Tolkien's Middle Earth has come to life!

Rating: Null/10 (18 February 2002)

I've seen this movie seven times and will see it again next month when the the trailer for the next movie is added to ending of first one. New Zealand is perfect for the locations. The Shire is just as I pictured it and Bilbo's house is so real. The cast was well chosen and each one fit his/her roles beyond imagination. Yes, there were some parts left out and scenes changed, but on the whole the movie is gorgeous! I can accept the deletion of Tom Bombadil, but think the scene with the barrow wright's cave should have been included. Aragorn didn't give the hobbits swords. They got them from the barrow wright's cave and Merry's sword is particularly important later on. Oh, well, this is how it goes!
The Elves are beautiful, eerie, and majestic! I loved the line about "The dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark!" being included in the film. Poor Gimli, he is the greatest dwarf I've ever seen and he is so full of life & boldness that it nearly tired me out watching him! Elijah Wood is the quintessential Frodo Baggins. He knows all too well what being a Ring Bearer is going to entail, yet takes on the role because he realizes that somehow he has the strength of will that it's going to take to carry the ring all the way to Mordor.
Ian is Gandalf through & through. He is both wise and merry. He understands about sacrifice of self and yet manages to come across as guide, protector, and friend of the soul. Aragorn appears to be a little weak in portrayal at first, but then he develops more strength of character when Gandalf falls in the chasm of Moria. Pippin & Merry are made to look like idiots in a lot of ways and hope this changes drastically in next film. I think that the two of them should have been seen as they were in the book since they willingly left the Shire with Frodo in a carefully arranged plan. Frodo didn't flee wildly into the night as shown in this version of the film. Indeed, he took 17 years between Bilbo's leaving and his own departure from the Shire.
Samwise Gamgee is incredible! He starts out as an apparently simple hobbit, but he shows frequent bouts of wisdom, common sense, and practicality to whatever challenges life brings to him & his master. I hope that the courage, passion to protect Frodo, willingness to take on the Ring at one point, is further developed in next two movies. I've heard complaints that the film is too long, but I thought it was too short!
The underground city of Moria is magnificent! I could imagine it as the way it had once been when filled with busy dwarves. The Balrog was exactly the way I had imagined him, all flame, terror, and power. The Orcs are like something out of nightmares, but perfectly created. The Nazgul/Ringwraiths were true horrors. Their unending pursuit of the ring and quick disposal of anyone who got in their way was spooky. The Nazgul's cries both in Bree and the Wilderness are enough to collapse the back bone. The sudden flash flooding of the Bruien with the foam disguised as fierce, white horses was exactly the way the book desribed this incident. I do think that Gandalf should have mentioned that the illusion of white horses was his doing.
Arwen was great in her defense of Frodo. Calling upon the river to flood and her determination to take on all of the Nazgul was well done! I loved hearing her in particular speak Elvish as she gave the language a lilting, musical tone. I didn't think it was right for her to be shown giving the slightly glowing, white pendant to Aragorn as she gives this to someone else in order to give them the gift of immortal life in her place.
The opening scene with Sauron against Elves, Dwarves, & Men was the best teaser to introduce rest of movie. Isildur was not especially intellingent keeping the one ring, but then, without him doing so, there wouldn't be any further story so... Elrond played by Hugo Weaving was excellent in his somber, grave approach to the future disposal of the ring. He also had a nice flair for sarcasm which is really evident in how he talks to Samwise who lets everyone know that his master isn't going anywhere without him!
Sean Bean as Boromir is well portrayed as the complex character he is. I think that Sean captured the essence of Boromir just right in his desire to find a way to save his people in Minis Tirith and yet struggle with honor's/duty's demands even when running contrary to his wishes. If ever redemption was needed by Boromir, he obtained it without a doubt defending Merry & Pippin until no longer able to do so.
I don't want to spoil next film for those who've never read the books, but I'm gleefully anticipating the consequences for Saruman's having the trees all chopped down. The scene for this sequence is again the way I imagined it from reading the book. Saruman was an idiot to think that he could both imitate Sauron's stronghold and perhaps even rival him.
For those who haven't read the books, please don't hesitate any longer! Go out there and get them from a library, new bookstore or used bookstore! Reading them will make the next two movies even more enjoyable!