Rating: 
Summary: A well made pointless waste of time.
Review: To me it is just wrong to change an already perfect peice of art to pander to a more general audience. Yeah, a lot of things in the movie were kept the same as in the book. So what? LOTR is JRR Tolkien's story, not Peter Jackon or whoever wrote the screenplay. He doesn't have the moral right to change any of it. "But if they kept everything in the book then the movie would be 8 hours long!" So what? If you can't make a completely direct adaption of a book to a movie, don't do it. Why is it that film is the only art medium that can be hailed as great when all the artist did was butcher another work of art? To me, adapting the Fellowship of the Ring is like repainting the Mona Lisa so it will appeal to a general audience. Yeah, it make look neat but you still butchering an already made work of art. It is people like Jackson who are ruining film to be an actual art medium. The money used to make this movie could have funded 500 other ORIGINAL movies that could help reshape what we think of as film. Where are my Donnie Darkos, the Momentos, and my Happinesses? If you want to waste your money on a DVD, do it on any of those three.
Rating: 
Summary: WAY better then Star Wars
Review: To quote "Chasing Amy" Star Wars is the "Holy Trilogy" but Lord of the Rings may outseat Star Wars. The acting, the costumes, the music, the casting, the development from book to movie--all pretty much perfect. I can even stand Liv Tyler in the movie--and that says a lot. Lord of the Rings is fantastic, and I anxiously await the release of the next movie.
Rating:
Summary: This is the one Ring!!!
Review: To start of with, this is one of the best films of the year, hands down. Being an avid fan of The lord of the Rings trilogy, and having read all of the books and the books that come after i think it is a great film. I saw it the day it came out, and I do not regret seeing it at all. It is true that Peter Jackson, the director, did take out some major parts from the book, he still made an extremly good movie. The characters where true to the book also, and the casting....they did a perfect job at casting the characters. It was this or the acting that was the best part of the movie. The computer graphics are almost seamless with the actuall film. one of the best parts of the movie are the battles. Just wait till you see this. All together this is hands down the best movie I have ever seen and I think it is generating hype not seen since Titanic and is truly a trilogy to rival Star Wars. Some fans think that is is not a good movie. This is not true. These are usually mad fans who are so set in there ways that they cannot see that Peter Jackson was not making this film for only the fans but is making a movie for all people to enjoy. JUST GET THIS MOVIE and read the book.....
Rating:
Summary: This movie...wonderful...don't know how else to describe...
Review: To the people who haven't watched the movie....
Something to warn...
Be careful!
At the ending, don't just say that the movie didn't finish...
Remember, this is a trilogy, not a one book movie. The movie was totally fantastic!
This takes you right into the Middle Earth...
You feel like you're actually one of the characters!!!
It is very faithful to the book also... My friends who watched the movie didn't like it...
But I know WHY...
They never read the book.
If you haven't read the book, it is pretty much difficult to understand...
Instead of reading the first book, try reading the book called "The Hobbit." Also by Tolkien, this book will help you understand the movie... This movie was a bit too long, but enjoyable...
Recommendation: Watch this movie...then you'll understand...
Rating:
Summary: This is a book to movie done right!
Review: Tolkien would be very pleased were he around to see his masterpiece come to life on the big screen. I don't know who the director, Peter Jackson, is but he has done an incredible job of capturing the look and feel of the book. So much attention to detail from lighting to special effects to sound and music. The action sequences are refreshingly original and well interspersed throughout the movie. Casting was surprisingly well done. There was not one person that did not fit their role. This is a book to movie done right.
Rating: 
Summary: Should have been 5 movies
Review: Tolkien wrote the Lord Of The Rings epic as five separate books, and I've read that he was never happy that they were published as as trilogy. If only Peter Jackson et al had preserved Tolkien's intent in this, and in every other, way. Just think what the benefits could have been: 66% more revenue (5 movies instead of 3), 66% more screen time to preserve the ambience of the books, 100% of the cut characters and scenes could have been preserved, and on and on and on. Also, I've read in other reviews here that viewers didn't like where the first movie ended. I agree. The first movie should have ended at the Flight To The Ford (the rescue of Frodo to Rivendell)... just like the first book ends. This would, of course, leave the viewers gripping the arms of their seats begging for more... just like the first book ends. Hmm... are we detecting a pattern? So my point is this: If you choose to adapt a book into a movie, and you choose to adapt a classic, and you choose to spend 18 months and a bazillion dollars to adapt it, and you choose to film the adaptation in a "complete" and "realistic" style.... THEN why, for heaven's sake, do you not DO the book as written? Then, we would have 5 fine movies that capture the travelogue and adventure spirit of the Lord Of the Rings books, instead of 3 overly-clipped films that appear to only make sense if one already knows the books.
Rating:
Summary: The world has changed
Review: Tolkien's book is a masterpiece. Attempts to adapt it to film have tremendous obstacles. Even attempting to fit it into 3 movies is a daunting task. Many aspects of the book, the languages, song, and detailed history that makes gives the book depth and background, just do not play. Wisely they are mostly left out of the film. Instead we are treated to Frodo offering the ring to various good people, who pass the "test" by explaining why they refuse it. One hopes that will not be continued. Tolkien placed the book as a pre-egyptian prehistory, but that is a ruse. Rather it occurs out of time, out of place, as the old Welch sagas. Each major culture has its own time frame. The Hobbits have clocks and use matches (Victorian) The Breelanders at least have inns and beer (rather 1700s) and as the journey continues, the production continues to go back in time. The producers wisely did not try to update it to gothic or heavy metal, but settled instead on fitting everyone into a dark ages to medieval time slot. The sets are luscious. I almost long to transplantto New Zealand! The combat scenes make rather good sense of the rather muddled and ambigious descriptions in the book. Well done. If you have read the book, you will follow the movie. My friends who had not (and they are my friends none the less) were confused at the ending. It is one third of the way through. It is not a happy story, but rather an heroic epic, and such things have gone out of style. Modern folks seem to debate whether we should destroy our "Dark Lord", even when we have the power.
