A Job Well Done

Rating: Null/10 (29 November 2002)

While I can see the basis of some of the given complaints, as I see it, the film was well done. The movie was long, but the length had been announced long before the movie came to theaters. The film requires patience, as does the series, because of it's nature; it was written to be a sort of myth, not a petty novel.
To enjoy it, you have to put a hold on the book comparisons. Watch it, and enjoy it. The setting and score and both major assets to the piece, the lush detail quite fitting to the mythical world and the music a good bit of character that stands as well on its own as it does in the background. Every character well-displayed (if a little off of the originals) and the piece flows effortlessly. Some of the minor plot changes are somewhat irking, such as the emphasis on the relationship between Aragorn and Arwen, the feats and opinions concerning Moria and Cahadhras, but all were somewhat neccesary because of the fact that this is a -movie-, which requires a bit more drama than was originally allotted to it. Certain scenes were cut, true, but several were refitted to the extended version (which is a must-see, I'd have to say) and the others were just small pieces that wouldn't fit within reasonable time constraints. Also, it should be pointed out that a few of the cut pieces were probably cut out to prevent confusion. The book is meant to be read with the Silmarillion, and there are so many references to the old stories...
Admittedly, I had only read the books once prior to seeing the movie for the first time, but even now, after that has been remedied to the maximum, this is one of the best pieces that I've ever seen. Jackson captured Tolkien's spirit, but SEPARATED the pieces to the point where it was possible to view them as separated. Die-hard fans might not like this fact, but I revel in it. A job very well done.