Has Peter Jackson even read the book ?

Rating: 4/10 (14 June 2007)

There is too much to say about the flaws in this movie and it could go on and on until readers would simply dismiss it before even viewing it so I will not make a catalog of these flaws...
Instead let's just summarize : Great rendition of the visual aspects of Middle Earth : glorious landscapes and well used CGI make Peter Jackson's vision quite right about this aspect of the movie ( although i find his Lorien much like Ewok town, and far from what could be Laurelindorenan ).
An unconvincing cast of actors, some terrible ( Aragorn, Elrond, Frodo ), others much better ( Sam, Pippin, Merry and Orlando Bloom whom I find quite convincing in his attitude ) but none lighting the screen.
The terrible part in these movies is that Jackson simply does not get the point of the books : be it for scenaristic reasons or simply because he did not like it ( or even read it ? ), his vision of Men, Dwarfs and Elves is just completely wrong... Tolkien's world is quite simple in fact, Good and Evil being clearly defined trough the books. A simple example of how far Jackson is could be Aragorn who in the book is a man who knows perfectly where he comes from, where he is going, what it will take him to get there and thus supports the consequences of his fate with an astounding will that nothing can hardly shake. So why in hell did Jackson make him a total looser in the movie, wondering and pitying himself about everything up to the color of his boots...
As a real Fan of Tolkien's masterpiece, I could bring down this movie to pieces. But instead, I'd simply say this : If you've seen the movie and if it has made you want to read the book, then it has achieved enough for me... The rest is in Tolkien's pages.
For the rest, if you want a far more credible approach to Tolkien's world, you should try Ralph Bakshi's anime dating from early 80's ( or late 70's ). If it doesn't have the visuals, at least it has the spirit !