Absolutely great, 10/10

Rating: 10/10 (4 May 2004)

I must admit it is difficult for me to write an objective review of The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring. Therefore, I waited until all three movies were released before I submitted this review. As background on my perspective, I first read The Lord of the Rings as a boy of 13 and I was awed by the power and imagination of the story. I read it again during my college years. I still loved it. The innumerable characters, the thrilling battle scenes, and the huge scope of the story still impressed me. The idea that this could be turned into a movie did not even enter my mind. Since 1998, when reports of the making of the film trilogy hit the internet I became increasingly excited about the prospect.
Some of my initial thoughts after viewing the film in December of 2001 were the following: Fellowship of the Ring is a great film. It is a film of a battle between good and evil, which has both thrilling fight scenes and quiet, beautiful moments. The opening introduction briefly portrays a battle in as large scale as anything portrayed on film up to that time. However the filmmakers did the little things right as well, from the small round doors of the Hobbit homes to wrist straps bearing the White tree, symbol of the Kings of Gondor. It is a blockbuster that does not give you a Hollywood ending (as Empire Strikes Back, the best of the Star Wars trilogy). The reaction of the audience I went to see it with is telling; most were smiling knowing they had seen something worthwhile but almost in disbelief of the realization of how much more the characters have to endure before they reach the end of their quest. The acting is greatÂ….
Now that I have seen the entire trilogy and multiple viewings of the Fellowship in particular, I am still greatly impressed by the movie. Peter Jackson and company should be praised for not overwhelming the first film with action to grab the casual viewer. They were confident enough of the story and the viewers to give us a slow but picturesque beginning in the Shire. This first film has a lovely episodic quality as our heroes pass though various realms of Middle Earth. The action included was exceptional especially the scenes in the Mines of Moria. The battle in Balin's Tomb immediately followed by the Bridge of Khazad Dum was a thrilling set piece that still moves you even after several viewings. I think only because it was topped by Helm's Deep in Two Towers and the Fields of Pelennor in Return of the King that the Moria scenes are not spoken of more often. The acting was superb by the whole cast. Of course, Ian McKellan became Gandalf in the film. However, special kudos should go to Viggo Mortensen. Viggo and the writers made Aragorn a real person, not a stereotypical perfect hero.
I feel pity for those because of their limited imagination can not appreciate the heart of this film because it is of the fantasy genre. On the other end of the spectrum, there are some extreme Tolkien loyalists who can not accept a single change in the story. I think other reviewers have expressed well the concept that books and films are different forms of art and changes had to made to make the story work as a film. Now that the Rings hype is over, I wish that this small minority of people will take a fresh look at the movie and appreciate it for what it is: a classic movie epic with tremendous production values, superb acting, and above all a great story.