Different yet fabulous

Rating: 10/10 (20 December 2001)

I had a fabulous time watching this. Having read the books when I was 10 and then once after that, they have a lot of childhood associations for me -- the movie didn't ruin a single one of them.
The pleasant thing about this movie is that it didn't try to stick too closely to the book. The movie is a different medium and demands different dialogue and action in places -- Jackson wasn't afraid to do that and make the movie his own to some extent. Many of the changes he made were good for the movie version. (Although perhaps a bit much of the dark gloomy threatening scenes at Isengard -- but that's just me.)
After seeing and being quite disappointed by Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone, I'm extremely relieved with Fellowship -- it shows how a book should be adapted. Also, the actors did a uniformly amazing job -- particularly Elijah Wood and whoever played Gandalf (Ian somebody?). This will be a classic -- do yourself a favour and see it on the big screen.