WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED???

Rating: Null/10 (30 December 2001)

So, they finally made LOTR into a movie, now what do I think? As an avid moviegoer I think that the film was pretty good, I think most of the actors played very strong roles and the storytelling was great. But, as a lifelong hardcore Lord of the Rings fan, I have to wonder, when does Peter Jackson get taken to Mordor for his torture? I was looking forward to seeing this for the most part, but when I found out that Glorfindel wasn't in the movie and Arwen was taking his place I almost didn't see it, and that's just a minor change. I understand that when adapting a book into a movie some sacrifices have to be made, but when you start changing how the characters act and speak you might as well write your own piece. For instance, when we first see Gandalf in Bag End with Bilbo, he bumps his head on a beam of the ceiling, Gandalf has been going there for well over 60 years, you think by now he would have realized hobbits houses are shorter than mens. Also they portray the King of Gondor a.k.a Aragorn son of Arathorn as a weak unsure of himself person. My understanding from reading these books at least 100 times is that he is very sure of himself and doesn't need anyone else helping him to make choices. I am sad that some of the hardcore fans that I know couldn't have made these movies, maybe Tolkien would have been proud of them that way.
-Conal.