A work of art

Rating: Null/10 (12 February 2002)

I really don't think LOTR could be called the greatest movie of all time, but certainly the greatest fantasy movie. Is it better than Star Wars? I don't know, it's hard to compare a space opera to a pure fantasy. I do know that Lucas was "heavily influenced" by LOTR. I won't say he stole from it, but just look at the similarities..
I am a fan of the trilogy. I read it first in the 8th grade, then in my twenties, then again last year because I knew Peter Jackson was making it into a series of films. I had forgotten a lot, (I'm 40 now) and reading it this last time was the most enjoyable of all. LOTR is truly an epic, grand tale. I know a lot of people find the books boring in parts. Yes, Tolkien could spend ten pages just describing a forest, but it really makes you feel like you are there. People must have the attention span of gnats nowadays.
LOTR-THE FILM is definitely not boring. It is an action film. If you want the full backstory and character development, read the book, it has plenty. I actually like the slow parts in the book, they break up the chase\battle
scenes. A lot of people have complained that the movie is just chase\battle\pause, over and over. This is a story about a perilous quest, what do you expect? And it is a LONG quest, Frodo has a lot further to go at the end of this film. If you haven't read the books, believe me, it just gets better! The film has quite a few scary images, but LOTR is not a children's book, it's a serious story about the corruption of power, filled with horror, war and despair but with an ultimately uplifting ending.

**possible spoiler ahead ***
I loved everything about the movie, with the exception of the giant crumbling staircase sequence in Moria. That wasn't in the book and just seemed like something out of an Indiana Jones flick. Other than that, Jackson's vision of Middle Earth was pretty much exactly like what I pictured in my mind. And I didn't miss Tom Bombadil a bit. I've seen it twice now and enjoyed it just as much on the repeat viewing. Acting, special effects, costume design, cinematography, and especially sound are all top notch. Jackson and crew truly did Tolkien's work justice, and accomplished what many thought to be an impossible task. I'll be buying the DVD for sure.
I can't wait for "The Two Towers". It'll be interesting to see how they bring the Ents to life.