Generally astounding, but is Middle Earth truly for the Middle Aged?

Rating: 8/10 (28 September 2008)

As I was one of those people who hadn't read the book I always thought I'd be one of those other people who were going to read the book soon; over 35 years later I conclude I'm in a previously undreamed of third category of one of those people who now have no intention of ever reading the book, along with getting the video games. It appeared the film was going the same way  over 9 hours of expensive numb bum at the cinema didn't appeal to me, but I've finally seen Parts 1-3 (interspersed with shedloads of brain-rotting adverts) over the last few weeks on TV. And I was impressed even though I can't take all the hype surrounding it seriously being a non-geek and non-gamer.
Part 1 - Lost ancient evil finger ring is re-discovered causing Everyone and their wicked uncle to hunt it down and take over the world with it, and the hobbit who accidentally ends up with it to skedaddle with the help of a wizard, humans, dwarfs and elves with the aim of destroying it. It's a magic ring alright, not only with its secret inscription but also it's the right size to fit both hobbit and human fingers. The main characters of Frodo and Sam his gardener - who certainly knows his rightful place with Mister Frodo - weave in and out of the story trying to reach their destination with the ring with the help of a motley collection of hairy heroes. It's a wonderful fantasy world portrayed with mind boggling cgi cartoonery, with the live action and animation working well over the imaginative real and cartoon landscapes. The game, er battle is on between Dark and Light, sorry - Stereotypes Alert - Evil and Good and after 3 hours is  left unresolved, for this is the first epic I've ever watched that has no ending. Like some of Andy Warhol's apologists might have suggested, maybe you need to see the entire 9 hours for a proper opinion, but the difference here is a lot happens in this first segment and there's a lot to ponder over afterwards. The 1939 Wizard Of Oz was shortish, cogent and to the point, but also had an ending and most importantly it first cut me when I was a kid, something I may have needed but can never get with this. Frodo's wide-eyes kept reminding me of Soundgarden's olde video to Black Hole Sun.
In Part 2 - which has neither beginning nor ending (but at least is a middle), probably unlike the video game - I was reminded of the Wizard Of Oz again, what with talking trees (or were they giant Pepperami?), evil ugly soldiers marching back through a gate into their domain but sans any stirring music and flying dragons but sans monkeys on their backs. Mordor definitely looks a more dangerous place than the Wicked Witch's castle though! At one point Gandolf the White reared his white horse against a golden Sun in the same manner as Roy Rogers used to with Trigger in the '40's. The mammoth black and white battle between Evil and Good continues; by now the message should be clear for kids that White = Purity, and Royalty = Special People Worth Dying For Unquestioningly. Never mind about the 10,000 strong army of shapes assailing Helm's Keep, the impressive army of names on the end credits were just as realistic and almost tempted me to look to see if I was included somewhere; but I held firm and ignored them completely as usual. Many cliffhangers, splendid cartoon scenes, imaginative backgrounds and a beautiful music score lead us to the final part, for the main game.
Part 3 - the best use of cgi cartoonery in a motion picture I've seen to date, with especially fantastic use for the 4 million horseless men of the Apocalypse - no arguing with them! Bet the game was damn good for the mass slaughter battle with the ugly blokes and their giant elephants. Shapes are slaughtered in their millions and the handful of Homeric heroes lauded - ah, what progress has been made since All Quiet On The Western Front! The Wizard Of Oz references are legion - when Frodo's recovering on his bed and all of his old Fellowship troop in one by one he only had to say There's No Place Like Home, and near the end when saying tearful goodbyes to his three friends I Think I'll Miss You Most Of All to Sam for it to be complete. The West thankfully won by the way - but Pure Evil will live to fight another day!
However, a tremendous amount of work and loving care and attention to detail obviously went into all of this and it shows. There's so many marvellous and memorable scenes, some with real-life character interplay but most of them cartoon with gargantuan incongruous ornate ancient architecture or sculptures on display that I'm glad I saw it and joined the majority of the population of the world who have already. Hell, I'll probably even watch it again sometime it was that good, and as my daughter tells me the extended directors cut versions make more sense it'll be them (all being well).