MovieReview: "Lord of the Rings"

title: "Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings"

starring: Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett; Ian Holms

genre: fantasy

J.R.R. Tolkien would of been proud. Had he not tragically died, he would have witnessed his sci-fi epic classic novel, "Lord of the Rings" become a sci-fi epic classic film. When published, the novel was downplayed and critically bombarded with negativity, until word of mouth grew, and it launched into a miraculous, deep, tie-in bonanza. And now, Peter Jackson has attempted the unthinkable; the possibility of making a movie of a classic novella. And my, what a film. The movie follows the book to the bone, and beyond, with the most gorgeous cinematography I have ever seen (filmed in New Zealand). Woods plays Frodo the Hobbit, "assigned" by his pal and mentor Gandalf, to travel to the evil land of Mordor, to dispose of a powerful ring which makes anyone who uses it evil, and betrays them to get back to it's loyal master and maker, Sauron, the Fellowship's enemy. Frodo travels with this Fellowship of nine across mountains and hills, and sea and rocks, battling ogres, orcs, and other not-so-heavenly creatures. The acting is superb, as is the action, as is the direction of the movie. The film is a complete and different world, and Jackson leaves us in awe. For those of you who have not experienced the trilogy of books, and this first movie, go, just go. The only problem: it's length, at an unsettling 179 minutes. Epic has a definition, you know. But don't worry about the time, worry about the excellent and magnificent journey you'll embark on the movie screen. It's one to remember. grade: A-

MPAA: PG-13

cool scenes: the environments and creatures

out there:

"Vanilla Sky": A+

Oceans 11: A

"Behind Enemy Lines: C+

coming up:

"Ali"

"Shipping News"

"Man Who Wasn't There"

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