Rating: Summary: #1 Fantasy movie Review: I just purchased this LOTR on DVD, never saw it in the theater, and it is visually stunning-even on the 27". The performances are brilliant and the emotion portrayed pulls you in almost immediately. The best movie I have ever seen - until the next passage is released that is. I would give this movie 10 stars if possible. Jackson is brilliant as are the actors. Definetely did the novel justice.
Rating: Summary: Perfection Review: I was blown away the first time I saw Fellowship of the Ring last December 19th. Everything, in my mind, was perfect. From the acting, to the scenery, to the monsters and the music. It is far, far and away the best fantasy movie I have ever seen. One of the best movies I've seen, period.The only thing I was unsure of going into it was the expanded role of Arwen, and the fact that it was Liv Tyler playing her. Her performance, however left me enchanted, as did all the other actors. Peter Jackson chose his cast well; every actor suited the part perfectly. There are some deviations from the book's storyline, but those I can forgive. A lot of them were because of time restrictions, and everything flowed evenly. There are times when I wish that there were fewer scenes with Saruman and the Uruk-Hai, but it lends more explanation for the events that come after. The only thing I don't like? That we all have to wait until December 18th to see the next part.
Rating: Summary: Only 3 stars? You bet, but's it's not the movie's fault... Review: I won't go into a long detailed analysis or description of the movie. If you're interested in the movie, you've probably read the books, if you've read the books you'll like the movie despite some characters and text eliminated. It's a great movie. The movie isn't the problem, it's the DVD of the movie. Two discs with lots of extra stuff, one of the main extras? One of the things they go out of their way to promote? The 10-minute preview of the super-duper four disc DVD edition of the movie you've just purchased... Is it me? Am I the only one that finds this insulting? So, basically what they're saying is: "Gee, thanks for your money! Be sure to buy the GOOD version when it comes out in November!" Save your money, rent this movie, enjoy the extras and wait for the "REAL" DVD in November.
Rating: Summary: movie of the year Review: This is proably the best movie I have every scene all year the battle sequences are phenominal the characters are portraied perfect and the overall story is great. There is one thing that I dont really like though is the ending it stops right there. I know there are going to be two more but they could have done a little better on the ending. Other than that this is a movie that is worth buying. I have not seen the DVD yet but the VHS version is really good.
Rating: Summary: SPECTACULAR!!!!!! Review: I love everything about this movie. And that says a lot, because I am not the biggest fan of fantasy movies or books. Let it be known, I have not read the books, yet. I have read "The Hobbit" and thought it was a good read, so I hope to read the others. "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" is one of my new favorites, and I enjoyed every minute. I'm not going to go into great detail of the story. Chances are, you already know it, or at least some of it. What was so great about seeing this movie for the first time and not knowing too much about the story, I was able to watch the story unwrap right before my eyes. I was so suprised and in awe. Let it be known, this movie is almost three hours long. So expect that. But, believe me, if you enjoy the movie, the time flies by so quickly, and you're left wanting more. Well, since the story is well known by most, this review is mainly going to deal with the DVD itself. It's amazing, despite that it's one I'm going to have to rebuy, since I want the extended version. But someone made a good point, if you love the movie, why not have both. Both DVDs are going to have special features. Ones that appear on this one most likely won't appear on the other. Plus, now you'll have two versions of the movie. So, if you don't want to spend the dough but would very much like to see this movie without having to wait for the extended version to come out, the best soulution is to rent it, or borrow it from someone. (If they let you!) The picture was outstanding and breathtaking. Just like being at the theatres. It's crystal clear and enhances every little detail that comes about. It is anamorphic widescreen, which made it look that much better. Sound was pretty good. Very loud. Possibly the loudest DVD I own, and it's not even DTS! My only problem is it is hard to hear the talking at some parts. And just when you turn the volume up to hear it, a very loud action sequence pops out almost deafening your ears. So, I had to fumble with the volume control quite a bit. But, it really did sound great. I just hope that you can hear the talking a little better on the extended version. There are tons of special features. There's a couple of "making of" programs, (I liked the one that was shown on Fox). There is also a ten minute behind-the-scenes feature on "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.' All I can say is that it's going to be amazing, and I can't wait for it to come out. I regret watching the behind-the-scenes feature on the extended version of this movie. Why? Because before I watched it, I had it in my mind that I wasn't going to have to resort to re-buying this movie, because it was already a masterpiece in my mind. Well....I watched the feature, and it looks like they left out some REALLY good stuff. Figures! Be warned, if you watch it, you will want to buy the extended version. I'm sure there are more features I have forgot to mention, but those are the ones I have been able to watch or go through. "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" is an awesome epic adventure that really did surprise me. Is it a masterpiece? Maybe not yet. I thought so at first, but now I'm going to have to see the extended version. Maybe the thirty minutes cut out of the movie makes it a lot better. Hard to imagine how this movie can get any better, but it's something I'm anxious to experience and see. This beginning to one hell of an epic is filled with danger, darkness, evil, and adventure. A great movie, destined to be a classic, if not already. Warning: This goes to the parents who are reading this. Do not be fooled into thinking that this is another Harry Potter movie. This is a very scary and sometimes violent movie.
Rating: Summary: The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (Widescre Review: The sound track overpowers the dialogue. Therefore, onbe misses too much of the conversations. This is by far the worst example of bad sound vs. video I've ever seen.
