Deserving of awards & criticism from die-hards

Rating: 10/10 (29 December 2004)

This is the *film version* based on Tolkien's work. All of you die-hard Tolkien fans need to get a grip when dissecting the differences between book and film. For everyone who has read the books (I've read the books and listened to the audio versions), we have our own mental imagery of the characters and how they interact with the scenery and circumstances. We have created our own mental film version in doing so. Peter Jackson et al have taken their mental images and created a visual representation of over 1,000 pages of literature. The theatrical versions comprise not quite 10 hours while the EE versions add about 2 hours on top of that. If anyone can read TLOTR in 12 hours, you are a world class speed reader.
OK, now that I have that off my chest...
There are many memorable scenes in the final installment of the trilogy and both versions (TE and EE) contain excellent pacing and dramatic ebb and flow. Many of us have seen the TE several times and, therefore, the EE will stand out for the additions especially since we've come to respect PJ's devotion to the EE as not just a separate menu choice of "deleted scenes".
I particularly like the way PJ did not cut short the ending even though he eliminated the shire scouring chapter entirely. Who wouldn't want to see the whole book on film but even Hollywood doesn't have that much money... yet.
I'm very happy with the Eowyn/Faramir additions to the EE (yes, it's not "enough" but it's more than the TE).
The editing is as expected considering the massive volume of footage to review.
The sound, lighting, cinematography, score, costumes, special effects, set design and acting are all top notch.
Gimli? He's arguably the deepest character, especially in the EEs. How about his fawning of Galadriel? Mourning Balin? Discussing dwarf women? Not letting Aragorn out of his sight and calling him "laddie"? Exhorting Aragorn not to "tell the elf" when he lets Aragorn toss him? Apprehension of Fangorn and the Dimwalt road? The battle death counting is Tolkien's mechanism to establish a bond between dwarfs and elves which becomes much greater than simple acts of bravery. By having Legolas announce that he will be dying next to a *friend* excellently shows the elf's development because we know Gimli does most of the chattering. The drinking game also shows good contrast between the refinement of the elves compared to the crudity of dwarfs. Whether Orlando Bloom delivered his lines to our satisfaction can be debated but it clearly shows the growth of Legolas as an emotional character willing to "lower" himself to foolish contests contrary to normal elf behavior.
The way PJ used Gollum to divide Frodo against Sam was also an interesting twist required for cinematic purposes. Tolkien had the luxury of page after page to describe the ring's evil power slowly taking control of Frodo but we can only do this so many times in film before getting bored and restless. This scene quickly punctuates Frodo's degradation and Gollum's manipulative motives.
The multiple fade-outs were also a good way to slowly take us to the conclusion without being cliché. PJ knows that most of us know the ending and he's teasing us with the fades.
Did the film affect you? Were you inspired to look at things differently? Were you completely immersed for several hours away from the daily struggles of life? Were you just a bit empty these past few weeks because there was no Lord of the Rings movie opening on a Wednesday in mid-December? Rarely does a film evoke so many emotions and, thus, this was clearly deserving of the awards. A Beautiful Mind in 2001? Chicago in 2002? Please. I understand the Academy has a reputation and it wouldn't be "fair" to give all 3 Best Pictures to PJ. Maybe if he released them every other year like Godfather I and II, he might have gotten all the Oscars...