A beautifully crafted extravaganza

Rating: 8/10 (11 April 2003)

8/10
With all of the hype surrounding the film, it was difficult not to get carried away and try and put the film into some sort of perspective. On many levels however, the film matched the hype and was a fantastic journey with breathtaking scenery. We are greeted with a general background of the story of the creation of several rings to ensure that a balance of peace was maintained, however there was one ring that was crafted that controlled all of the others.
The backdrop is a view of a small village in the Shire, whereby we get our first view of the hobbits and the great wizard Gandalf, played brilliantly by Ian McKellen. The sheer scale of the film is fabulous and the impression of care and consideration with the settings comes to the fore. The story itself embraces a fearless journey into the unknown, and with the help of the fellowship Frodo Baggins begins a perilous quest to destroy the ring into the darkness from which it was created.
Issues of love, trust, betrayal and fear over adversity are blended nicely with generally very good acting. Although Elijah Wood seems to have that one frightful expression right through the film, the characters are quite believable and we get a sense of an emotional link with a few of the characters. The plot itself is a little linear with it generally being a quest, followed by a battle scene, followed by a quest etc. but that takes nothing away from the sheer spectacle. A film that does capture the imagination and one which absorbs you into another world. A very fine film indeed.