.
Rating:
Summary: Visually Stunning
Review: Visually stunning sets, scenery, and costumes breathe a breathtaking life into the fantasy realms of J.R.R. Tokien's Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring. The casting is superb, with a beautiful Elijah Wood bringing Frodo to life in a believable manner, as well as other top notch actors from around the globe rounding out the cast. While it may not follow the book in terms of dialouge and key scenes, it does capute the spirit of Tolkien in such a way that fans of the novels should be satisfied with. Definately a movie to see more than once.
Rating: 
Summary: The Spectacular Lord of the Rings
Review: I wanted to make sure that the movie was going to be true to what Tolkien wrote in his books and thought that it could not be anywhere as good as the book. Although some scenes were changed and some events were taken out the movie was spectacular. The likeness of the characters to the way tolkien described them and the way I imagined them was fantastic. The acting was superb, all of the actors did a great job in their respective rolls. Now that I have seen book one I can't wait to see how they are going to make books two and three. Take it from this long time Tolkien fan the movie is worth seeing. I think Tolkien would be pleased if he were here to see what they have done.
Rating:
Summary: The power of the One Ring
Review: The movie, like the ring has this irresistible power. It consumes you and pulls you to it, to adapt a phrase, "It WANTS to be seen". I've only managed to see it twice on the meager savings of a college student, but I find myself trying to plan seeing it again, I can't say enough about this movie.
When you see the movie you feel like you are IN middle earth. Every little detail is believable, that's what makes this movie so good, the details. Amazing effects, outstanding cast, beautiful scenery and so much more, this movie has everything and, I think stays true to the essence of the book, as I watched, I heard lines that I remembered straight from the book. Like when Gandalf falls into the abyss and utters "Fly you fools," before falling. While there were things taken straight from the book, it was condensed and certain things from the book were left out. Such as the encounter with Tom Bombadil, and some things were changed, like Arwen saving Frodo instead of the other elf meeting the companions and sending Frodo off on his horse, which I think was more dramatic, but, that's just me. I found that in whole the main idea was there. I also like how at this point they make Arwen and Aragorn's story more prominent. It does not detract in any way.
Obviously, however they couldn't follow the book exactly, that would have added at LEAST two more hours to the movie, and I understand that, but everything else is so close to the book that I am very pleased with the result. Having read the books though, I obviously know the story. But what was so wonderful even still about this movie is that it still found ways to get me emotionally involved. For example make me nervous, when the ringwraith is sniffing for the hobbits which I was pleased about because that sniffing is described in detail in the book, or startle me, like when Bilbo tries to take the ring again in Rivendell, wow, didn't' see that coming. I even cried when the fellowship grieves Gandalf, even though I know that, well I won't ruin it for people who haven't read all the books. Little twists like this kept me on my toes and made me fall even deeper in love with a story already dear to my heart.
The cast is amazing too, not only are they wonderful actors and make you believe in their relationships and the feelings they have about the things going on around them, but the look of each character is perfect. Not perfect to how I envisioned them when reading, or how you or anybody else envisioned them when reading, but perfect because they each have enough of the basic descriptions given in the book that your own imaginings kind of adapt to what you see on the screen. Gandalf has the hat, and the beard, and the way he lets his emotions about the "halflings" show, is so heart warming. Frodo, well Elijah Wood looks other worldly to begin with perfect choice I think. Sean Astin is PERFECT as Sam, that way he has of speaking, who knew a Goonie coulda come so far. Merry and Pippen are just that, Merry and Pippin, they just look the part to me. Sauruman is just amazing, honestly, the moment you see him you know he's turned evil. John Rhys Davies is absolutely perfect to give Gimli that dwarf spark and attitude, like a friendly little Klingon, perfection. Legolas, I don't know where they found this kid Orlando Bloom, but hold onto him, he's masterful. When I read somewhere that he took archery classes and that's really him launching those arrows within milliseconds of each other, I thought, he really IS an elf. Which is why I can't wait for the next to movies to see how they conclude this epic adventure, and especially to see how they've portrayed Gollum, one of the most interesting, scary, and even pitiable characters ever. The few teases we get of him in the first movie are not enough, and I'm on pins and needles.
Whatever the next two movies hold I know they will live up to the books as this one and keep the feeling of Tolkien and his story intact.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Review: If you love fantasy or if you love Tolkien's books. You will love the movie Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring.I feel so engaged watching it, like I am on the silver screen. It makes you wish you had a part in the movie at least for me it does. Go see it, you will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Review: If you like fantasy you will love the journey you embark upon watching this movie. Peter Jackson has done a wonderful job maintaining Tolkien's world of Middle Earth.I loved it so much it makes me want to have played a part in the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Better then Harry Potter..........
