A load of old Baggins

Rating: Null/10 (27 December 2001)

After such incredible hype I knew I'd be disappointed by this movie, but I was shocked at just how unenthralling, childish, and mundane it was. Call me old-fashioned, but fantastic CGI set pieces do not a 'masterpiece' make. The problem, for me, seems to be that the book itself is not a literary masterpiece by any means, and treating it like some holy grail, has blinkered Peter Jackson, making him believe that he is also recreating that masterpiece on screen. So, what we have is an outdated children's' fantasy, pounded with millions of dollars of effects and talent, resulting an overlong advertisement for WETA and the New Zealand tourist board.
There are, of course, good things here, fantastic things, even. But what has stayed with me is the total sense of being underwhelmed. I was never gazing at the screen in awe. For such an 'epic' production that is unforgivable. Also, equally unforgivable, was the excellent cast speaking some of the most embarrassing dialogue this side of 'Sunset Beach'. All that pseudo-mystic codswallop - "You must cast the ring back into the fiery chasm from whence it came!" - and every mention of 'Mount Doom' had me stifling a snigger. I could have dealt with it better if there had been some kind of acknowledgement of it's delusions of grandeur, but it was all done so straight-laced, without a hint of tongue-in-cheek, that the best pun.
Definitely see it, simply because it will be huge, and you'll feel left out if you don't. Otherwise, under 16s and those who don't mind switching off their imagination will love it.