Posted on 12/22/2001 5:46:05 PM PST by Texas2step
OK, I've had 24 hours to try and get my thoughts together now since first seeing the movie. First, if you haven't seen this movie yet, GO GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!!! This is the most incredible movie experience period. Was it perfect? No. Was it the greatest movie of all time? Maybe, but probably not to most. Was it my favorite movie ever? I'll tell you after I watch it again next week, or maybe when I watch it again the week after that, but possibly, probably yes.
First let me set up "where I was at" - my perspective, my mindset in getting ready to watch the movie. I took my wife who was not familiar with LOTR at all. Not familiar with The Hobbit, Frodo, Gandalf, etc. Not only that, but by her own admission hates "movies where they wear the same clothes the whole movie". :-) She was not excited about seeing the movie, but went primarily to review whether or not we would allow our 10 year old daughter to go.
So, I had a couple of things on my mind as I watched the movie. I was concerned about my wife's reaction, and hoping that she wouldn't hate it, and I watched the movie intently with trying to determine if it would be unappropriate if my 10 year old daughter saw the movie.
I wish I could have seen this movie by myself, without having to be concerned with how someone I was with would react, and without evaluating the movie on the gore/violence/fright scale. But alas, I did not have that opportunity.
Also, I have read every single review, every article on Jackson, Tolkien, LOTR, etc. that I could get my hands on. I practically knew exactly what was going to happen throughout the movie. I knew what changes had been made, I knew when it was going to be scary, I knew when it was going to be sad. I wish now that I had not read so much detail and done more skimming.
So, now you know my distractions and my mindset. Even with this, even with extremely high expectations, I was literally blown away. I was so hyped about watching this movie, I didn't realize that the movie had started until about 30 seconds into Galadriel's prologue intro.
If you have not seen the movie, don't read any further. There will be "spoilers" throughout the rest of this "review".
What was perfect?
First and formost, casting and acting. I won't repeat the high praises of others who have mentioned the portrayals of Gandalf, Borimor, Bilbo, Sauraman, and Elrond, they are all excellent, no, perfect.
I've seen mixed reviews on Frodo, Galadriel, and Aragorn. I'm sorry, but whoever did not see these three as doing an awesome job, what on earth were you drinking?
Aragorn is absolutely perfect. The way he walks, the way he looks, the sense of growth from beginning to ending. By the end of the movie you see "the man who would be king".
Frodo, man, Woods did an incredible job. You sense the burden he picks up in Rivendell. You feel the weight of the ring he carries. You see the sense of foreboding in his eyes in the mountains of Caldaras. You see the assumption of responsibility in the way he carries himself when he comes to the decision to travel to Mount Doom alone. Absolutely perfection.
Galadriel is perfect as well. Having read the reviews and spoilers about the mirror scene, I was expecting some kind of hokey video game sequence with special effects. Yes, the special effects in this scene were "over the top", moreso than I remember from when reading the books, but it fit. It was perfect. I really enjoyed this scene more than I thought I would.
I have seen some who have been under impressed with the portrayal of Merry and Pippen. I disagree. Yes, they were the comic effect, but that's the impression I had of them from the book as well. I didn't mind the change in Moria where Pippen knocks the skeleton down the well instead of throwing a rock. I didn't mind the other subtle changes in their characters from the book. I think their portrayal was an enhancement and really added to the Fellowship. I can't wait to see how they hold up in the hands of the orcs in the Two Towers.
Acting was absolutely perfect.
What about special effects?
Great - when Frodo wears the ring, the size of the hobbits, the cave troll was much, much scarier than I expected, epic battle scenes, the entire Mines of Moria scene was mindblowing, scene with Galadriel, the Ringwraiths at the ford, scene with Bilbo & Frodo in Rivendell, and more.
I didn't see any poor special effects. None. The balrog did not meet my expectations, however. I expected to be frightened.
The cinematography was the best I've ever seen. Period. The settings were the best I've ever seen. Period. The level of detail was the best I've ever seen. Period.
My only disappointments? It's funny, I'm not a huge Tolkien fan. I am a fan of fantasy/sci-fi, less so now than when I was younger, but I've read lots of it. I didn't expect changes to Tolkien's work to be among my disappointments. However, I do feel that the changes were necessary. This movie cannot be perfect without it being 4 hours in length. It's just not possible. There's nothing in it I would take out. But there's a ton I wanted to add back in. It did not feel like a three hour movie. As the Fellowship left the Mines of Moria, I felt like we were probably about 90 minutes into the movie and had 90 left. But I looked at my watch, over 2 hours had gone by.
I was a bit disappointed with the Forest of Loth-Lorien. It was way too short. I wanted to stay and explore this incredible forest. Where was Sam when Frodo and Galadriel were looking into the mirror??? I missed this immensely, and I knew ahead of time that Sam wasn't going to be there in the movie. The whole scene in Loth-Lorien was way too short. Where were the gifts to each of the fellowship? I knew that this was cut from the movie, and I knew that Galadriel's scene with Gimli was cut, but I missed it sorely.
Speaking of Gimli. I thought he was shorted in this movie. My memory of Gimli and Legolas was larger than what I saw. The actors did great. They just weren't given enough screen time. I do hope that they see expansions of their roles to the rightful place for The Two Towers. Their growing friendship is part of my favorite things of LOTR, and we didn't get to see much of that in this movie.
There's more, but I really have to go. It's all trivial, but to me it seemed very rushed. I wanted to bask in the travels of the fellowship. I wanted to enjoy the sights that we got to behold. I understand the the general movie going audience would probably not stand for a four hour movie, but I sure could have.
