Different from the book, but excellent

Rating: 10/10 (6 January 2002)

I have considered "The Lord of the Rings" to be my favorite novel for over 25 years, and have owned a collector's edition for 15. I have read it to others, including my sister and husband. I have even set some of Tolkien's poetry to music. You might say I'm a fanatic.
What I find interesting about people's reaction to the film is that those who have read the books and those who have not seem to view the film through entirely different lenses. Along with others who have read the books, I missed: Tolkien's character development of Merry and Pippin that occurs when they are introduced at Buckland, Tom Bombadil and Frodo's clowning at Bree that hastens his introduction to Strider/Aragorn.
There are changes that I thought worked well, however. Arwen's transporting Frodo across the Ford of Bruinen to Rivendell worked for me because it allowed a little more development of a strong female character, showed the partnership between Arwen and Aragorn, and eliminated Glorfindel, who was a minor elf-lord anyway.
To sum up: those of us who are real fans missed our favorite parts (and what about Galadriel's gifts of the grey cloaks with the leaf clasps that are shown after Lothlorien, but not mentioned, and her individual gifts, especially the one to Sam?). If I am honest, though, I must say that Jackson gets the scope, scenery and the landscape's impact on the characters just right. It must have the FEEL of the book. And it does.
Those who are disappointed who have never read the book don't understand its mythic feel and its ability to strongly move the reader. It has a depth that Jackson struggles to portray, but those who have never read the book should not expect the film to be a simple, fast-moving story with lots of action and a pat ending. It is not any of those things. What it IS is a story of sensitivity, a mythic-historical feel, and the height and depth of emotion. If movie-goers get it, they should laugh, cry and feel tremendous yearning throughout much of it.
It ends as the book did, and sets the stage for "The Two Towers." As one who first read the whole trilogy in three days, the waiting will probably seem unbearable. But do I question its 9.2 out of 10? Keeping the big picture in mind, absolutely not! Thanks to Peter Jackson and all of the cast and crew! This is an incredible film and a monument to Tolkien's Middle Earth!