The Fellowship of the Ring
 

Breathtaking.

That is the single word i can find worthy enough of this film. This post is my review of the movie, and hopefully i will not give too much of the plot away for those of you who have not seen it.

Lets go...

From the very moment the film starts, you are held. Your gaze is fixed on the screen, never knowing what is coming next. The start of the film is sinister and propehising, and then you move to the lighthearted atmosphere of the shire, before Frodos journey begins, and he is plunged into the cold, cruel world of Middle Earth.

The film does not just tell the story, it brings it to life. So much detail has gone into every part of the story of the FOTR, that it is really hard not to get lost, but as long as you have at least skim read the book, you will be able to follow the film. From the wide, lush expanse ofthe carefree shire, to the menacing and brooding moorland along the road from Bree to Rivendell, to Rivendell itself, and a place of calm, through to the foreboding of Moria, and to Lothlorien, and finally to the Amon Sul. Each part of the world of Middle Earth is lovingly created, and visual detail is a wonder to behold.

The Casting for the film is also spot on. The 4 young hobbits have been perfectly cast, as Frodo, the pivot of the quest (and played by Elijah Wood) is inward, yet attentive. His faithful servant Sam is always on hand, while Merry and Pippin provide much needed comic relief along the way, yet they are always alert to the quest and its perils.
Legolas and Gimli also form a unique bond, and there is one scene wher this is highlighted in particular, and by the end they have grown to respect each other, and are even friendly to one another.
Aragorn starts off rather weakly as a character, but develops as the film races along, until by the end, he has become the central character.
But the best piece of casting goes to Boromir (played by Sean Bean). At first, little is even heard or seen of Boromir, but by the end of the film, the character is so powerful, and holds such presence on screen, that it really does take your breath away.
I needn't say anything on Gandalf. By definition the man is a hero.

On the side of evil, the characters are very nicely done. Although you do see Sauron, he is nowhere near as evil as Saruman, and the Uruk Hai, Sarumans new breed of Orc are very nasty indeed. There are many other nasties encountered along the way, but i do not need say anything about them, you gotta see them for yourself, and Gollum (who you see a lot of actually) is also done far better than i though he would be.

But how true does it remain to the book? I have to say it does hold quite well, but there are far too many crucial parts of the book, yet not to the overall story,that are missing from the film, and the role of the female characters at this point, being Arwen and Galadrial, is increased, especially on the part of Arwen, but does not really distract from the main plot. The start of the story especially has been cut down, as the later events (post Council) are the main features of the film. Still, as long as you have a basic grasp of the plot, the film is perfectly understandable.

I do recommend this film. Even if you are not a lover of fantasy films, then you will be overawed. The sheer quality of acting, coupled with the stunning sets and cgi work makes this a truely spectacular film, and one that is a little more violent and disturbing to the kiddies than i thought it was going to be, as the orcs are very hideous, especially those of Sarumans. If the FOTR is as good as this, then the Two Towers and The Return of The King are going to be stunning. Simpy breathtaking.

too bad they didnt cast them manboobs of yours :D

hey bilbo - http://download.nullsoft.com/winamp/...mp278_lotr.exe

been there, done that :D I got that about 2 weeks ago now :D

pity about the gfx i thought, sure i can't do better, but they could, the CGI was blurred and the gfx wasn't breath taking, but the film was amazing, good job whoever made it. i don't think tolkein would be spinning in his grave, do you?

You liked it then? You were a bit ambivalent so I can't be sure.
Don't be afraid to state your opinions!


[I'm going tomorrow if I can get in.]

Christopher Tolkien, (The Author's son obviously) who is the legal "literary protector" of his father's books, released a statement last week saying

"My own position is that 'The Lord of the Rings' is peculiarly unsuitable to transformation into visual dramatic form."

I'll see it next week when the rest of my family drags me to the theatre, and I will offer my "Devil's Advocate" review then.

Until then, BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! :p

Tolkien himself was never 100% against the idea of a film. He just sold the film rights because he needed the money for his grandchildren.

I just got back from seeing the film. I thought it was a classic. The shots were good, and the time just flew by...

It's not fair - I want the box set of DVDs of the Lord of the Rings now...

hmm like the books don't make enough? we may be a visual culture today but these books are so damn popular. i have three copies of the hobbit and two sets of the LoTR; not to mention being one of top books (or series) of the 20th century.
dunno maybe he has lots of children and the money spreads thin.

i hope no one spoils the ending for me, i promise i will harm you... sexually.
let's all pray the next movies don't become anymore hollywoodized. and i may find a trully different conclusion.

worthy enough to bring in a tape recorder? :D

im gonna go see it after the theatre clears out.
maybe right before or after christmas, when no one is in town

I'm seeing it in 7 hours time. w00t!

havent seen it yet, but prolly will w/i the next 2 weeks. Saw Harry Potter on my b-day and loved it. Cant wait for the next 3 Potter movies, definatly something i'd want as a DVD box set, along with LOTR as a box set.

Cant wait to see it.

Sorry. This is lame.

'Lord of the Strings' featuring 'Dildo Dagger'!

