is everybody on crack?

Rating: Null/10 (18 December 2002)

Really the average earth humans' sensibilities about films these days astounds me. Am I the ONLY one who was miserably bored to death with this hollow nonsense? Oh, no question Jackson does a magnificnt job with the VISUALS and the camera-work, and I'm not denigrating his ability to direct actors either. Nor am I denigrating JRR Tolkiens fine novels. What I am complaining about is a series of films that could very well be retitled "Stilted Dialogue: the epic miniseries" For one thing I NEVER thought a straight (or even semi-straight) adapation of Tolkien's books would necessarily make a great film. The story is too spread out, complex, filled with beautiful language and prose, landscapes and characters but that doesn't necessarily translate well in the world of film. Especially with concepts and idea's we've seen explored a billion times before (Dragons, talking tree's, wolf-beasts, snarling creature warriors, epic battles of sword wielding army's, never-ending close-ups of characters with concerned wide-eyed face's, including some very annoying and goofy visages) Sheesus Chriist I was in complete agony. I mean COME ON it's time for something NEW and different! Doesn't ANYBODY out there have the ability to write something with the intelligence and ambition of Tolkien yet with FRESH new idea's? What is so damned fascinating about sitting through 3 hours of ultra-stilted dialogue and concerned facial expressions?