NOT what I was looking forward to

Rating: 7/10 (20 March 2002)

OK. Yes, it's good-but not that good. it is, in essence, a very average film-look close at the sets, costumes, the makeup,the VFX-sometimes muddied, never truly breathtaking. even the great SIR IAN McKellen could not make this film move beyond mildly disappointing. I could have accepted the fact that Jackson wanted to tinker with certain aspects of Tolkiens work, after all, that is what makes an adaptation worth doing, but... the changes may be too drastic, taking away much of the FEEL of the BOOK(S). one example is that in the book, certain events take place over long periods of time,while the film presents them as happening far too close together. In this way, much suspense, and a deeper connection to the various inhabitants of the tale will be lost, or at least was to me. The fact that there will be a DIRECTORS edition DVD gives me hope, that perhaps Jackson had orders from the studio to cut it to a certain length, thus explaining certain lapses, but...look close, & I believe I may simply be wishing. The opening prologue is very well done, and perhaps if they had shown a capsulized version of "THE HOBBIT", in addition to the mighty opening, the film would have more heft. as it is, certain Performers barely rank as deserving of a screen credit-most notably, and regrettable, IAN HOLM as Bilbo. I lay this films problems at the feet of MR. JACKSON-as director, he should have known better.