Lord of the movies!

Rating: 10/10 (3 January 2002)

When I first heard that they were making the movies I was happily suprised. But then after reading the books, I thought that it was literarely impossible to even put in HALF of the stuff onto the big screen. And then when I heard heard Peter Jackson (whom I am a great fan of) was the director, I really went "uh oh..." Having seen PJ's previous movies such as the classic and legendary BAD TASTE and BRAIN DEAD as well as his excelent HEAVENLY CREATURES and quite funny FRIGHTENERS, I was expecting some sort of cultish kind of semi-gore, psychodelic exploration into the mind of Tolkien and his books. A bit like when David Lynch had his vision for Dune.
However, when I saw the first trailer for LOTR, I almost began to cry. Not because it gave me goosebumps, not because it had some of the sweetest cinematography I've seen, not even because some of the scenes seemed like they were ripped out of my minds eye and placed on film, it was because I had to wait to see the film! So after a long wait, in which I read the books again, I finally got to go and watch the film with fellow LOTR enthusiasts and I was blown away!
I've never been so giddy in a movie since I watched all the Star Wars movies come out again. I simply enjoyed every minute of it! I am so overjoyed at the scope of the movie and how well it has transefered most of the book into the film. I know there are some scenes that were left out and some areas were changed, however they were neccesesary in order to keep the film flowing. Such as the whole Tom Bombadillo scene. However he is not pivotal to the whole plot. Also the change in which Arwen saves Frodo is also a good change for the movie. Even the whole Saruman betraying Gandalf scene was changed for the better of the film. The actors were chosen perfectly and the acting was simply superb, the scenery was breath taking and the special effects outclass ILM! However they did not drown the entire movie in special effects like in SW: Episode 1. No, this film was refined to perfection and I eagerly anticipate the next.
There is also a comfort in knowing that I don't have to worry about measuring the second film to the first, because I knew they were all filmed at the same time. So in a sence its one giant movie cut into three, like the book.
This is one movie you cannot afford to miss! It deserves to be on par with Star Wars, and in my oppinion is! I grew up with Star Wars and love the films. What I think will happen now is that Millenium generation will grow up with LOTR and love them as we loved SW.