Rating:
Summary: Fantasy Heaven
Review: Tolkien's classic is reborn in a spectacular movie of epic proportions in the start of a trilogy. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings brings Tolkien's beloved literary classic to life with scenes of sheer beauty and darkness. You are invited to view the mystery of the deep caves and the spectacular wide open spaces in New Zealand. Breathtaking! The special effects are amazing in this movie. There is a dragon that appears from a firework display. How creative. Now, those are what I call fireworks. At the entrance to the Mines a menacing creature that is a cross between a giant octopus and a squid attacks the Fellowship and threatens their mission. A huge flock of black birds was also completely computer generated. The tower of Orthanc and the fiery mines of Isengard where Saruman is building an Army "worthy of Melkor" seem to be the breeding place of evil. In this ultimate fantasy land, you meet the inhabitants of Middle-earth. The wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and the hobbit Frodo (Elijah Wood) fight a terrifying war against evil. From the eire screams as the faceless Ring Wraiths approach on their pitch black steeds to the absolute horror of being dragged into hell by a dragon-like demon, this movie displays the threat of evil in a way that makes the mission to destroy the ring even more intense. The Fellowship of the ring is a band of characters who realize it is their mission to defeat evil. The "Fellowship of the Ring" tries to destroy a powerful ring forged by the Dark Lord Sauron in the first of Mount Doom to control all other rings. He seeks the 'Ruling Ring' as the key to unlimited power, and final domination of Middle-earth. It brings out a fierce hunger for power and definitely has evil intentions. If ever an object had a mind of its own, the ring does. It wants to make its way back to the original source and it has the power to rule the world. As they struggle towards land of Mordor and do battle with various creatures almost as evil as Sauron. When Gollum, the pitiful creature first discovers the great Ring (his "Precious") he lives in dark places under the earth possessed by the ring which wants to be found by its original owner. Frodo's uncle Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm) find and then relinquishes the ring to his nephew Frodo and leaves to stay with the Elves. Gandalf advises Frodo to leave with the ring immediately as the evil Ring Wraiths are fast approaching. As Frodo and his friends escape they plan to meet Gandalf at the Prancing Pony Inn. Frodo also has to recover from the wound inflicted by the Morgul blade of the chief Ringwraith and without assistance he could have changed into one of the faceless creatures. At the end, the hobbit Frodo (Elijah Wood) did capture my heart (hard to resist those dreamy eyes streaming with tears, enough to bring out the mothering instinct in any woman) when you witness the "promise" scene. He just seems so deep in thought that you want to know what he is thinking of doing next. This is a serious war between "good" and "evil." Although, it seems "good" also gains power from magic. This is definitely a movie to watch in October because it does have some elements of horror. Yes, I look forward to the "Two Towers", mostly for the special effects and to know what happens next. TheRebeccaReview.com
Rating:
Summary: Bored of the Rings
Review: Tolkien's masterpiece rendering is good,the scenery and special effects spectacular, the charachters well defined. But the lenght of the picture overtakes the interest. To say nothing of the dreary,oppressive athmosphere all the movie long; all the time fugue, battles, never a moment of respite for the poor guys of the Fellowship and the stressed spectator. A touch of levity here and there would have helped.
Rating:
Summary: Good movie. Notice Tolkien's name is not on it!
Review: Tolkien's name is not on it because the Tolkein family took it off when they realized just how many changes Peter Jackson was doing to it. Many Tolkien purists are alarmed at the additions and changes and cuts. Sure you have to cut something. I agree. But why do you have to add things? Why do you have to change things? This is a masterpiece your talking about here. You don't hand the Mona Lisa to Hollywood, they will put a gun in her hand and have her blow stuff up. Some key things were changed: Frodo does not let people play with his ring! He doesnt drop it or toss it around. He rarely takes it off his neck. The ring is possesive. Gandalf never touches it, he doesn't even want the temptation. That's just one thing that bothered me. Frodo often clutches it in the book, but under his shirt. Glimli does not attack it with his axe?! Galadriel has a ring of her own but you wouldn't know it watching this movie. By the way she has one of the Elven rings which is shown breifly at the beginning of the movie. Arwen does not save Frodo at the river crossing. I could go on. In these days of MTV and short attention spans and snappy commercials, I would have liked to see the movie paced out more. Its a long and difficult journey, not a car chase scene. Its supposed to be a very long adventure with action at certain parts. Its about bravery and strong friendships and betrayals and fierce enemies. You get to know the land and the people and you feel as though you are there, inside Middle Earth. The movie was lacking in these areas. Having said that, I must admit the casting was excellent, the effects mostly good(some computer effects were odd), the sets and scenery very good. Acting was decent. So I loved it and hated it at the same time. It put me into middle earth, but it was certainly not quite the middle earth I have previously visited. See the movie, but PLEASE read the book! The Lord of the Rings is perhaps the best adventure tale ever written. Even when you mess it up when making a movie, some of Tolkien does come through. So 3 stars from me.
| 
