Still Has a Long Way to Go...

Rating: Null/10 (22 September 2002)

First off, the Lord of the Rings trilogy is among my most cherished books. So when I went to see the film when it hit theaters, I had high expectations.
And what did I find?
Unfortunately, despite a few high points, mostly disappointment.
Now, let's work from the good to the bad:
"Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings" benefited from its inspired direction. It was evident to me that Peter Jackson possessed a deep love for the books--and it shows in the final product. Clearly, he knew in which the direction he wanted the film to lead. And it seemed that he had come to enjoy the journey so much, he didn't want it to end.
And visually, the entire film is breath-taking. All technical aspects are in general first-rate and top-of-the-line. The battle sequences are carried out in high style, with fabulous special effects and excellent editing and choreography.
The movie can also sport a number of talented veteran actors. Among them, Ian McKellan, Ian Holm, and Christopher Lee. Unfortunately, this film (like the book) is less character-driven than narrative-driven. So these actors were given little opportunity to flex much acting muscle.
However, the script, surprisingly for me, was where the movie stumbled. Many times weak, at others downright laughable, the dialogue was generally bumpy, the screen-writing inconsistent and contrived. I do pity Hugo Weaving, having to utter the line "And you will be the Fellowship of the Ring!"
Although it has covered quite a lot of ground, it still admittedly has big shoes to fill.
My verdict: Visually stunning, but with little substantiality once you've finished "Ooh..aah..."