Peter Jackson exceeded expectations

Rating: 10/10 (14 December 2001)

I was lucky enough to catch an early screening of Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring two days ago and I was blown away. In fact, I could not stop thinking about the film for the past two days.
Let me tell you where I am coming from. I had not read the books until - as a cinema fan - I started following the New Zealand production of LOTR. I became really curious of Tolkien and I read the first two books of the trilogy (I am halfway into the third). I really enjoyed the books (NOT the best of the century, but fantasy books do not get any better than that). My first impression was that the earlier consensus that these books are un-filmable was quite right. To be more exact, to make a good film which does justice to the book and provides entertainment for fans and non-fans seemed impossible. Well, Peter Jackson was more optimistic than I, and the result proves him right.
The film is brilliant. It might not be perfect as a standalone film - the way Apocalypse Now and Godfather Part II were for me. But considering the magnitude of the undertaking, the need to remain true to the book, satisfy the fans and keep the rest of the moviegoers happy, it comes pretty close to perfection.
It is not necessary to have read the books to enjoy the film (the opening crash-course in Middle Earth history through Kate Blanchet's voiceover works miracles in initiating the uninitiated), but I would advise it. It gives a different dimension to the film. Moreover it makes easier to appreciate what an accomplishment this is for Jackson.
Technically, this is immaculate. Breathtaking visual effects, beautiful cinematography and art direction and a great epic score by Howard Shore. New Zealand I guess is as close as you can get to middle earth. However, what takes the film to the next level is the brilliant casting Â– Wood is perfect as Frodo and Sir Ian McKellen IS Gandalf, and I cannot imagine a better Aragorn than Mortensen. The rest of the cast are just excellent, but I have to mention Sean Bean for his perfect portrayal of Boromir, and Liv Tyler for the best moment of her career as Arwen. Moreover, it is my opinion that the script made the best of the book. It is very cinematic, and the parts that were left out could have been left out from the book without any problem. Jackson and his co-writers succeeded (with the help of the excellent cast) in bringing Tolkien's characters to life without compromising.
I always appreciated Jackson as a filmmaker, but I believe that with his excellent work in a project as complex and massive as LOTR, he secured a place among the very best of directors. And I DON'T mean Columbus and Lucas.