Rating: 
Summary: Great Adventure
Review: I am unfamiliar with the author, but the movie is long, takes you to a far-away land, and is action-packed in just about every scene!
Rating:
Summary: Masterpiece
Review: LOTR's is by far one of the best works of art to ever be penned onto paper. And just as JRRT saw his vision unfold as he wrote, Peter Jackson has expanded on that vision into something spectacular. This film has everything you would expect. It was filmed with the same passion in which it was written. I cannot wait until the Special Edition DVD comes out with 30 extra minutes of film. This was one film, no matter how long, you just don't want to end. Thankfully Jackson filmed all three films in this Trilogy together and will be bringing one film to theaters for the next two years and won't make us Wait the span of almost 30 years like G. Lucas has with Star Wars. Do yourself and see this movie, you will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Mostly GOOD.
Review: 8-9-02:
I have changed my rating from four stars to five. The quality of the transfer is so good it makes an improvement on the big screen. The scenes in Moria are clearer and you can see the balrog much clearer. The negatives I wrote in the earlier review seem to be much less noticeable or important now. The extras on disc two are interesting and the previews for the extended version and TTT accomplish their purpose extreemly well.***original review below.*** First the bad.
The movie CHOPS 20% of the book -in one big chunk- (muttering a chapter title doesn't count!). The story of how Merry and Pippin become involved is cut and CHANGED. The old forest and the Barrow Wights are also missing. Some of Tolkien's best descriptions are found in the forest scenes (gnarly, old, and aware trees; gloom and darkness; spiders and other creatures lurking! The Galadriel scene is BAD. And there are two things wrong with Moria. 1. The cave troll scene is too long and it should have some texture on its skin (of fur). 2. I would have liked to see a bit more of Moria. The special effects when the ring is worn are overdone. One too many sweeping helicopter shots of the river. Finally, the scene where Sam goes into the river at the end was done all wrong!
***Now for the GOOD***
The history of the ring is told very well. Many scenes show a great deal of very good creativity. The Shire scenes are wonderful. Good humor (except in Rivendell, and taht the "conspiracy unmasked" was cut out). ***The reactions of Gandalf and especially Boromir to being near the ring really helps display the evil power of the ring. Their acting (and the direction in these scenes) is PERFECT!*** The wraiths were also done very well.
The special effects and music are teriffic. The color and "tone" of the river and the huge statues at the end are especially tastefully done. Shrinking the Hobbits was just plain unbelieveable when they were running around several other characters. The scene at Orthanc was visually spectacular and the duel was creatively and tastefully done.
Substituting Arwen for Glorfindel neatens things. The moria scenes (except for the above criticisms), are superb -especially when Gandalf "defeats" the balrog.
[All of the smaller plots of the book could have been done except it would have confused and blurred things for the unread, and the movie would have been five hours long! Maybe six movies would have been required for everything???]
***The DVDs' extras look extreemly promising!***
Rating:
Summary: This movie is awesome
Review: I have never been really into fantasy until I saw this movie. It is absolutely incredible, with awesome storytelling and great acting. I highly recommend it!
Rating: 
Summary: Wait for the Director's Cut
Review: The other reviews amply cover the content of the movie. I imagine they are unnecessary to you, since box office receipts would indicate that you probably saw the film yourself, especially if you're thinking of buying it on DVD. Then be aware that Peter Jackson and the studio have prepared an extended cut of the movie (with about 30 minutes of newly included scenes) to be released in November. In order to maximize dvd sales' profits, however, the studio has decided to release this, the shorter theater version, on dvd first, to be followed by the other around Thanksgiving). They realize that fans of the film will buy both, especially those who are not aware that another is coming.
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece.