Review: After I saw this movie it really did leave me wanting more. Though its just under 3hrs, it is perfectly paces, it contains good battles and alot of visuals. The reason I compare it to Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone is that they came out around the same time, they're both fantasy films,I saw them both,and are both based off of books. I thought the Harry Potter movie was really good....Until I saw Fellowship of the Rings. This movie(I'm serious)is 10x's better then Harry Potter. Its just so beautiful and the actings good and everything is really good. ...The Harry Potter movie was good, but it just doesn't hook me like this LOTR did. I never read the books either, but I've read the Harry Potter books. My bro's have read the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogy. And my bro really didn't notice much difference from the book and the movie(One noticable difference is the character of Arwen which is a male in the book not a female). Whereas Harry Potter was changed quite a bit. But still remained pretty loyal to the book. Harry Potter is more for Kiddies. Whereas LOTR is more for whover, I duno if little kids could really sit through it or if it would be wise, since there some pretty gory scenes(In battle). But for me it was hands-down the BEST fantasy film I ever saw(And now one of my favorite movies). Go see it, and enjoy it! Its worth the movie TOTALLY! God Bless...
Rating:
Summary: The Best Hollywood Film of the Year
Review: Let me preface the following review by saying that this is my reaction to Fellowship of the Ring after seeing it four times. The first time I saw it, I was rather unimpressed. But on subsequent viewings, I was nothing short of blown away. If any film from 2001 demands to be seen more than once, this is the one. Now on to the review: Well, I have to say that FotR was the best movie I've seen so far this year and one of the best epics of the past decade. The acting across the board was pitch-perfect, with especially exceptional performances by Ian McKellen, Ian Holm, and Sean Bean... Even though Sean Astin didn't have much material to work with and as such couldn't plumb the depths of his character as much as might ideally have been the case, I nevertheless LOVED Sam! I was never all that fond of him in the books (he was too simple-minded), but the film really brings out his humanity and intense affection. I really can't wait for his increased role in The Two Towers... As far as the technical aspects of the film are concerned, it was hands-down the most impressive film I've seen so far this year. (Only Moulin Rouge! really challenges it, in my mind.) The costuming and set design are gorgeous, lushly illustrating the richness of Tolkien's world. The visual FX are jaw-dropping and put HP to shame. (The cave troll from FotR was one of the most incredible CGI creations I've ever seen on the silver screen: the way it interacted with the environment and characters allowed me to fully suspend disbelief, even knowing that such a creature never existed.) The cinematography turned me off initially but grew on me through the course of the film till I couldn't think of Tolkien's world being captured on film in any other way. The score was perfect -- or at least as close to perfect as it could have possibly been. By turns it was riveting, poignant, and jolly without ever drawing attention to itself. My biggest problems with the film are really trivial in the grand scheme of things but are worth mentioning anyway, since no film can achieve perfection. And in this respect FotR is no different. The first thing that bothered me was the lack of character development and interaction that was so much more present in the books. Supporting characters really didn't have much time to bond with the audience and weren't given the attention I would have liked. Leading characters were better realized, but even they weren't quite as fleshed-out as might have ideally been the case. The second problem I have with FotR is that the latter half of the film is unneccesarily fight-heavy, without enough time being taken for "breathers" between the major battles. The trek through Moria especially should have taken more time so as to allow the tension and foreboding to build gradually rather than suddenly. Also, it would have been nice to see more of Lothlorien and the gifts of Galadriel. But these problems I've cited are really nitpicks in the whole picture of this incredible film and only marginally detracted from my enjoyment of it. Also, a part of me wonders if my having read the books beforehand could have been the source of my discontent with the lack of character development and pacing. If I hadn't read the book before seeing the film, I doubt these two things would have even been problems. In short, it is a true epic like we haven't seen in many a year and deserves all the attention it has been receiving. 9.5/10 (best Hollywood film of the year)
Rating:
Summary: The Quintessential Movie Experience
Review: I found this to be the quintessential movie experience for me. That is to say, it satisfies criteria I expect from an 'ultimate movie going experience'. It abounds in love and/or hope -- the love of companions who have suffered and survived common hardships, comaraderie and brotherhood, love for one's people and home, and especially, eternal love of a man and a woman for each other. All this without gratuitous sex. It is an epic saga, a grand tale, rather than a merely personal piece of fiction. However, the personal point of view is well maintained throughout so that you care about the main characters very much even tho they are flawed (and therefore believable). The plot is fanciful, yet it is the timlessness of the whimsy that the universal nature of this story unfolds. With all its fantasy and magick it is the humble, every day kind of guy who must save us all -- a very poignant and timely concept. While it has powerfully graphic imagery of evil, including violence, it makes for stimulating and fun discussions with older kids. My family loved it and we are all still talking about it days later. Finally, The Fellowship of the Ring is a truly beautiful movie. I just plain like to look at it and listen to it. We saw it twice and didn't notice the length.
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