This is a film, not a book!!!

Rating: 10/10 (29 December 2001)

Perhaps I'm biased in my review of this film, in that the director is a New Zealander like me, and much of the film was filmed in my country - and we are a small country with not a lot going for us, so I'm hoping that this film will be successful. Therefore, I am getting a bit tired of reviews that constantly compare the film to the book and try to pick holes in the adaptation. I went to the movie with my wife and a friend, both of whom had not read the Lord of the Rings. They were fortunate enough to be able to enjoy the movie without being prejudiced by their vision of the story obtained through reading the text. They exited the theatre spellbound and very happy with the film. Sure, it probably has its down points, but for the three of us, it was an amazing experience. If only people would watch the film for what it is - a film - and rate it on that, instead of rating it on its adaptation performance.
For me, I enjoyed the wonderful interplay between the characters. I felt that the character of Aragorn was portrayed very well. At the beginning of the film he was rejecting his lineage, afraid of becoming like his doomed forefather. He then had to contend with Boromir's jealousy / refusal to accept him as king of Gondor. Then Boromir's opinion changed and he wanted Aragorn to become king, but Aragorn was still undecided - up until Boromir was about to die, when he chose to accept his inheritance. Whilst this all came from the mind of Tolkien, and was probably represented in the books, I never picked up on it when I read them. The books are very detailed, and quite long winded. So, for me, this film enabled me to pick up on things that I never would have noticed by reading the books.
As for adaptation, I decided before I went to the movie that I would watch it for what it was and forget the books - which I pretty much did, apart from picking up on things missed when I read the books. The acting was excellent, casting good (although, I would have chosen someone much more beautiful to portray Galadriel - not that Paltrow is all that ugly - perhaps this is my mind playing tricks on me, in that when I read the book I had a far more beautiful being in mind for Galadriel and this was gnawing away at my subconscious), the scenery is fantastic (very proud to be a New Zealander and feel very blessed to live in such a wonderful country), and well, the whole thing was just excellent. I think that in 400 years time, people will be talking about this movie like we talk about Shakespeare now.
Okay, perhaps that is an overstatement, still, you never know. But I do think theatres will be replaying this movie in 25 years time, celebrating its 25th anniversary, just like the Star Wars trilogy was. All of us watching it now will flock to see it, along with our kids (or grand kids, depending on your age).