An awe-inspiring fantasy film

Rating: 9/10 (13 January 2009)

"The Lord of the Rings" trilogy (in case you've been living under a rock for the past several years) was a huge success when released theatrically between 2001 and 2003. In the first film the stage is set with young Hobbit Frodo Baggins entrusted with a ring that, if it falls into the wrong hands, could plunge Middle Earth into another dark age. To rid himself of this burden he'll have to embark on an epic journey fraught with peril. Luckily, the fellowship of the ring is formed to help him on his way.
I hadn't read the famed novels when I first saw this film but I was soon swept away into the fantastic world of Middle Earth. I later read the novels and, while the films cannot quite match their excellence, they are nevertheless close approximations of the source material, especially this first effort.
The acting is solid though I wouldn't necessarily single anyone out. There are a number of familiar faces from Christopher Lee to Cate Blanchett, all well cast in memorable roles. Ian McKellen got an Oscar nomination for his performance, which was indeed up to his usual high standard.
Director Peter Jackson does a wonderful job of bringing the story to vivid life. He uses a variety of storytelling techniques and the entire film is bolstered by top-notch production values. The film's many Oscar nominations and wins in technical categories show that this film is a real visual treat. Also worth mentioning is the Oscar-winning score by Howard Shore, which was undoubtedly worthy of that honor.
If you haven't seen the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy then you're in for a real treat. This film's three hour running time flies by and, if you're like me, when it's over you'll be psyched to move on to the second and third chapters. This is definitely a film destined to go down in history as a classic.