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I think its a movie that captures the flavor of the novels for those who have experienced it. I'm not surprised that many of those who have not read the novels just don't get it. But I don't care that they don't get iy so its a wash.

I thought they did a good job with the the things they cut and the things they changed for the most part. The changes for Arwen helped the movie IMO, the loss of Tom Bombadil was just cutting a side story and had to be done. The only change I didn't care for was Aragorn "letting Frodo go". Didn't see the point in that change.

Casting was very good. I expected a little more Sam Gamgeeness out of the guy who played him though. The rest were exceptional. Would have liked to have seen more of the interplay between Legolas and Gimli (maybe in movie two).

The Balrog scene was fantastic. I appreciated that when Gandalf faced off with the Balrog he crossed his sword and staff as if warding him off with a cross. Perhaps a nod to Tolkien's Christian foundation for the books.

As for the "gay" thing. Well, its a sad state of affairs when deep friendship between males is so scary. Tolkien also used the words "queer" and "gay" in his books from time to time. When you filter things through your own paradigm things can get twisted can't they. Nuff said.

Overall, if you like the books this is a fine adaptation and you should be thankful that some money-grubbing butcher didn't get hold of it. If you've never read the books its a pretty good flick but perhaps too long for you.

My 7 and 10 year olds enjoyed it very much. The younger has read The Hobbit and the older one has read all of them. They are very aware that the cave troll did not exist, that the orcs don't exist, that the fights were not real, that they were watching actors, and that the Balrog was some super duper computer graphics.

Oh, and I liked Starship Troopers. It was a cute little bug flick with good special effects. I especially liked the black guy playing Dixie on the electric green fiddle. A rather positive view of the future. I liked the book too although it was a classic and the movie wasn't.

The only change I didn't care for was Aragorn "letting Frodo go". Didn't see the point in that change.

The way I figure that scene is this:

In the book at this point Frodo is having this internal debate about putting his friends in danger. How do you put this on the screen? Does Frodo start doing soliloquies? I think it was better to show that Frodo was afraid that the ring had corrupted Aragorn too and to show that Aragorn passed the test. It also shows Aragorn's trust in Frodo when he decides to follow Merry and Pippin.

BUMP