Surprise, surprise

Rating: 10/10 (24 December 2001)

Just came back from a second viewing of this great film, and was yet again totally taken in by it. Just like the first time I was surprised by how they had captured Middle-earth on-screen, how the actors played their part with their heart on their sleeve, how utterly and totally convincing it all was.
Although there are already quite a few raving reviews from official film critics, plus a probable 100.000+ fan reviews to be found on the net, I would still like to add my two cents, if only to let Peter Jackson and all of his troupe know that I think they did an admirable job in bringing Tolkiens´world and characters to life.
I am not going into detail - lots of other people have done that, but I will make mention of some things that I liked, and that I haven´t read too much about yet. Minor spoilers ahead for people that have not seen the movie.
If there is one thing I have read nothing or nearly nothing about, it is Gollums eyes. Although Gollum does not play a big role in this first movie, he can be seen two or three times, and one of those times you see his eyes... Incredible eyes, very human, although much bigger and somehow filled with a sadness of long ages, and with a certain malice. Enough to whet your appetite for parts two and three, where Gollum gets to play one of the leading roles. And this guy is completely CGI, too! I read in a review about an ´alarming Jar Jar Binks likeness´... The brainless turd who wrote that review probably never read the books. Much unlike the intelligence-of-the-average-movie-goer-insulting Jar Jar Binks, Gollum was already a character in the books, who was not thrown in to get some toys sold! Nor do I expect him to speak in a ´funny´ semi-Jamaican accent.
Second thing I noticed, is the raw emotion that is up there. Characters are allowed to cry, to feel about other characters, to hug, to scream of pain or loss... It is a very emotional film. Anyone stating that we have cardboard characters here, not only completely missed out on the emotion that is on display, they also missed out on a more important pont: this film is not part one, basically it is the first three hours of a nine-hour film. Only when the three films can be seen as one (in a LONG run) we can judge the character development. As the next film will have several small groups to follow on their journeys through Middle-earth, I am sure we will see their characters develop. For the moment, we have to hold back on that particular feature.
Well, that is what I had to say about it.
I bow deep and low to you, Mr. Jackson, for pulling it off. For actually committing six years of your life (or is it even more) to this project and coming up with a first installment that is nothing short of brilliant. For giving us all the pleasure to see a well-known story come to life in a different, yet faithful way. Of course, should you ever come across these humble lines, the gratitude goes out to everyone involved, from the director to the best boys´ gaffer. Perhaps the biggest compliment is that my wife, who before yesterday had only heard of the books because I read them, now wants to read the books, wants to see the film a second time in the theater (would be the third time for me - no matter!) and can hardly wait for The Two Towers. But neither can I.