i'm horrified...

Rating: 2/10 (22 December 2002)

Spoilers!!!! That the makers of this movie can claim that it is based on Tolkien is amazing to me. I'm not an official "purist", but I have read the books, and I know that the books are far better in every aspect. But I won't even compare it to the books... even compared to the average movies coming out of Hollywood, this film is money-making trash.
In its defense I would say that the movie has excellent computer animations. I was very satisfied with the way the Ents looked and moved (and stomped on orcs!), and also was impressed with the oliphants. In particular I liked the image of Gandalf and the Balrog falling towards the Underworld ocean. (even if it is not from the book)
Otherwise, the movie is a mess. Peter Jackson obviously could not handle the diverging plot lines. (for example, Merry and Pippin are stuck on Treebeard's shoulder while about a week of movie time goes by - quite a long hike through the forest!) The transitions between plots are interrupting, and jumble the flow of the story. I can't imagine trying to make sense of what everyone was doing if I had not previously read the books.
The characters in the movie are completely boring, even the new ones. Now that the heroes have been introduced, it appears that the director has lost any energy to develop them further. Gimli becomes the comic stump (and if I really want a dose of midget humor, I'll go to a frat party or watch Jackass). Arwen's weepy narcissism goes out of control. Way too much time is given to her and the other Elvish leaders to act as if they are speaking profoundly and weep prettily in screen closeups. Legolas is now the stunt man, with very little character left to express. Faramir is weak (should have followed the book, Mr. Jackson). Eowynn will hopefully get more attention in the last movie, but she was well-done in the movie, as were Wormtongue and Eomer. Gollum is also fairly amusing, even if he must be turned into a schizo-comic Hamlet.
The fact that the movie ended on a somewhat upbeat note (victory of Helm's Deep) instead of the darker, almost hopeless note of the book (Frodo taken captive by orcs after Shelob), is a critical flaw. Precisely what makes one so eager to read on in Tolkien is the situation of near despair, which makes the reversals of fortune, or eucatastrophe, so welcome. Maybe it's true that the middle book is the hardest one to pull off, but that's no excuse for making a poor movie. I had hoped that Peter Jackson could rise to the occasion. Instead he has made a mush of weak emotions, contrived nobility, and lots of slimy orcs.
I don't see how a fan of Tolkien can watch the movie and not feel at least a bit cheated, and a bit insulted. This movie is neither beautiful nor interesting, in the artistic sense; it is flashy sensory entertainment produced for universal ease of consumption. If you like the Tolkien-flavored yogurt, well then, enjoy.