"The Fellowship Of The Ring": review by Darth Sidious

The presently elated state of my gray matter | December 19th, 2001 | Darth Sidious

[Darth Sidious]

Well, as of this moment it's now been an hour since we (the Lovely Lisa and yours truly) left the theater, after the 12:01 am first showing of The Fellowship Of The Ring. To say that a fun time was had by all would be an understatement: the place was packed! One knot of fans came in costume as Aragorn, elves etc. I brought a sign saying "Gandalf 3:16" I waved around before the movie. Lots of "Lord Of The Rings" discussion, including the ubiquitous "do Balrogs have wings" going on. I'd say the crowd ranged in age from 16 to 75 easily, with probably 20-35 being the most in attendance.

Oh yeah, and the movie... the movie...

At this point I want to say something - a three word phrase - but I'm trying awfully hard not to take the Lord's name in vain. It's commonly used, however, to indicate that one is completely and utterly overwhelmed by an event. And gosh-darnnit, I want to say those three words, over and over and over again... until it becomes absolutely clear to you, Dear Reader, that this writer has indeed become completely and utterly overwhelmed by this particular event.

Lisa had never done a midnight showing of a movie before. I'd been telling her the past few days that this would be "fun". 'Course, this comes from a guy who camped out overnight for tickets to Star Wars: Episode I a few years ago too, so my own senses may be kind of inured to this sort of nonsense. But to someone blessedly belonging to the realm of normal mortals, the idea of seeing a movie at midnight - unless it's Rocky Horror Picture Show - is still a bit peculiar. Still, the Episode I first showing was loads of fun, and Lisa trusted me enough to give this a whirl.

I'm thankful she went along for the ride. Years from now when we've a houseful of children, the little tykes are going to be in awe that Mommy and Daddy were among the very first to watch The Fellowship Of The Ring. As much as someone would be in awe of their parents being the first to see The Wizard Of Oz or Gone With The Wind.

Okay, the temptation is too great, but fill in the blank: oh my ___.

Oh my ___ oh my ___ oh my ___.

This is easily the best movie I've seen since The Patriot, and maybe the best I've seen ever. That'll have to wait 'til later this morning, when the full experience has "soaked in". Peter Jackson has raised the bar higher than any film has since the original Star Wars in '77. Indeed, The Fellowship Of The Ring may be the finest marrying of story and special-effects in film history: a wonderful fruit of the seed that was planted from George Lucas's endeavours. And if Star Wars is ever supplanted as the predominant saga of cinema, there is no more suitable an heir in sight than there is The Fellowship Of The Ring.

So if you're wondering how the first chapter of cinema's The Lord Of The Rings gets rolling without making a film of "The Hobbit" first, you're in for a treat. The first eight minutes sets the stage for both newcomers to the saga and die-hard Tolkienites, introducing the Rings of Power and who they were meant for, and how the One Ring wound up in the hands of Bilbo Baggins (Sir Ian Holm). I *loved* this part, because from the getgo it's laying down a history for what's to come. And probably the spookiest is when it shows the nine of the race of Men, who are given nine rings: I've always wondered who these nine guys were, what they looked like before they turned into the Ringwraiths, and somehow Jackson's interpretation was exactly what I imagined. If only the same could be said for Sauron...

Ahhhh, Sauron... the Lord of the Ring. We see him forge the One Ring to ensnare the others, and then in action during the most BRUTAL battle you could imagine. After you see Sauron, Darth Vader is a wuss. Darth Maul is a wuss. Darth I'm-A-Drunken-Soccer-Hooligan-And-You're-Shite-I'm-Gonna-Break-Your-Skull is a wuss even.

Okay, anyhoo... the story goes from a beautifully orchestrated intro to Frodo (Elijah Wood) meeting Gandalf (Sir Ian McKellen) en route to the Shire for Bilbo's 111th birthday party, and...

Ahhh, okay, look, it doesn't matter who's playing who in this film. I know who McKellen is, I know he played Magneto in X-Men and he's openly homosexual, and if anyone else has a problem with that, fine. I know a few Christians who have vocally said this is reason enough to boycott the film. Well, as a fellow believer I'll go on record as saying this film hits the mark closer than any other interpretation of Tolkien's overwhelmingly Christian-inspired work. That's NOT McKellen on the screen, that is Gandalf. Hugo Weaving isn't in this movie: Peter Jackson convinced Elrond to come back East across the Sea to play himself: the real Weaving is busy filming The Matrix Reloaded, so that can't be him.

