Better the second time around

Rating: Null/10 (29 December 2002)

Just some thoughts on the film after a second viewing . . . As others have indicated here, the film takes two viewings to appreciate. Like many Tolkien fans, my expectations and anticipation are too high the first time around. The scale of the film is so huge, there is just too much to take in. As with FOTR, I think I'll like it more each time I see it. Another thought occurs after seeing Gangs of New York . . . the "historicity" of Peter Jackson's Middle-earth is more believable than the "real" history of Civil War-era NYC (operatic stylistic excesses taken into account). Another telling point (well, probably just tells about ME, but . . .): As I was returning from the restroom about an hour into Gangs, I had the overwhelming urge to ditch the whole thing and duck into the other theatre showing TTT. So kudos to Jackson for making it authentic to a past that never existed; there are sooo many ways he could have screwed this up . . . Let's make Merry a girl . . . let's pare this Fellowship down to some manageable numbers . . . let's change the names of Saruman and Sauron (too similar for the average viewer) . . . Ye gad. Let's just be thankful for what we have!