Close enough to get the cigar I think

Rating: 10/10 (30 December 2001)

I've just seen the film this evening, read the reviews on IMDB and probably had the great advantage of having completely reread the book within the last month during a bout of 'flu. I went along prepared to be disappointed and yes, there were casting flaws, (Elijah Wood could have made a great elf but he's just too "pretty" to be a Hobbit) and plot changes from the book. Some of the characterisation does need to be further developed but hey, there's two more films. However, for me at least, the key is that Peter Jackson has managed to retain the soul and intent of the book in a way that I wouldn't have thought possible and I think for most people, most of the time, his vision of places such as the Shire, Rivendell, Moria, Mordor etc will match what the viewer will have built up in their mind while reading the book. For those who haven't read the book then just enjoy a cinematic masterpiece (and then go and get a copy). Apart from the above what worked best for me was that the casting (or most of it) was superb, the acting of the highest standard and the choice of location a spark of genius. I also loved Elrond casually dropping into the conversation about having been in a battle 3000 years ago!
Roll on the next two films, although no doubt the critics will pan the second before claiming the third to be a return to the high standard of the first - or am I just an old cynic! Any guesses on the number of Oscars?