Wow!!!

Rating: 10/10 (28 December 2003)

What a film! There was a time when I read fantasy novels avidly. This was about when I was 11 or 12. Peter Jackson has reminded why I found them so enjoyable. Roger Ebert comments that this film is not great. I disagree, I think this movie taps the spirit of the books excellently. Like the books, which were a great literary achievement, the films will last forever as a great cinematic achievement.
Compare this to the other popular movie trilogies. The Star Wars prequels are awful. The Matrix lost its way. ROTK doesn't drop the ball. Instead like the cinematic equivalent of a Jonah Lomu it stomps down the opposition and scores a try. Now that we know the characters, Jackson builds on them and gives them a little more depth. Thats what I thought hurt the last film. The characters were too much like cardboard cut outs. The problems are still there but they are replaced with some fantastic performances. The acting was universally good. My favourite was Sam, Sean Astin is excellent as this character. Its funny because when I read the books, I did not really like the character and thought he was a bit lame. Astin is awesome as Sam and shows the character to be one of the most important characters of the story. The scene where Sam picks up Frodo is my favorite in the film. I don't know the actor from anything else but I really hope his career goes places. Likewise, Andy Serkis as the Gollum is also excellent and really nails the Gollum who seems to suffer from multiple personality disorder. Both actors should be up for an oscar.
The film is exhausting but in a good way. I mean you have dragons, giant elephants, an army of the dead, eagles, a giant spider. All are excellently done. My favorite monster was Shelob. She was disgusting and really made me want to buy some fly spray. There is just so much going on that it is mind boggling. It is just a huge, huge film! What a ride! It made me feel like a little kid again. To me, I think this is the next Star Wars series. The next films that just grabs everyones attention. Jackson has set the bar for film making on a colossal scale. How many fantasy films work? Remember 'Dungeons and Dragons?' It would be cool if somewhere along the line, Jackson made 'The Hobbit.' I think Jackson immerses you in this world so well that people will be able to understand why their kids get so into this genre.
The other aspect that stuck out to me was the camera work. Very well done, the camera swoops around giving the viewer dizzying glances of battles in middle earth. In fact their are shots that show such a detailed world that it rivals the Star Wars films set design. The shot of the dragons attacking the city is amazing.
What is so great about this film is that 'the Two Towers' pretty much sidelined the Hobbits. Jackson puts the focus on the Hobbits and the Gollum. This really brings out what the novels are all about. That the smallest of things can fight and win against ultimate evil.
Some complained the ending went on for far too long and I would have to agree a little bit. However it lets you know what happens to these characters that we have been seeing every Christmas. I noticed many differences from the original books but it does not bother me. I mean, if you want 100 percent faithful adaption of the books, read them. I just thank god that Jackson got rid of Tom Bombadil. I thought that character was so lame!
The problem is that I really cannot see this film getting any oscars because it is a fantasy film. These kinds of films only get oscars for special effects. Plus with Clint Eastwood's Mystic River and Peter Weir's Master and Commander, I think these films will pick up the oscars. Especially Mystic River because it is a 'serious' dramatic work.

A great adaption of a rollicking good story! See this film! It will bring out your inner child. ALL HAIL PETER JACKSON!!!