What happened to the storyline???

Rating: 10/10 (8 March 2002)

First of all let me say that I've been a fan of Tolkien's for at least 20 years now and I was not looking forward to a film - no matter how well done - as I knew it wouldn't be able to do justice to my mind's eye view of the story...
Image my surprise then when I went to see it - not without some trepidation - and I actually found myself saying "yes, that's how i saw it"! The imagery in the film is nothing short of inspired at times.
The sets are well thought out although I wasn't convinced by Rivendell... The descriptions of the main hall and the meeting hall in the books just don't fit with the film's setting. And was it just me or did Bree feel like a stage set rather than an old village? I must say though that I was stunned by Moria and the statues of the old kings near the end of the film.
So, the acting... Gandalf was friendly but wise and powerful - exactly as I had expected. Bilbo was good natured but doddery - again just as expected. Aragorn however... Let's just say that the king of the men of old felt like he was a down and out adventurer with nothing better to do that play along with some hobbits. Where was the nobility, the grace and the ancient wisdom that shines through in the books??? Elrond was not that good either - he seemed wise but there was a snide nature there that felt wrong.
Now we come to my real point - how was someone who didn't know the books supposed to understand the REAL plot? My girlfriend spent the whole film asking why they did what they did, why so-and-so helped that one, etc, etc, etc... A couple of points to underline my position here:

Aragorn never introduces himself to the hobbits as in the book. How are we supposed to know him as the rightful heir to the throne and why his sword is known to Boromir??? - The sword which is so important to Aragorn as his token of kingship is first seen on a plinth in Rivendell! This is a MAJOR diversion to the book and seems to be there solely to force a meeting between Aragorn and his betrothed (even thought THAT is never explained properly either!!!)

I could carry on but it seems pointless. I knew that the story would HAVE to be changed to allow a film version to be made, but these points just destroy the central plot of the books... And they remove essential background that a virgin to the Tolkien books won't be able to follow.
All in all I am saddened that Jackson did what he did - the film had an enormous amount of potential with a good cast and excellent sets... Shame a 10 minute rewrite of an essential plotline managed to ruin it all for me. I just hope he will maintain the core of the story for the other two films...