A stunning epic

Rating: Null/10 (22 December 2001)

It's been a good year for fantasy movies. First came the spirited satire of "Shrek," then the sweet charm of "Monsters, Inc." and the sheer wonder of "Harry Potter." Now we have the piece de resistance: "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," the first installment of Peter Jackson's film adaptation of JRR Tolkein's landmark trilogy.
For those unfamiliar or needing a refresher in Tolkein's basics, a lengthy but useful prologue establishes the story: in the ancient past of Middle-Earth, several rings of power were forged for the various races of the relm. A single master ring was also created by the evil Sauron for the purpose of dominating the other rings--and thus, the world. But in a massive battle Sauron loses the ring, which then passes through several hands until it comes into the posession of a hobbit (diminutive creature with large ears and hairy feet) by the name of Frodo Baggins. It lies with Frodo--aided by a company of stalwart men, hobbits, elves and dwarves--to destroy the One Ring by casting it into the fires of the volcano that forged it, thereby ridding Middle-Earth of Sauron forever.
Tolkein took great care in describing the lands and sights of Middle-Earth; therefore, it seems appropriate that the settings be the most memorable aspect of this film. From the cozy, green fields of Hobbiton to the stark waste around Isengard, from the etherial perfection of the Elven havens of Rivendell and Lothlorien to the faded splendor of the ruins of the Dwarf-hall Moria, the screen comes to vivid life, creating images that are not so much viewed as savored. The lush scenery of New Zealand provides all the right touches, and the result is one of the richest fantasy worlds ever brought to film.
The cast is uniformly excellent, with the strongest performances belonging to Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen. Wood is an excellent Frodo, an ordinary soul caught up in extraordinary circumstances. McKellen brings the right balance of strength and tenderness to the role of the wizard Gandalf. Viggo Mortensen gives quiet strength to the human Aragorn, a wanderer with some pretty big secrets in his past. Liv Tyler brings a touch of girl power in the expanded role of Arwen.
Although the film never bores despite the three-hour running time, the battle scenes take on a feeling of sameness as the film progresses. The best moments are in quieter hours, such as when the Fellowship mourns a companion fallen. And certain moments will no doubt differ from the visions of those familiar with the book: my personal quibble was with the characterization of the Lady Galadriel, played by Cate Blanchett with great grace but near-sinister coldness.
But these are minor complaints, and did little to detract from my enjoyment of the film. The groundwork lain here is promising; if Jackson follows through with that promise, this could be a "Lord of the Rings" for the ages.