phew! it wasn't terrible as I had feared.

Rating: Null/10 (20 December 2001)

As a longtime Tolkien fanatic, I had high hopes, but low expectations going in. I am happy to report that Mr. Jackson won my trust within the first fifteen minutes.
At one point, I felt a shiver run down my spine. But it wasn't caused by a particular momentary scene on the screen. I just stepped back and thought to myself: "Wow. I can't believe I am experiencing this story again for the first time." I felt thirteen years old again.
In contrast to the effect of reading, I was surprised to find that seeing live actors perform on the big screen actually enhanced, rather than weakened the bound between me and the members of Fellowship. I felt like I was right there right there walking amongst them.
It was delicious: captivating dialogue, epic battle scenes, and very good cgi that didn't feel like cgi. I dare to think that the old man himself might even approve.
The few plot deviations were distracting to me, I'll admit -especially Strider seeming to "give permission" to Frodo at the breaking of the fellowship. He's supposed to think that he's chasing the kid-napped ring bearer! And I could do with out the evil Bilbo and Galadriel sequences. They should have kept their fair faces like Angry Gandalf did in Bag-End. They can be tempted without personifying evil.
Although I remain optimistic, I have my doubts that the film will gain mainstream popularity. Alas! So much of the characters' backgrounds are unavoidably left undeveloped. But that's also true of Harry Potter et al, so who knows?
I wish didn't have to wait so long for the next two!