Best Movie I Ever Read

Rating: Null/10 (8 May 2004)

This is my review from an employee newsletter that I used to write.
Dec 2001- Since I am the editor of the PEN I can write what I want and no one can stop me (insert wicked laugh here) so I will tell you the adventure that I had late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, depending on your point of view. I will not give anything away.
I am an admitted JRR Tolkien Fanatic. My step-Father read out loud to me The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings when I was a child and I have reread them about once a year since Junior High (that's about 15 times). I have even read the Silmarillion numerous times. These books are the most important pieces of literature in my life. And yes, I also played Dungeons and Dragons. In fact it was my social life. I have since recovered and most people don't notice my inner geek. At least they don't tell me they notice it.
Then, last week, I was given a ticket to see the Fellowship of the Ring's, first showing at the Seattle Cinerama, 12:05 AM December the 19th. Would it be my deepest and oldest dreams realized or would it be mindless Hollywood drivel? I could not resist the siren call. I had gone to the websites, seen the trailer and played it frame by frame. I was ready
So on Tuesday night I met a friend of mine down town at the Cinerama. Thank you Paul Allen. We showed up at 9:30 for the midnight show and there was already line around the corner. Some people had been waiting since the day before. It rained and blew cold but we all stood around discussing the books, what we were expecting and how silly we thought everyone else in line was. There were people in costume and pointy ears. I saw hobbits and elf queens and a few local drunks stared at us.
At 11:30 they opened the doors and we pushed, shoved and eventually ran for our seats. We sat down about half way up on the main floor all the way over on the left side. But fortunately there are few bad seats at the Cinerama. Once we recovered our dignity we made a last bathroom break. At 12:05 the lights went down.
I personally like previews but I just sat impatiently through these, even the preview for Star Wars Episode II. Finally the suspense was over and the movie started.
Three hours later I took a breath.
I was bowled over. I would have done it differently, but anyone who loves these books has already created this movie in their heads. Since I am not a movie director I had to settle for Middle Earth by Peter Jackson. Peter Jackson has received the grade of A from me.
It was beautiful, rich and quite stunning. The places seemed real. The landscape dripped with history. The magic was both subtle and grand. The characters were wonderfully portrayed and have all the groundwork to bloom in the next two movies. The light humor was well balanced by the shear terror of formidable evil. The pace was quick and I didn't really notice that I had sat still for almost 3 hours. For all practical purposes The Fellowship of the Ring was a metaphor for the triumph of small good over great evil and it's big screen portrayal worked on many levels.

When I stood up and left the movie theatre my mind was a whirl. I had just seen a place I had been to in head millions of times realized in front of me. It was like going to Paris for the first time.
I got home at 3:30 AM and laid there unable to sleep for a long time. I must have slept but my first waking thoughts were of the movie. I got out of bed and made my way to work in a daze and decided to share this with you.

-Thank you and Happy Holidays