Middle Earth according to Peter Jackson!

Rating: 10/10 (7 June 2006)

This movie is quite simply brilliant. Nothing more, nothing less. Why is it brilliant? Well for starters it very faithfully captures the spirit of the book (which was coincidentally said to be impossible to film), second, it brings Middle Earth alive in a way that I never would have believed and thirdly it creates an illusion unlike any I have ever before witnessed in a film. There is nothing in this film that doesn't work the way it is supposed to. Critics have pointed out that there are a large number of mistakes in the general film making but I say that these trivial mistakes do little to subtract from the otherwise stellar film. In short it is hard to find enough superlatives to adequately describe the film.
Having seen all the films Peter Jackson made before taking on the giant task of making the ultimate fantasy book into film, I can understand why many people had reservations about him getting the job of making the trilogy. He really put any reservations to shame, didn't he? He does not only make the effects work brilliantly but he also brings out the best from the actors involved. Elijah Wood plays Frodo Baggins and does an excellent job of portraying the character. In this first film we only get glimpses of the darkness that will ultimately almost consume the character and thus provides for a somewhat lighthearted portrayal of Frodo. There is nothing wrong with this and Wood creates a likable, charismatic Frodo Baggins. Half-Danish Viggo Mortensen plays the tormented character of Aragorn and his performance has rightfully been compared to Harrison Ford's performance in Star Wars because he is brilliant in portraying the mixed emotions and reluctance of the character. The only negative thing that can be said about his performance is that his accent isn't always completely believable. The supporting cast including Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Ian Holm and Sean Bean all do excellent jobs with their characters. Especially Sean Bean who completely nails the essence of his character, Boromir, and he was most unfairly cheated out of an Oscar nomination for his performance. A final note must be given to Ian McKellen who, for lack of a better word, embodies the spirit of Gandalf (a nerdy way to put it, I know) and creates perhaps one of the most memorable characters in a fantasy film of all time and if it was unfair that Sean Bean wasn't nominated for an Oscar it is a travesty that Ian McKellen didn't receive the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
The characters all work but if Middle Earth hadn't seemed convincing it would have all been for nothing but fortunately everything works. All sets are 100% convincing and the use of digital effects is seamless and for the most part you don't even notice the effects which is of course the biggest compliment you can give to special effects. The effects don't seem plastered on or done "just because we can" like it is the case with the Star Wars prequel trilogy. There is a purpose with every effect in the film and it all works beautifully. Obviously there has been use of blue screen but it some how seems much more believable and therefore a better effect than in the Star Wars films. George Lucas has to vie for the new master of "eye-candy" because The Lord of the Rings is the most visually stunning experience that has ever graced the big screen. Its not only the visual effects that helps create Middle Earth but also the unbelievably beautiful nature of New Zealand and this film has actually given me a desire to travel to New Zealand to witness the nature.
This film gives you anything you could possibly ask for in a film: Convincing emotions, thrilling action sequences, laughter and tears and of course the original and best fantasy tale ever told. Peter Jackson created an unparalleled masterpiece with this film-trilogy and deserves every bit of praise it gets. Writing this review a year after the hype has died down I can safely say that these films will go into history perhaps as the greatest series of films ever to grace the big screen.
10/10 - on my top 3 of best films.