Rating: Summary: Epic Heroic Fantasy Review: This is a movie that takes you out of the reality of this world and into a startlingly believable world of fantasy...as no movie has before. There are elements of BRAVEHEART and the like here and there, but over all, it bridges the world of reality and the world of fantasy. It didn't seem three hours long to me at all. The sheer imagery and the music had such effect on me that time didn't seem to be elapsing and I was rather surprised when I realized this movie was drawing to a close. The best I can do is say that I personally feel this is the greatest fantasy or science fiction movie I've seen. I know that there are those who will disagree with me. There are changes from the novel and this is necessary, unfortunately, to reach the movie audience. If you will notice, those few movies that cling to the source material generally fail completely to be good movies. This time around, I won't go into great detail. I will say though that this is a movie that everyone should see, if only to satisfy your own curiosity. There's no other way you're going to find out if you like it or not than to go and see it.
Rating: Summary: The Fellowship Falls Short Review: The making of this film is terrific. Since I had read the Triology many, many years ago I was looking forward for some time for this DVD issue. All through the viewing I loved it's attention to detail. The sound was grand, but often the musical score overshadowed the dialoge. In many cases it was so loud the speech could not be heard at all! And then finally 'the End'!! What a disappointment; we're left hanging to await another release (which I now learn is not until November 2002). If I had known this I would not have bought this release! Just a ploy to get more money out of the customer and into the producers pockets!
Rating: Summary: through a glass darkly Review: Transferring a book to the screen is always a dangerous proposition. Simply put, too much can go wrong, the two mediums are simply too different for most adaptations to hold up with any integrity. Transferring what many consider the best book of the twentieth century to screen, well logically that should simply be an act of folly. Tolkien wrote a deeply drawn story with passion and vision and these are things that transfer poorly to the silver screen. As Roger Ebert noted "The trilogy is mostly about leaving places, going places, being places, and going on to other places, all amid fearful portents and speculations". The books are also about the use and abuse of power, the ability of one soul to make a difference and the growth a person will and must undergo once they leave their home. All in all, too much for a film of any commercial value or length to reasonably tackle, so obviously something had to go. Largely what was changed was mood and tone. While the books felt airy and gently paced as it moved its hobbit heroes through the bumps and hollows of Middle earth, introducing them to a wide breadth of that world's inhabitants, the film takes the central motivation, the threat of the one-ring and ties its fate to that frame alone. As a result the core of the tale does shift from Frodo, to the fellowship as a whole, and the tone does move drastically and becomes much darker. Contrary to much spilled ink however, this is not inconsistent with the book. Middle earth has never been portrayed as a world in its prime. The Elves are leaving/dying out, the Dwarves are merely a shadow of their former selves, Mankind is without leadership and the isolationist Hobbits have cut themselves off, possibly fatally, from the happenings of the world around them. Into this stagnancy returns the corrupting power and strength of the one-ring, this is dark stuff, Tom Bombadil and musical trappings cannot hide this. What remains is a darker, leaner narrative, but one that retains many of the key elements that make this story so worth telling in any form. Never has the corrupting nature of power and the temptation it poses to all who possess it been so passionately and elegantly told. Frodo's internal struggles, Gandalf's fight for knowledge and understanding, the conflict of the elves to leave and save the civilization that they have grown beyond but also formed, the tragedy and sorrow of the loss of a dwarf's entire culture, and need to use the enemy's strongest weapon against him and knowing that such a thing must not be done; these are all wonderfully rich stories and themes that any single movie would take pride in dealing singly with. Fellowship tackles all of these vital threads and to varying degrees of success weaves them into a magical quilt that most intelligent observers said was impossible and could never be done. There IS magic in this movie, and it comes from its smallest moments; a gleam in Gandalf's eyes, a held-back tear in Frodo's eyes, the moment of understanding in Boromir's stance, the addiction of Bilbo, and the envy of Galadriel as she confronts Frodo. This is all the stuff of legend and of magic, and as magic-makers nobody on this production has ever been better than they are here, Peter Jackson, Howard Shore, Andrew Lesnie, Ian McKellen all are hitting on all cylinders. This is as close as film can get to fulfilling its potential as a medium while celebrating the achievements of another wholly different one.
Rating: Summary: The most beautiful movie of all time Review: Some have said that Fellowship of the Ring is the movie George Lucas was trying to make with Star Wars before he lost sight of his vision. While Star Wars is still a masterpiece as a whole in its own right, Fellowship of the Ring is the perfect epic fantasy adventure, with very few flaws. The only complaint I have is that some of my favorite moments from the book did not make it into the movie. Quite frankly I hardly noticed that the movie is as long as it is and would have happily sat through 6, or even 12 hours of a masterpiece like this. We all know the story, so I will not write a synopsis, but I will say that I feel that each character was casted perfectly, and even Liv Tyler performed brilliantly. The scenery and attention to detail was amazing, and how they went through great lengths to ensure that every culture of the different races of Middle Earth was also amazing. I watch this movie, and every time I see it I am in awe of the grandeur of it all. This movie is grand, sweeping and epic, and aside from a few minor technical glitches (Frodo wearing shoes in one scene, Gandolf in hiking boots in another) this movie is the fantasy film I have longed to see since I was a child. I am eagerly awaiting the Two Towers.
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