Stunning

Rating: 10/10 (2 January 2002)

Upon my second viewing,I can say again, A knockout of a film. It evokes the best from all manner of Fantasy films. The orks aroused the same primal terror as the flying monkeys sequence in Wizard of Oz, the scope and feel of the set's recalled the best of Harrihusen (particularly, Jason and the Argonauts)and the saga of the story itself clearly was the influence for Lucas's vision.The effects were pulled off splendidly. I dared not hope for such close vision to that of my mind's eye, as to how the characters were presented. I did not expect to have my expectations so exceeded.
What more could be done ? The fun of reading the language of the poems and song's was missing, but even then, I noted Gandalf singing, "the Road goes ever on and on..." It sounded like he was using the tune from that long out of print, song cycle. (written by, or sung by a chap named,Donald Swann, if I recall correctly) It has been ages since I saw the 1978 animated film, by Bashki (sp?) the animated version was deeply flawed. Although it used a "cheat" process called rotoscoping, the ring wraith scenes were the only ones to stand out. I give Bashki credit for first blocking out the scene of the Wraith's at the Inn. He did it the way I imagined it. Jackson did it almost cut by cut as Bashki did.(it would be interesting to compare) This is to Jackson's credit as well. This tale was told as well as it could be done. I did miss good old Tom Bombadil. He was also deleted from the animated version.
It will be interesting to see how Jackson handles the difficult Ents. The Fellowship has been a cinematic thrill for me. May the Two Towers, continue the excellence started here.