Great, borderline Excellent

Rating: 8/10 (14 January 2002)

I loved this movie. I never read the books. I made sure to not read them when I heard they were to be made into films for fear that I would like the movies less. I gave this movie an 8 out of 10 because it does not stand up as a movie, as one story, on its own. I understand that it is part one of three, but it still does not stand alone well enough to deserve a 10. Each of the Star Wars movies, so far, has been a movie in and of itself. A New Hope, Empire, Jedi, and Phantom each could stand alone as one movie. Each had a goal, each achieved that goal. A New Hope was to show that the little guy can defeat the big guy. Empire was to show that no war can be won with a single blow, the big guy will come for you. Jedi showed that persistency and friends will win a war. Phantom showed that there is always evil among the good and that it will rear its ugly head (and it was pretty ugly) at any time. The Lord of the Rings story is to show how good triumphs over evil, how everyone needs faith and faithful friends, how the little guy is as important as the bigger guy, and how consistant persistancy is the key to winning a war. Fellowship only begins these goals, it does not prove them or finish them. I anxiously await the Two Towers.