The great Classics of our time.....

Rating: Null/10 (27 March 2004)

Ok, so I was reading some complaint reviews, and all I can say is that there are some people just don't get it yet.
Not to knock the negative opinions, but you have to understand what an accomplishment PJ did with this adaptation. He not only created a massive spectacle of Good vs Evil, he created a trilogy SIMOULTANEOUSLY!! Filming all three movies at once is a massive undertaking, but he did it very smoothly.
I would highly suggest reading the books. A lot of the complaints involve details that are in the books. Gandalf is saved by the bird at Isengard but not in Moria because it IS PART OF THE STORY. The books are not perfect by any stretch. Many critics today say Tolkien could never get LotR published in this day without a LOT of editing. PJ took the story and smoothed out a lot of unecessary details, impractical details. He expanded on other details only hinted at in the books (the Arwen/Aragorn romance). He took liberties, but it works.
It works because everyone involved in the trilogy treated Tolkien's work with as much respect as they could. The intricate details in just costuming and props shows that it was a labor of love. That's a big reason why I admire these films. The cast and crew put a lot of sincere effort into the project.
FotR is almost perfect on every level. Special effects and cliches do not carry the story. PJ sets a new standard for films and storytelling. He proved that not all megabudget films are just mediocre cashcows. More importantly, he gave Fantasy films a level of respect they haven't had in a while, a genre that can be taken seriously.
Some say they were bored watching this. I wonder how anyone could be uninterested with this kind of storytelling. It is epic, yet personal. I mean, let's set aside for a moment all the elves, fairies and fantasy detail for a moment. FotR has a lot of Heart to it, great music in the soundtrack, an intense struggle that most of us can relate to (everyone has their own "ring" to bear). The serious moments are balanced with light hearted ones. The chemistry of the cast is magical. The Wizards duel is not the typical cheap lightning flashes of the old Roger Corman style. It is a confrontation between two incredible legends in cinema. You can almost see the Parallels with Tolkien's view of life, biblical themes, etc. It all works.
Another important element of this film that makes it a milestone in cinema is that it's wonderfully QUOTABLE. I doubt you will find any film by Von Trier, Sophia Coppola, etc that will stand the test of time. Most regular movies will be hard pressed to have this kind of longevity.
LotR is like an Independant film with a super budget, and like a franchise film with an actual engaging story with good characters.. It has the best of both worlds. I don't critique it as some kind of Fantasy geek. I critique it as a guy who Loves movies that give me a thrill and take my breath away.
To be perfectly Frank, I think I can conclude with a clear conscience that ANYONE who goes to see FotR and walks away without emotion, without being engrossed to some degree in the story simply does not like movies, period. I don't mean to sound arrogant, because No movie is perfect. Each of us gets something different from a viewing. But come on, if you feel nothing at all at the end credits, then no movie can ever satisfy. These are the kind of films Hollywood SHOULD be making.