The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Rating: 9/10 (20 July 2009)

This is the first movie in the popular film trilogy based on the popular books by J.R.R. Tolkien and it is nothing short of magnificent. Peter Jackson has cut a few elements out of the book in order to move the story along, but the film doesn't really suffer due to their exclusion. The acting is first rate all around, with notable performances from Elijah Wood, Ian McKellan and Christopher Lee. The special effects are still astounding nearly ten years later and I don't think that the movie will age poorly. The battle which takes place during the opening narration is an example of how CGI can greatly enhance a scene when done properly, and this examples such as this one repeat themselves throughout the course of the film. This is truly some of the best use of CGI I've ever seen and is far more believable than the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Overall this movie should be seen by everyone as an astounding piece of art, as this is far more than just summer popcorn entertainment.