An artful film rendering of a literary masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (22 December 2001)

I was introduced to JRR Tolkien in the 1970's at the ripe old age of 30. I read The Hobbit and The LOTR trilogy as a bookseller for the Logos Bookstore chain. The adventures of Bilbo, Frodo, Gandalf and gang kindled a love for Fantasy Adventure stories I did not know I had. My love for these books and respect for Prof. Tolkien was passed on to my kids (now grown).
On Wednesday, 12/19, the 3 of us got together and saw LOTR - The Fellowship of the Ring. What a marvelous experience! Peter Jackson's reendering of Tolkien's masterpiece did not disappoint us. True, there were a few lovable scenes omitted (i.e. Tom Bombadil) and Arwen's role was expanded (more screen time for Liv Tyler?), but the changes from the book did not detract from our enjoyment of the film.
Adapting a novel to the screen will never be a perfect process. Novels and Film are different means to the same end - tell a story that the readers/viewers will find enlightening and enjoyable. Mr. Jackson and company did as good a job adapting LOTR to film as my family and I could have hoped for.
The casting was superb! I never expected Elijah Wood to bring life to Frodo as well as he did. A pleasant surprise there! Ian McKellan is now forever etched in my mind as Gandalf. Sean Astin played awkward but devoted Samwise Gamgee superbly. My last viewing of Mr. Astin's work was in the film "Rudy" where he played another awkward but devoted role. AS an actor, he has matured significantly since 1993. Viggo Mortensen played Strider/Aragorn was understated excellence. I last saw him in "28 Days" as a Baseball pitcher in a rehab clinic. I was afraid they would cast a musclebound hunk (ie Arnold) for this role and was a bit skeptical when Mr. Mortensen was cast. My compliments to him for his performance.
I was in awe of the convincing scenery and sets. I do not think that filming in England would have been appropriate. I cannot imagine Prof. Tolkien looking out his bedroom window and writing about what he saw when he described Middle Earth in his novels. The vistas in New Zealand matched the images created in my mind far more exact than England's would have.
The CGI effects are almost indistinguishable from the live sets. My only minor disappointments here were the long range views of Rivendell and surrounding gorge, and the Fireworks shots in the Shire. Otherwise, the CGI effects definitely deserve an Oscar nomination.
All in all, LOTR is the best Fantasy movie and literary adaptation I have watched in many years. In time, it will rank up there with Wizard of Oz, E.T., and the first three Star Wars movies. Not only will today's young people watch the films and read the books, but they will pass on these immense pleasures to their kids....and probably generations to come.
Well done, Peter Jackson, cast and crew!!!