Stunning

Rating: Null/10 (20 December 2001)

Ever since 1937, when J.R.R. Tolkein, by publishing The Hobbit, unknowingly created the genre of the Epic Fantasy, readers have been thrilled with the incredibly detailed adventures of the denizens of Middle-Earth. Populated with creatures both big and small, evil and good, heroic and cowardly, the realm of the Lord of the Rings saga has enchanted millions of people around the world. And now it is time for millions of movie-goers around the world to be equally as enchanted.
For years, studios and fans alike have dreamed of the day when this tale could be adequately adapted to the silver screen. However, despite two so-so cartoons, and one absolutely horrible cartoon, this has never happened.
Until now.
Finally, movie technology has caught up with the imagination of J.R.R. Tolkein. Driven by the boundless imagination and creativity of director Peter Jackson (The Frighteners), the new movie The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring is a beautiful piece of film making.
Staying lovingly faithful to the story without being a slave to it, Jackson has recreated Middle-Earth with such detail and realism that the viewer is transported without question or doubt into the world of hobbits, elves, dwarves, and orcs. From the peaceful roll of the hillside of Hobbiton and the Shire, to the so-beautiful-it-hurts forests of the elves, to the dank and sweaty caverns of the orcs and the horrifying realm of Sauron, the dark lord, Peter Jackson doesn't miss a detail. The challenge of making a fantasy world look real has left many similar movies feeling cheesy and fake. But not here. So much time, effort, and love for the subject matter has gone into this world, that the audience is treated to a realism and quality that has never before been seen in this type of film. Not even the wonderful work of George Lucas in the Star Wars films comes close to the quality of Fellowship of the Ring.
But, the movie doesn't stop there. Against the amazing backdrop created for Middle-Earth, is a group of actors which have inhabited their characters to such a depth that they become, not actors playing a role, but the actual character. We don't see Elijah Wood computer-enhanced-to-look-little-while-wearing-furry-feet-and-funny-ears, we see Frodo Baggins, the Hobbit who reluctantly accepts his role as the bearer of the ring which must be destroyed to save all of Middle-Earth. Likewise with all of the other characters, Gandalf, Boromir, Aragorn, Galadriel, Arwen, Samwise and the others are all played with a quality of acting that is rarely seen in fantasy films.
Although the basic plot of the saga is simple: Frodo and his companions must destroy the ring of power before the evil lord Sauron gets a hold of it and overruns Middle-Earth with his army of orcs and other assorted nasties ~ the true beauty of this story is in the details. The fear and doubts of Frodo, the jealousy and power struggles among the races and among the companions all combine to provide a wonderfully twisting ride along a fairly predictable course.
And the movie is the same. Peter Jackson shows the tension and the excitement of battle, the fear of the chase, the desperation to save a life, and the absolute terror of the minions of evil who are hunting Frodo, with such skill and grace that you can't help but be tired after watching this movie. It grabs, pulls you in, and puts you through the wringer along with the heroes of the film.
Despite the fact that this is an incredible movie, it is not for young kids. The PG-13 rating is pushing it and could have easily justified an R rating. It is violent, it is frightening, and parents should be careful before taking any young children to see it.
All in all, though, I loved this movie. Jackson stays faithful enough to the original story to satisfy all but the most rabid of fans, yet departs from the story when it is necessary to create a more understandable and more enjoyable movie. The only bad part: we have to wait another year for the second part of the saga to be released.
It's going to be a long year.