Brilliant adaptation.

Rating: 9/10 (10 December 2002)

I don't think many people realize how lucky we are to have had such a brilliant and imaginative writer share his astoundingly detailed, rich, and colorful fantasy epic with the world. J.R.R. Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings for his grandchildren, but if it wasn't for him the fantasy genre as we know it today would not exist. Everything that followed The Lord of the Rings borrowed from it in one way or another. Dungeons & Dragons, Star Wars, Final Fantasy, and Harry Potter, among countless other fantasy worlds, wouldn't be around if The Lord of the Rings was never published. We owe Tolkien a great debt of gratitude. Everything, from the expansive and awe-inspiring natural surroundings of New Zealand, to Sir Ian McKellan's triumphant and thoroughly entertaining portrayal of Gandalf the Grey, contributes to make The Fellowship of the Ring a film for the ages, a wonderful tribute to Tolkien's masterful vision. Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Visual Effects, Best Makeup, Best Original Score, Best Director (Peter Jackson), Best Picture of the Year. 9/10.