What movie did YOU see?

Rating: 10/10 (26 December 2002)

I would like to know what movie some of the nay-sayers saw, because evidently I didn't see the same movie. Let me say that as someone who has read the series no less than five times (and the Silmarillion twice), it is very hard for me to be objective about what I still consider to be the crowning glory of fantasy literature. As such, I was EXTREMELY cautious when it came to giving any seal of approval to these movies.
That Jackson made a believer out of me (and several others I know who are even more inflexible in their visions of what Middle Earth should and should not be) speaks volumes about his directing ability. Yes, upon first viewing I saw some definite divergences from the book. However, upon careful analysis I can honestly say the changes are not gratuitous. Some roles have been subsumed by others (Glorfindel by Arwen, the Rangers of the North by Haldir and the Lorien bowmen, etc) and there have been some omissions and even a few minor embellishments. However, the end result is a movie whose spirit is very true to Tolkien and translates visually what must have been a monumental task given all the collected prose, elaborate notes, and art of Tolkien's beloved world. Nevermind the expectations of the fans which hinge on how closely these movies match the internal direction of their own imaginary adaptations of probably the most beloved series of all time.
It is my opinion that those who were disappointed by this (and the previous) movie fall into two categories: 1) the nitpickers; those who would not be happy even if Tolkien himself had directed. I have heard all the arguments: Tom Bombadil was missing from the first movie, Faramir wasn't supposed to take Frodo to Osgiliath, the first movie cuts into chapters from TTT and the second movie ends before the literary ending of TTT. To which I respond with a rousing WHO CARES??? Do those divergences detract from everything that was done right? Do they really change the story? No. 2) those who have never read the books and who are essentially mundane in scope of imagination, inflexible in their views of what fantasy should be, or don't understand that LoTR was the defining element of fantasy literature...yes it's a bit clichÃ©, because so many other stories have been based on this story.
So, all that being said, I think this movie is stunning and its director very worthy of getting a nod as best director. It did everything I could ever have hoped it would: primarily by recreating the sense of awe and wonder I got when I first read these books. And it has also drawn so many people to reading the books for the very first time. And lastly, it has successfully delivered an epic fantasy to the big screen...something Hollywood has tried and failed at for years and years.