Disappointed utterly....

Rating: 7/10 (20 February 2002)

I saw this movie with great expectations and with an open mind. To be truthful there were some delightful moments in this movie. Namely I enjoyed the camera trick that allowed Ian Mckellen to tower over the Hobbits. I enjoyed Ganondorf entertaining the Hobbits, and I liked the unique angles that Peter Jackson used to show off his near three hour long spectacle. Before I get bemoanings that this is suppose to be the first part of a triology let me state clearly that I already knew that this is supppose to be the first part of a trilogy. Yet with all of my intentions of being an unbiased movie viewer I was truly disappointed by this experience. Firstly, I found this movie to be no better than the generic sci/fi, fantasy movie. Sorry to say it but I am never merely blown away by special effects. Effects should be part of the kinetics of an already well filmed story. Too many times in effects movies today the effects are used to wow audiences and to me are empty calories for my movie appetite. I found Fellowship of the Rings to be heavy in these effects. There were so many great actors in this movie. What really was the purpose of Cate Blanchet's character. I really thought she would be the movies' salvation towards the end but alas the actress who so marvelously portrayed Elizabeth was wasted as another piece of eye candy. Ganandorf who I believe to be the films best character found his uses depleted to that of the "look out" warning the Fellowship every step of the way. I really dislike when a movie puts arbitrary bad guys in only to be the fall guys for our heroes. This movie never took it to the next level and does not live up to the benchmarks of the movies it seeks company with in the imagination arena such as Aliens, The Matrix, The Terminator series, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and yes The Star Wars saga. Ultimately I do think I will see the remaining movies in this series. I would like to see if the series could redeem itself. I think the Academy embarrassed themselves{ with me at least} by nominating this movie for best picture.