A Masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (7 July 2005)

What more is there to say about Fellowship of the Ring that hasn't already been said? To tell the truth, it is my favorite of the trilogy, because of the incredible sets and scenery, the loving attention to detail, the emotional arc, from lighthearted to peril, which perfectly sets up the other two films, and the gorgeous, saturated colors.
But FOTR will always be first and best because of the amount of time it spends letting us get to know our hero, Frodo Baggins, played by the supremely talented Elijah Wood. Was there ever a more beautiful young man on the screen??? And Elijah weaves magic here in every one of his scenes. Whether he's laughing and having a good time, as he is at the beginning, or realizing that his comfortable world is about to drastically change, or reacting to danger, his facility with his expressions and emotions is beyond compare. Never have I ever seen another actor who can command the swift and subtle shifts that he is called upon to perform as Frodo.
Sublime. Peerless. Superb. Bravo, Elijah. I hope you continue to thrill us for many years to come.