I'm going to cut to the chase about The Fellowship Of The Ring, about how to watch it and get the most from it. It doesn't have Tom Bombadil and Goldberry in it. The barrow-downs scene is nowhere. The Council of Elrond is greatly abbreviated from how it's depicted in the original text. Arwen has a far greater presence than she has in the novel. A dozen differences and more will be enough to rankle some die-hard Rings fans... but don't worry about those. Go into The Fellowship Of The Ring with the mindset that this is a historical film... and as faithful to its historical matter as is Apollo 13 or Gettysburg. Tell yourself that this is a cinematic translation of the War of the Ring. That it doesn't matter if some of those things did or didn't happen inside the Apollo 13 capsule: they made it home and that's all that's really important. So too is it with this movie: tell yourself that this is one translation of a real historical event, just like Tolkien didn't invent the story, he merely translated it from the Red Book of Westmarch (collecting dust somewhere in some forgotten corner of the Oxford library). That this is a depiction of events as they happened 9,000 years ago. It doesn't matter that no one will ever find the ruins of Barad-Dur or Rivendell on this earth, because they aren't to be found.

But the metaphors and analogies in this movie are all quite true. This is a story centered on a metaphor for absolute power, symbolized in an innocent-looking gold band. It's a warning against seeking power for power's sake. It's about resisting the temptation of power, of refusing to yield to the lust for glory. And it's about the strength that is found, not in the gods of this world or the might of fortresses, but in accepting with the most abject humility that one must do what one can to stand against evil - however meek or mean the effort - in the time God has given us. As I have come to discover those aspects of life, so too do I believe that The Fellowship Of The Ring is a very true and real story... if only as analogy to our struggle against our own ring's temptings.

[Doctor Doom]

Legolas came off as a new favorite for me.

I love the little touches that added to his Elveness - walking atop the snow drifts - his uncanny speed with his bow - beautiful touches very subtlely rendered.

[JohnHuang2]

Mega PING!

[dixiechick2000]

Thanks for the ping! I've been waiting for a reliable review. Bumping for reading tomorrow.

Good night, friend!;o)

[JohnHuang2]

I've been waiting for a reliable review.

Darth is a real ace at this stuff =^)

[Valin]

ABSOLUTLY WONDERFUL!!!! Well worth my 30 year wait. They got so much right that I forgive them for what they got wrong. It was some of the little things like Gandalf bumping his head that Got me. Also Saruman looked just as I imagined him to.

I repeat ABSOLUTLY WONDERFUL!!!!

[ambrose]

You make me want to vomit. How dare you compare this piece of dung to Star Wars. HOW DARE YOU?!

[Valin]

You mean the Fellowship Of The Rings isn't a historical film? :-)

[ambrose]

Peter Jackson has raised the bar higher than any film has since the original Star Wars in '77. Indeed, The Fellowship Of The Ring may be the finest marrying of story and special-effects in film history: a wonderful fruit of the seed that was planted from George Lucas's endeavours. And if Star Wars is ever supplanted as the predominant saga of cinema, there is no more suitable an heir in sight than there is The Fellowship Of The Ring.

[ambrose]

In the two years I've been doing this for Free Republic, The Fellowship Of The Ring receives my heartiest recommendation. When this trilogy is complete it will stand as the greatest film ever made. I really believe that. Go see this movie today, it's opening day, if at all possible: tell your children and grandchildren that you were there on the first day of the film that will be to them what The Wizard Of Oz is to us.

I'll wait for when Gilbert Gottfried shows it on USA UP ALL NIGHT. In the meantime, I'll watch "Cabin Boy" again.

[ambrose]

It should also appeal strongly to families: not a single swearword anywhere, no mention of sex anywhere.

But little elves slashing each other with swords? Nice family entertainment indeed...

[lonevoice]

That was a great review of a movie that is destined to become a big part of cinematic history. So much was right about it this film that words can hardly render justice it. This one I WILL see more than once in the theatre. Haven't done that since the Beatles "Help" (geeze, not dating myself here, huh?)

Since you didn't actually say those three words, I will...Oh.My.God.

[MrConfettiMan]

I sat through back-to-back viewings of the movie yesterday. The first was with a group of friends from the office at noon, then I turned around and went right back inside for the 3:45pm show with my wife. I was hoping to be jumping up and down with excitement as I left the theater but I wasn't. Simply put, I was in awe. The film is truly a masterpiece, an epic event in motion picture history. I agree with everything you said, Darth. I never once looked at my watch. The movie never lulled and left me wanting more. Much more.

