Why can't I live in Middleearth?

Rating: 10/10 (3 January 2002)

**SPOILER** Just returning from a movie theatre, where I have seen "The Fellowship of the Ring" once again, not for the first time, not for the 2nd time, and certainly not for the last time. The first time I've seen it was on Dec. 18, 5 minutes prior to Midnite, in a Munich movie theatre with at least half of the audience (including my friends and me) dressed for the occasion. Knights in shining and not so shining armour, Elves, a Ringwrath (minus horse), Gandalf, some Hobbits, an Orc and Galadriel. The audience begged for an encore viewing, but as it was already 4 o'clock in the morning, the request was denied.
Peter Jackson has done splendid work with transforming my favorite books into something so gorgeous. The settings and costumes are magnificent, and the special effects are spectacular, with camera angles and rides never seen before. And being a fan of Errol Flynn movies, I enjoyed the fights and their choreographies so very much. Until now I hadn't realized how much I missed good sword fights on screen.
The actors seem to enjoy their parts tremendously - they don't act, they are those characters.
The Hobbits are so lovable, and there couldn't be a better Frodo than Elijah Wood.
Both Wizzards are larger than life, but aren't they a bit too old for the breakdance routine on top of Orthanc?
The Elv Ladies Galadriel and Arwen are beautiful but hardly present. Hopefully this will change in the movies to come. Love those ears...
I still wonder how Peter Jackson managed to squeeze John Rhys-Davies into Dwarf size without diminishing his presence.
And it is very hard not to deeply fall in love with the cat-like Elv Legolas. (sigh) Maybe Orlando Bloom will become the next heart-throb. I'll vote for him!
Seeing Viggo Mortensen as the impersonation of Strider/Aragorn, it is impossible to imagine another actor in this part. He brings all the qualities of the man from the book, as well as his own physical and acting and fighting skills to the screen and makes it shine. What a performance!
The biggest surprise for me was the portrayal of Boromir by Sean Bean. I must admit that I never liked the Boromir of the book, he was such a cardboard cut-out. But Sean Bean (who has never more convincing than now) transformed him into a deeply human being, whose pain and fear show thru all his movements and every spoken word and thought. The way he withstand the power of The Ring in the end is heartbreaking, and I was not the only one who shed some tears when he died. Too bad, he comes in the movie so late - but what an entrance, and won't be in the next one!
Viggo Mortensen and Sean Bean are a terrific "screen couple", they don't steal scenes from each other, instead support each other.
For me "The Fellowship of the Ring" is not a movie, I was sucked in, and felt like being part of the action. The almost 3 hours went by in a flurry. Why can't I live in Middleearth? The only downbeat is, that we all have to wait for more than 11 months for the next installment "The Two Towers". But yet, there are the books and the soundtrack if the withdraw becomes too strong!