Best Adaptation Ever

Rating: 10/10 (20 December 2001)

The Fellowship of the Ring...J. R. R. Tolkien's first volume of a trilogy of the grandest scope and imagination. It almost single-handedly created the modern fantasy genre, influencing Dungeons and Dragons, Star Wars, Magic the Gathering, and much more.
I first read the book one year ago. I was an instant fan. I recently reread the trilogy in anticipation of the movie's premiere. Then, three weeks ago, I saw Harry Potter, a perfect picture of how NOT, and I say NOT, to do a book-to-movie adaptation. Harry was so faithful to the book that when time constraints arose and parts had to be omitted, it was extremely obvious and ended up ruining it (at least in my mind, though the chess scene ruled all).
Fellowship is different. Peter Jackson fudges a few parts, merging roles, shortening parts of the journey, changing the circumstances of Frodo's departure at the end, but here's the major difference--it feels natural. Fellowship is still extremely loyal to the book (the scene where Bilbo leaves Frodo the ring is line-by-line form the book), but it moments of disloyalty give a strength that is lacking in Potter. In short, Peter Jackson has taken a book and a world that seems impossible to do justice to, and does it, just like that...in 2 hours and 58 minutes...but well worth every second.