Not The "Best", But Quite Good

Rating: 7/10 (16 August 2006)

Of course, by now, everyone knows about "Lord of the Rings". What I say will probably be nothing new.
For those of you claiming that LOTR (any installment) is the "best movie ever", I will have to say that I disagree. LOTR is a very impressive achievement in modern cinema. It actually managed to tone down the stifling testosterone index of a SFX orgy into a respectable epic. The movie does justice to the scale of the books, even though there is still a lot of material from the books that was omitted from the films. This is understandable; the incorporation of Tom Bombadil into "The Fellowship of the Ring" would have made it impractical as a mainstream release.
Jackson deserves applause for simply staying on top of such a massive production. His directing style is one that is well-received by today's audiences, hence the popularity of the series. Personally, I find the films to be overly emotional and melodramatic at times, but I will admit that this is because of my personality.
My only real complaint concerning LOTR is not with the films themselves, but with the niche that they have carved into our culture. I object very strongly to those who assert that they are the "best ever". LOTR should be appreciated as a progressive step in the history and science of film media, not as the focal point or culminating moment of a nearly century-old industry. Personally, I would rather watch "Star Wars" (the original trilogy, that is), "Lawrence of Arabia", or even "Casablanca" on any given day than LOTR. LOTR should be acknowledged for what it is, not for what the mainstream audience wants it to be. Maintain some variety, as well as respect for previous, time-honored works. After "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World", LOTR is definitely the best movie I've seen in theaters in recent years. This is what modern cinema is creating today. LOTR can't truly be compared to vintage great films (such as those I mentioned), because it's in a different league.
I suppose I am addressing the younger generations, for the most part, and of which I myself am a part. I understand, also, that there are young people who do appreciate other films besides LOTR, "The Matrix", and "Napoleon Dynamite". For those who I just mentioned, your judgment of entertainment is refreshing. For those others, keep in mind that 40 yrs. before LOTR came out, movies were still entertaining. Of all the movies ever made, really, what are the chances that LOTR is the "best ever"? It doesn't have to be the "best ever" as long as it continues to be good enough.
By the way, if you liked the movies, check out the books.