(Here he's called Bilbo Bagger, not Baggins :rolleyes: )

yeah, it isn't too bad ;) pity the ring is a bit out of my reach :(. If you thought the sfx were bad then I have 2 words for you:
"the"
"troll"

If I remember rightly, all the films are already made - it's just they're releasing them yearly to maximize box-office profits :(

I can't remember where I read it now, so don't kill me if I'm wrong.

I'm going to see it tomorrow afternoon.
I've been waiting since the animated version for this day.
I probably won't be able to sleep tonight.
Can't wait.
:D

I know someone else who saw it and was equaly amazed. Couldn't stop talking about it today at school. Got me so siked, especialy since I have been a long time fan of the the books ever since my father read them (The Hobbit, and all three LOTR's) to me and my older brother when I was in 2nd-3rd grade. He'd lay us down for bed and read to us for a good hour everynight. He even did vioces for each character. ahhhh, memories. :)

Well a few years ago I picked up the book (all 3 were combined into one hardback) and read it myself.

Needless to say I can't wait to see it :) yay!

One Ring to rule them all.
One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all,
And in the darkness bind them.

I enjoyed the movies the book put in my head.
Maybe the current release will be almost as good!
Hope springs eternal.

I think if I let my hair grow out I would probably look something like Frodo in the movie...

The movie really was incredible........ I actually found the three hours to be short.

What a fantastic job they did with the casting!

You should have punched him awake.

I thought the Arwen thing was a bit daft to be honest. I guess i am one of those alt.rings junkies ;)

Oh... my... god.

That film is AMAZING.
[Repeat everything from bilbo's first post here]
Wow.

I'm gonna go see it again, because I was sitting next to a major dickhead.
Throughout the entire film he was answering his mobile phone, laughing at seemingly random things and making weird clicky noises with his tongue.
Then, during the troll scene, he started doing something I really can't understand.
Every time someone got hit, he said a word that I couldn't quite catch, and he though he was being fucking hilarious.

Goddam. I'm really pissed off now.

Oh, and one other thing. At just about every important part of the story, he said something along the lines of "What's goin' on?" at just the right time to drown out someone's speech. Then at the ending of the film, he starts complaining "What kinda ending is that? That don't make no sense!".

Idiot.

Sorry, but I started off all happy about how great the film was, then I remembered about this guy. I just had to rant about it for a while.

I'll finish off on a happier note:

That is easily the best film I've seen in my entire lifetime. It's not "good" like films usually are. It feels totally different from any other film I've seen. It doesn't even feel like a film. It's that good.

I HATED this movie.

Before the flames start let me say I am not a fan at all of fantasy moves. Along the same lines I have never read the books and never plan to. A friend dragged me to LOTR. Though he was kind enough to warn me that it was a three-hour movie, though not with enough time to grab my Game Boy.

I though the beginning was really slow and it took a long time for the actual plot to arrive. Secondly I though some of the characters were poorly developed. Also, with all the hype around the move I was sick of it even before it was released. If I have to see one more Burger King commercial hawking those damn glasses and kids meal toys I might just kill some one.

Anyways, just though I would be the one dissenting voice here. I will make there is no way in hell my friends drag me to the next two.

Are you on about the same film? Glasses are a feature of another fantasy movie...

I can see your points. It would be slow for people who are not fans of the books, or the genre, that is the way of these things.

I loved the film. I went to see it on the 19th with Solarias and some other friends and it rocked. Wow. I agree the troll was a bit poor, but the tentacled thing outside the mines was excellent. I didn't like the fact Gimli had a scottish accent (scottish dwarves are too cliched and don't work on the whole) but I loved Gollum, especially his voice. I was a little dissapointed with some of the things they dropped from the book, but I think they made the right decisions to make the film fast enough but still close to the book. I take back all my reservations about Elijah Wood - for portraying a charachter who is constantly on the run or injured he was perfect. I should have realised that before.
Lucid, I agree completly. It didn't feel like a film. I also couldn't have said how long it lasted if I hadn't been told - it was an immeasurable passage of time for me as I was lost completly in the stunning scenery, excellent charachterisation and, well, pure genius of the film. I'm going to see it again 2 days after boxing day :)

I thought the trolls were ok!

The Balrog was nifty

some good reviews here. i may put my Sean Bean aversion aside and go and see it. :)

is Bombadil in the film?

/me stops reading this thread... now.

God damnit.. I didn't want to know anything about the flick before seeing it. Well, there goes that. Bother. =/

No he's quite right. Burger King here is selling LOTR themed drinking glasses- one with each of the characters "smoked" into the glass. All of their Kids meal toys are LOTR as well, if i'm not mistaken.

NuLoser: spread the hate :)

same... its not fair living in OZ is it iomegajaz

we still havta wait

I am trying not to give too much away, in fact i haven't at all. Most of what i have said is either guessable or has been released prior to the film anyway, and there aer still lots of treats in store for you Ozzies.

He dies at the end, you know :) :p

thats it your dead xerxes:mad:


jk:D

he can't die......if he dies im gonna kick your ass:)

/me plots....

Just try it :p

You'll never get through get past the ninjas on the first floor of my castle... :)

omg ninja's:D :D :winamp:

Yeah and on the top floor you have to fight a giant Kareem Abdul Jabbar - and he knows how to fight. :)

I didn't kile the Balrog, they could have done without showing it, the flames would have done.