I'd love to see the director's cut of the movie as I expect it will be over 6 hours long. It was clear they shot a huge amount of scenes and then had a tough time editin the film. Did you notice when they released the pony before entering Moria it was the first time in the movie the pony was even mentioned? Did you catch the stone trolls in the background during the initial scene with Arwen? These are the same trolls (from The Hobbit) Bilbo is talking about with a group of children during his party. Did you catch Legolas twice in a row kills two orcs with a single arrow near the very end of the movie? I caught it during my second viewing. First, he shoots the arrow through two orcs. Next, he stabs a third orc with another arrow, pulls the arrow back out and then shoots it into a fourth orc. Legolas did this with such fluidness I thought the actor had some elf blood in him. Did you notice several chapter titles from the various books were used? I noted "Riddles in the Dark" (from The Hobbit) and "A Long Expected Party" from The Fellowship.

I agree the modifications, additions and deletions to the story were necessary for making the movie and did not in any way detract from the story's overall theme. Having just finished rereading The Fellowship the night before, I was noticing many of the changes in the movie. For example, I don't believe Frodo ever fell backwards and "dropped" the ring during the initial hike up Caradhas in the snow in the book. As another example, the Mirror of Galadrial scene involved both Sam and Frodo. The music was good, just not memorable. I thought during the battle scenes it sounded a little too much like the music from "Last of the Mohicans".

Overall, I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars, 10 out of 10 stars and 99 out of 100 stars (nothing's perfect).

I will be seeing this movie in the theater again.

[Mudboy Slim]

"And it's about the strength that is found, not in the gods of this world or the might of fortresses, but in accepting with the most abject humility that one must do what one can to stand against evil - however meek or mean the effort - in the time God has given us."

Well said...hopefully, I'll get to see this movie this evening...if not, this weekend.

FReegards...MUD

[ThomasMore]

Go see this movie today

I saw the second showing at 10:30 am Wednesday. Took a holiday and went to see what I expected to be one phenomenal film. Instead I was treated to a BLOCK BUSTING EXTRAVAGANZA! This film, by far, is the best I've seen, IMHO (I'm only a little biased)!! I got much more than I expected, and half as much as I will get with the DVD(can't wait)!!hehe

Damn, I was as excited and giddy as a little kid at Christmas with a new train set. The screen adaptation was a masterpiece. The action scenes were intense. The story had a great rhythm. The art and design was fantastic and Middle Earth came alive. Cheers to Peter Jackson, Alan Lee, John Howe and all the cast and crew for bringing the world a visual rendition of the FOTR worthy of Tolkien's epic trilogy. J.R.R would be proud.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for this review. I'm forwarding it to my oldest son, age 35. The Ring books were his favorite years ago. When they first came out, I was a little concerned and asked a conservative Episcopal priest about the books. His answer was if every young American read these books several times, we would have no problem with a future America!

Grampa and Gramma will offer to baby sit so my son and his wife can go to see this movie. We will even buy their tickets and give them money for popcorn. This will be an excellent Christmas gift to my son and his wife! We will just have to struggle through with the demanding task of babysitting.

How long is the movie?

[Alamo-Girl]

bump!

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thanks for the flag, John.

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you John. FallGuy and I are going to see it today at Noon our time .

[Darth Sidious]

Just curious about the Aragon shot. It's the most important "character presentation" (next to the Gandalf hat reveal) in the movie and in some theatres the picture is so dark you can't see Viggo sitting, hooded and smoking his pipe in the corner.

Ahhhh... that! Yeah, it was lit properly :-)

Well, it's been 24 hours since we saw it for the 2nd time, and it's still effecting me. There's two people I want to see win Best Actor come March: either Ian McKellan or Christopher Lee... Lee's Saruman is INTENSE!! For a year I've been hankering to see him play Count Dooku in "Star Wars Episode II", but I can't see him topping that, not after his Saruman.

[Darth Sidious]

did you see the preview for the new Time Machine? I'm psyched.

Haven't seen it yet :-( But we did see the new trailer for "Spider-Man" at the midnight showing of FOTR. Looks like they're getting it spot-on 'cept for the organic webshooters :-O Love that line from Aunt May: "you're not Superman" :-)

They also had the trailer for "Austin Powers: Goldmember"... nice to see a stream of New Line trailers with no Freddy Krueger in sight!