First, a little whine...grumble, grumble, grumble...
Like most everyone here, our plans for seeing the movie had been set for weeks. Yesterday, my wife tells me Corin Jr's best friend and dad want to go with us. That's cool, I thought. We saw Spiderman together and that was fun. So I went today to buy our tickets for the 8:15 show. We were to meet at the theater between 7:30-7:45. They showed up at 8:05 p.m.
I didn't think it would be a problem 'til we got in. We ended up sitting on the third row. I'm nearsighted and I have problems with depth perception. I don't do 3-D movies or rides at amusement parks. So, I spent the first 30-45 minutes with my head spinning and feeling like I was gonna hurl.
And, as if that wasn't bad enough, the dad TALKED THROUGH THE ENTIRE MOVIE!!!!!!! He was continually making comments through the movie...how'd they do Gollum, is that Theoden guy and actor I should recognize, etc. etc. I was so p'od!
I know that we are called in life to spend time among the unwashed masses. But I got the distinct impression that they did not understand that this was a pilgrimage. I think they actually thought it was . . . gulp . . . entertainment.
I don't have enough brain cells awake to do a thorough review of the movie, and I need to see it again anyway, but here are some initial impression:
Gollum is fabulous! I think my favorite part of the movie was the conversation between Smeagol and Gollum. It was brilliantly done. (Didn't we see somewhere in the spoilers over the last year a picture of Smeagol and Deagol in a fishing boat?)
I didn't like Faramir. I thought I'd have an affection of sorts for the character based on a fondness for Boromir at the end of the first movie (and the book of course). But I just didn't like him.
I thought Eowyn was weak. I picture her as a much stronger woman. She looked a little too delicate to me.
I'm sure I'll have more comments once I see it again.