In summary, my wife like it a lot. If I can get her to go back, I do believe she would enjoy it more. Her ONLY complaint was the lack of an "ending" and lack of closure. I should have warned her, and I thought I had, but she spent the last 20 minutes of the movie going "they better get going, there's a long way to go before it's through", etc.
We did agree, after much discussion, and a night to sleep on it that our daughter can see it. I will take her on a father/daughter date next week. She's excited.
My favorite parts of the movie was the Ringwraith's in pursuit of the Hobbits. Fantastic. The black blood on the horses hooves. It gives me chills. The level of detail throughout. Wow.
Being a hollywood movie, I really expected any Christian allegories to be glossed over or partially hidden. Instead of diminishing any allegories, Jackson really enhanced them. The one thing that stood out to my wife (who, again, has not read the books) was the transformation that came over various characters when "tempted" by the ring - Gandalf near the beginning, Bilbo in Rivendell, Galadriel in Loth-Lorien, and Boromir. That "flash" and struggle is our sin nature. We want fleshly power. Only Frodo seemed mainly immune to the rings sway, but not completely.
Then there's Gollum's absolute obsession with the Ring. That he'd go to any lengths to obtain it, and any depths to "protect his precious". How sin corrupts us and turns us into something hideous and ugly.
And we could go on and on. To me, the Christian allegories are as strong, if not stronger, than the actual words in Tolkien's book. Part of this is just the visual demonstration of the rings effect.
I cannot wait to see it again and share this experience with my daughter.
"What you will see, if you leave the Mirror free to work, I cannot tell. For it shows things that were, and things that are, and things that yet may be. But which it is that he sees, even the wisest cannot always tell."
I'm really glad to hear that the DVD will have an hour of extra footage. Maybe Jackson can sneak in all those little scenes that although they may not be necessary for the narrative still add a lot of flavor to the story. Namely more time in Lothlorien, the presentation of the weapons to the fellowship, more time wandering through the halls of Moria etc.
I loved the casting, John Rhys-Davies as Gimli is freakin' brilliant(though the script shortchanged his character). I knew the lack of a normal Hollywood ending was going to bother some people but maybe that lack of closure they feel will result in anticipation for the next installment. Can't wait to see more Gollum and can't wait to see the Ents marching on Isengard!
I guess the biggest compliment I can give the movie is that it has inspired me to reread LOTR for the first time in 15 years.
On a funny note: During that one scene where they are walking single file over a rocky hilltop the words from that stupid Burger King commercial popped into my head "They're not just to behold, they're to be held!" and I had to stifle a guffaw.
I didn't see any poor special effects. None. The balrog did not meet my expectations, however. I expected to be frightened.
That's the problem, though: it is very difficult for any special effect to live up to the subconscious fears built up in your memory from reading the actual text. Tolkien doesn't tell you a lot about what a Balrog looks like; the ambiguity is more frightening than seeing the actual thing.
To be really frightened, I would have to feel the blast of heat from the Balrog on my face, and feel the earth shake beneath my feet as it approached! The actor playing Gandalf made the scene work, though, by conveying with his face that he knows what is coming, and that even he, a powerful wizard, is afraid. It was definitely a case of good acting, and not just special effects, making the scene work.
As it was, I felt that Weta did an excellent job of rendering a Balrog: I believe the wings were there, but understated. Weta interpreted the cloud of darkness around the Balrog as a kind of ash- or soot- cloud which covers and obscures the Balrog, except when the Balrog bursts into flame. I especially liked their rendering of the Balrog's firey sword and firey whip.
I really liked the part where the Balrog is falling, Gandalf is turning away thinking he has triumphed, and we see the flaming whip from below in the darkness, slowly turning and curling around and about to snap and rise up.....it was perfect; even knowing what was about to happen, it felt perfect.
The scene right after this was perfect too, emotionally it felt true to how I remember when first reading that scene in the books (I'll try not to say any more, assuming there are some here planning on seeing the movie who have not read the books and do not know what happens on the bridge with the Balrog).
I have to say, as a lifelong LOTR reader and fan, I enjoyed the movie much more on the second viewing. On the first viewing, I was too distracted because I was noticing all of the changes which Peter Jackson had made. On second viewing, I could ignore this and just enjoy the movie as is. I expect it will get even better for me on the third viewing. Can't wait to see the Two Towers in December 2002!
I agree about the scene following the Balrog confrontation. It was heartbreaking, and hours after coming home, I was still thinking about it(helps to have the music.)
I thought they got Janet Reno to play the troll! :)
The orcs seem to have been ripped off from the swamp witch in "Legend"
That's what happened to me on first viewing too. I'm going to see it again this afternoon. I was going to wait and see it with my sister but...the Ring!...must...go...see movie.
1)Rivendell- where was everyone, don't elves live there? The place was depicted as a beautiful ghost town.
2)Council of Elrond- Major part of the first book that introduces all characters and informs reader of how all of Middle-Earth is under assault. Instead of having urgent reasons for consulting with Elrond, everyone just sort of shows up, as if for work.
The depiction of the battle of the Last Alliance where the Ring is taken from Sauron should have been saved for this part of the movie, instead of at the beginning.
3)The Ending- Aragorn says, "let's go hunt some orc".
Ahhh!!!!
Another garbage fantasy movie. Right. Even people who didn't enjoy it would hardly place it in the cellar with such stinkers as Dungeons and Dragons and Legend.
I don't care if someone doesn't like it, but then you bring in Ben Hur? Ben Hur was great, but I never cried or felt much in the way of strong emotions during that film.
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