Great entertainment!

Rating: 10/10 (9 January 2002)

The people who made the movie of The Fellowship of the Ring put their all into it, and it really shows. There is such a sense of love and enthusiasm for the material. I got completely engrossed in the movie -- I had to go see it a second time, and will see it a third time. It has been almost 20 years since I saw a movie multiple times in the theater (and that was before I had a VCR, let alone a DVD player). This is why I say it is great entertainment!

I read The Lord of the Rings several times as a teenager, and again a few years ago out loud to my nephews. They are great books to read out loud and I recommend it to any family with kids old enough to follow the plot (probably 10 or 11). A great substitute for TV.
Before seeing the movie, I had lots of pictures in my head from the books. Some things in the movie are different from how I pictured them, but I really enjoyed seeing Peter Jackson's vision of the book. I still have my own pictures. It's great to have both. I thought the casting was terrific. I especially liked Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Elijah Wood as Frodo, Orlando Bloom as Legolas, and Christopher Lee as Saruman.
If you haven't read the book, you can read the book first and see the movie, or see the movie first and read the book. I don't think the movie ruins the book at all. In fact, I think that if you see the movie, you will want to read the book, if nothing else to see how it ends. Tolkien wanted to publish it all in one book, but the publisher insisted on splitting it into three volumes. So you are really seeing part 1 of a very long, wonderful movie.

Three cheers to Peter Jackson, cast and crew!