Laughter and tears were all that I could add to this story

Rating: 10/10 (20 December 2003)

rating 10 of 10
I have never been the biggest Tokien fan. I read "Hobbit" in High School, and bought the Trilogy ten years later, but had always been unable to get more than halfway through the first book. The second and third still sit on my shelf, unread, but never thrown away either.
With the earlier animated versions of the story, I watched but felt unsatisfied, even though I am a huge fan of Sci-Fi and fantasy. When I learned that Peter Jackson was tapped to bring the stories to the big screen, I was intrigued by two things: he was a fan and he was committed to bringing cinematic life to Tokien's vision. While I had not been able to read the books, I always respectd Professor Tolkien's vision and purpose. I respected his values and have honored his life as I can. I knew that whoever would do well with this material would have to be someone who "got it."
Peter Jackson "got it." And because he got it, we get it.
I could write this using every superlative that I am capable of, but 749 other commenters have done that far better than I. What I can say is that is a world of so many "relative values" it has been an oxygen bottle of fresh air to see people. hobbits, elves and dwarves coming together to fight an overwhelming evil. It was not the city walls of Minas Tirith, or the army of the underworld, or the individual courage of an elf and a dwarf, or even a reluctant king taking up the sword of his ancestors. All played their part, and as in real life, if any had failed to do his or her very best, it all could have collapsed under its own weight. The least impressive of all of the fellowship was Sam, and while he did not have the strongest sword, or the sharpest eye, he had the biggest heart. And while he could not carry the ring he could carry ... Oops, I got away from myself.
Peter Jackson, has proven himself a director of the first rank, and has accomplished what no other would ever try. He has told a story or splendor and glory, but never lost sight that these qualities rest in the heart of very human people, whether they come from the human race or not.
I will always be grateful for what he has done here.