[My2Cents]

Thanks for your comments. We're going to the movie to see it for the first (and not last, I'm sure) time this evening. I've been looking forward to tonight for months. I hear that in a few weeks, theaters will be showing the trailer for "LOTR's 2: The Two Towers" as a preview before "FOTR." How cool will that be!

[rface]

May the Force be with you.

This is the only movie I will have gone into a theater this year to see.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Already posted here. Do a search next time. ;)

[Technocrat]

I saw LOTR yesterday. I thought it was a bit slow in a lot of places, but then I think Fifth Element and Stargate were the best movies of the last decade. The attention paid to special effects, both in their application (and lack thereof) as well as in their control, required brutal discipline and flawless execution that I thought were beyond the ken of mortals. This movie is bulletproof, and it was fully worth the $5 I paid to see it.

[QuestionBureaucracy]

I'm going to have to go out and buy a DVD player just for the 4 hour director's cut. Thanks for the review.

[Paul Atreides]

I'm not surprised to hear of Sean Bean's performance; he is an extremely talented actor. Boromir is my favorite character in the books. I'm glad they went for talent as opposed to going for Hollywood.

[Cicero]

It's a beautiful movie, which many people are going to want to see several times. It's not exactly the same as the book, but so what? It couldn't be. In its own terms, it's still wonderful. Read the book again, and see the movie.

[Billthedrill]

Freak? (gollum, gollum) Who issss he calling a freak, preciousssssss, hmm? Who? (gollum, gollum, gollum...)

BTT. Can't wait...

[miniver-cheevey]

I saw it on Wed.,liked it so much I went back Thur. & took my 2 sons. My 11 yr old liked it alot & wants to read the books(he reads the Redwall books). My 14 yr. old says it was ok but not as good as The Fast & The Furious.(typical teen) He said there were too many names to remember. I enjoyed it alot more the 2nd time because it had been yrs since I read the books & I was more familar with the story & I didnt have to concentrate so hard, I could relax more.

[ecurbh]

ping

[ecurbh]

Great review, thanks.

Of course, now you've made me want to go to another showing tonight! Two time just ain't enough.

[Cascadians]

Great review: thanks!
We just got back from seeing it the 2nd time.
Much better the 2nd time -- and the first was fantastic!

This is a MONUMENTAL movie. Beautiful. Heartbreaking. Awesome. Inspiring.

[an amused spectator]

Saw it this afternoon. I give it an 8 out of 10, and I'm a Tolkien scholar.

I have to gauge how the younger set deals with the intricate plot. I believe that the scenery and action carries much of the day for this younger age group. Interesting plot replacement of Glorfindel with Evenstar. It works.

I was initially underimpressed with the casting of Galadriel, but was won over [with reservations] in later scenes. My wife pointed out that the ability of the Men to deal with multitudes of Orcs strained credulity. I explained that Orc size onscreen was somewhat constrained by actual human actor attributes, and that the Men (though not the equals of their forefathers) in the trilogy had the physical characteristics of the Dunedain.

I find their handling of the Isildur/Strider nexus to be most excellent. This is a very subtle thing in the book, and must needs be changed for the screen. It's interesting watching it unfold, because it is a significant change in Tolkien's original story line, and requires nuance to make it work. They did not re-forge Narsil in Rivendell, but I believe that this omission will significantly improve their chances of bringing off what I consider to be the most crucial part of the book/film.

Christopher Lee & the actor who portrays Gandalf are superlative.

The director has done it. I am not at all offended or troubled by the plot changes, because Jackson respected the original text. Tolkien himself well understood the nature of storytelling, and presentation.

I'm not saying that he would have approved of this telling, but while grumbling under his breath, he would have looked twice. ;-)

[an amused spectator]

Several other thoughts:

The assessment of Sean Bean's performance by you and austinTparty is spot on. The man is in the running for something.

I found that the presentation of Tolkien's original documentation (maps, runic and elvish script, etc.) was a master stroke! I believe these things, and the omnipresent ruins, give the production the feeling of antiquity that it needs.

I singled out the Council of Elrond scene for my wife, wherein the Ring itself chants its Black Speech inscription in the background of the heated standing argument. While I myself knew what was being said, my wife only understood the increasing glee of the chanting voice as the argument grew more heated. Now that's a touch!

They are doing the right thing with Merry and Pippin. They started as miscreants, and will take their proper roles at the end of the film.

[Estra Jean]

I do not go to movies frequently, but I read the trilogy to each of my neices and nephews when they were children. So this afternoon we, all adults now, went to see The Fellowship of the Rings together. It was wonderful. The audience clapped at the end... Is this usual?

[Marianne]

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