This is Unbelievable

Rating: 10/10 (21 December 2001)

My review contains spoilers, so if you don't want to be, err, spoilt, then don't read it.
The Shire seemed perfect to me. Excellently designed and well put together. There is so much detail about Hobbiton in the book, and there are many little details that just want to make me want to jump up and applaud. This was very well put together.
*BIG SPOILER* One very good bit, however, has to the Mines of Moria. Especially where the Fellowship cross the Bridge of Khazad-Dûm. Excellent effects, and the part where Gandalf falls into the black pit is very touching. All sound effects, apart from the sound of the arrows hitting the walls, go, and quiet, sad music begins playing. The sorrow of the group is played will outside with Aragorn telling them to keep going, and to get up, with the rest felling sad, and Frodo with a single tear rolling down his face. Again, a very moving part of the film. *END BIG SPOILER*
The most important part of the Lord of the Rings series books are the characters and their friendships. I think that the casting for LOTR is outstanding, mostly, and deserves congratulations:
When the cast for Lord of the Rings was announced, a few years ago now I think, I remember many mixed views about the casting of Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins. People saying, `He looks nothing like I imagined Frodo' while other people saying `He looks just like I imagined'. Looking back on the film, I think he was a perfect choice. Elijah seems to have captured the struggle the Frodo faces throughout the journey  deciding which way to go, what to do next. Peter Jackson couldn't have made a better choice.
Another great piece of casting was Ian McKellen as Gandalf  throughout the film, McKellen plays a very convincing Gandalf, and does in fact look exactly as you would imagine Gandalf to be. His acting, like the rest of the cast's, was top notch. Once again, Peter Jackson couldn't have chosen better.
Similarly Aragorn was well casted, played by Viggo Mortensen. He captured the sense of leadership that Aragorn possesses in the book. The bit with him and Arwen does not feature in the book (but is mentioned in the Appendixes), and as I have already said, was not a necessary change to the story.
The close friendship between Frodo and Sam is perfect. Peter Jackson shows them as very close, without going too far.
Merry and Pippin seemed to play a backseat role. The film gave the impression that Pippin was, to some degree, thick and careless, which is not at all true in the books. Both are, however, also well casted, acted and very convincing in their roles. I'm hoping that in the next film they are given better roles (having not read the next book, I must admit I'm not sure how much they are in it).
Sean Bean as Boromir was a good choice. He played the part very well, especially at the end where the threatens Frodo.
Gimli and Legolas also seem, to a degree, to take a backseat  they are always present, but not as noticeable as the other main characters. They are, however, also well casted, and Jackson has remained true to the book with their characters (as he has with the others).
At some parts in the film, I felt a little let down, as if something was not quite right, but by the time I was walking out of the cinema, I felt I wanted to be walking back in to see it again. My review seems to have concentrated mainly on the bad points of the film which is wrong of me. The film is bloody excellent, and the problems I have pointed out are very small and insignificant compared to the triumph that is The Fellowship of the Ring. The film is up there competing with, and in my opinion is better than, Star Wars.
As I wrote to this, I listed to The Fellowship of the Ring soundtrack for about the millionth time in the past two weeks, and it reminded me that all the little problems and inconsistencies are nothing to worry about, and that this is, without doubt one of, if not the, best film ever made. It is worth seeing it: it is worth every minute of your time, worth every penny you pay to see it, worth the huge time we have waited for it. I have but five words to say to you, whether you are a Tolkien fan or not  `Go and see it, now'.