Review: I consider 'The Lord of the Rings' to be the greatest work of literature of all time. I read it at least once a year, and consequently I ventured to the theatre with an overwhelming desire to see Tolkien's masterpiece adapted with a sense of honesty, integrity, and soul. I understand that film is an entirely different medium to literature, constituted by an utterly diverse structure, and utilizing vastly different means of character, plot and thematic development. Thus, I did not expect to see the entire first book perfectly 'recreated' - it would simply be quite impossible. Therefore, I went to see what I hoped would be an interpretation which reflected, and venerated, the very essence of the epic written by J.R.R. Tolkien... And what an interpretation it was. It alters the story, adds or removes entire sequences and characters, and enhances or diminishes the roles of countless other elements. But it works as beautifully as it looks. It moves swiflty, with each scene enduring long enough to merely take our breath away, before quickly taking our hand and leading us to the next stage of the epic quest. From The Shire to Isengard, to Bree and to the flight to the Ford; from Weathertop to Rivendell, through the grim yet magnificent chasms of Moria and into the enchanted vale of Lothlorien; all under the shadow of Mordor and 'the Eye'. Three hours is yet barely enough to tell the basic outline. And yet, each character, in being cast so perfectly, is able to develop despite the necessary haste. Perhaps we do not see enough as we should like: part of loving Tolkien's work is delighting in exploring the glorious world he so exquisitely details. In the literary version, the reader is made to feel the weariness of the journey undertaken by the heroes, as they wander the vastness that is Middle-earth; in the film, we see this vastness, but never quite explore it. But this is no criticism; it merely enhances the sense of urgency. The Ringwraiths are, quite simply, terrifying, orcs deadly, Saruman treacharous and the mention of Mordor and Sauron casts shadows we can feel yet not see. As my 'Tolkien un-initiated' (yet immensely impressed and excited!) girlfriend whispered: "This is just like a horror film!" Yes, I thought, but here there is also infinitely more. One never fails to believe that this is an epic; similarly, one never fails to be impressed, entertained, and excited. As Tolkien fans, our intial sense of awe at seeing the world and characters we love so incredibly and faithfully recreated lingers long after the credits signal the end of the film. As I had hoped, this film has been lovingly crafted from the pure essence of Tolkien's story. For example: If the book is likened to an enormous tree, the reach of its branches and breadth of its trunk being as impressive and complex as they are beautiful, then the film is the miniature model of the tree, fashioned from the very same wood. Smaller, and unable to exactly copy every complexity of the larger tree, but nonetheless being a faithfully rendered representation created from the very material of the original. To Peter Jackson, all the cast, all the crew and everyone else involved, I thank and salute you. I was finally able to walk the warm halls of Bag End and the green fields of the Shire with Frodo; I was able to stand in awe of Gandalf and matters bigger than I; I could fear the terrifying nothingness of the Black Riders, and I could watch in wonder as the fellowship passed under the kings of old as they glided down the great river Anduin. Of such things, dreams are made.
Rating:
Summary: Superb
Review: As a devoted fan of the Trilogy, I shuddered to hear that there would be a cinematic adaptation of Tolkein's fantastic Middle Earth. Readers need not fear, for the film illustrates every nuance of the story. From the masterful Gandalf, to our gallant protector Aragorn, each character is a rich tapestry of wonder. Every scene is artfully composed around sets filled to the brim with quirky details. Though a bit long, viewers will not feel the fatigue usually associated with a three hour film. The story moves quickly enough, with enough force and action to rival the best of the blockbuster shoot 'em up flicks. One effect of a tour through Middle Earth is that it leaves the viewer with a sense that we are somehow bettered for having seen the film. That is a rare and true quality found only when the right combination of character, plot and setting sing together in perfect harmony. Lord of the Rings does just that.
Rating:
Summary: Depending on who you are, you might LOVE THIS
Review: The Fellowship of the Ring tells the tale of hobbits, elves, etc. (I won't list anymore species because you've probably heard these types of introductions too much) on a quest to rid Middle Earth of a ring that could give an evil lord the power to break all hope. Anyway, moving on: LOTR blew me away. This is definitely one of my favorite movies of all time. The number one thing that stood out to me was how heartfelt and passionate this film turned out to be. The movie radiates a distinct aura with truth and sincerity and a reality that binds you in the many wonderful moments. The actors did an amazing job at making fictional characters come to life with real conflicts and emotions as blazing as Sauron's eye. The settings were breathtaking and sharpened a mark of extroardinarily earnest inspiration. The plot is equally engaging, if only because it is so epic. Some may think that the movie is too long or that it meanders along too slowly, but if you appreciate fantasy and inspiration the way I do, if you get that rushing welling of wide-eyed wonder inside your chest, than LOTR will capture an epic tale of an inspired world.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning, brilliant, breathtaking
Review: I loved this movie. In my top five of all time as I saw it 4 times in the theatre. I was skeptakle after reading the book about how they would be able to pull it off but they did it. I do not know how but they did. It Is different than the book in many aspects but all the plot lines and themes are kept in tact. Peter Jackson did a wonderful job adapting the screen play and then putting it onto the big screen. I have seen the trailor to the Two towers and it looks equally as impressive. The actors were briliant, the special effects where like a James Cameron film and the sets were beautiful and finally the score was moving. Great music. It really added an extra punch to some very poingant scenes. It can get a bit violent at times so you may not want to show it to your kids if they are too young but that is your judgement. i just wish it was december so that i coulds see the next one.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Entertaining - Still a Sell-Out
Review: The fact that a decent attempt was finally made to capture Tolkien's life work into film is somewhat pleasing, however, the books themselves will never be mastered. I understand why Arwen's role had to be enlarged. The movie had to make money. It's still a sell-out no matter how one looks at it.There has been so much talk about the lengths that Peter went to, trying to be true to the original story, but there are still major embellishments that don't ring true to this old-time Tolkien fan. All in all... A dynamite movie. I take nothing away from that fact. I will see the next two and buy all the DVD's. Forsooth! The Fellowship of the Ring was that good!
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