Every fan's dream

Rating: 10/10 (26 December 2001)

As a long-time Tolkien fan, I have anxiously awaited this movie's debut. I've been following it's progress online for the last year and was very pleased with all of the pre-production details. Now that I've actually seen the movie (twice so far and hopefully several more times before it leaves the theaters) I'm happy to say that it was everything that I'd always hoped for!!! The casting, character development, set design, costumes, well...everything surpassed even my greatest expectations. I have to admit, that I was a little apprehensive about the casting of Liv Tyler as Arwen and what seemed (from the trailer anyway) to be a much expanded role from that of her character in the books. For some reason (call me jaded) I had imagined the worst, that in order to cash in on her celebrity, she'd end up in scenes she had no business in, perhaps she'd single-handedly fight the balrog as she rebuilt the bridge at Khazad-Dum brick by brick, then carry the fellowship across on her back...but happily, that wasn't the case, she didn't have nearly as much screen time as I'd feared and what time she did have, well, it worked. It seemed as though they took some of the images right out of my head (and my heart) and I wasn't alone in this sentiment, several people I know who have seen it have said the same thing. The love that the filmmakers have for these books is obvious. They remained as true to the story as they possibly could and have created a world as rich and beautiful, and at times as dark and frightening as any that I have ever seen on the screen. For me, it's going to be a very long year as I wait (somewhat impatiently) for the sequel. In the mean time, I'll see it again and again and encourage everyone I know, whether or not they're fans of the books, to see this movie. I think J.R.R. Tolkien would be proud.