Pros: A sweeping epic with marvelous acting and outstanding story.
Cons: Some artistic license was taken with the story.
The Bottom Line: If you loved the book, you will love this movie, and want to see it again, and again.
Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot. Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sun,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their hall of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
The Ring is the story, the story is the Ring! Today fair people I was moved. I was moved perhaps closer to tears then I care to admit even to myself, but nonetheless I was moved. I was enthralled, I was drawn in and captivated by a close to three hour movie that took me to another world and left me spellbound and caring deeply about the characters I met there!
Having read both J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings (I am currently reading the second book in the trilogy The Two Towers), I was more then eager to experience Tolkiens clever words, unforgettable characters, and sweeping colorful scenic descriptions come to life on the screen. I was not disappointed.
I have heard more than a few die-heart fans of Tolkiens masterpiece state that that was a totally different story then the one he told so eloquently in Lord of The Rings. But I ask, how can this be, when I watched the book come to life on the silver screen? To be sure there were parts of the book that were left untold, but those were but fillers in the book, and while enjoyable to watch unfold on the page, they, in the end lent little to the overall understanding and meaning of the story.
For those not familiar with the story, it is of course a struggle between good and evil, right vs. wrong. Evil is at hand in the land of Middle-Earth, and has many allies, while good must struggle to bloom and remain true to itself long enough to marshal its forces and defeat evil. The Dark Lord Sauron is awake once more and seeking the One Ring that will complete his battered soul and give him free rein once more on Middle-Earth. But the One Ring had been lost, and is now found and carried by Frodo the Hobbit, who must carry it back to whence it was created and once there destroy it before Sauron can once again place it upon his blacken evil finger. Thus the Fellowship of the Ring is formed from all the good races of the Middle-Earth; Men, Elf, Dwarf, and Hobbit.
They must travel south to Mordor from whence the One Ring was formed and see to its destruction. Of course there is evil along the way, and strife, and peril, and heroes, and betrayal, and respites filled with beauty, but I digress
The Fellowship of The Ring:
Aragorn/Strider (Viggo Mortensen): Heir to the throne of Gondor the ancient home of Men on Middle-Earth.
Boromir (Sean Bean): Son of the provincial king of Mordor.
Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen): Wise of wizard, counselor, and leader of the fellowship.
Gimli (John Rhys-Davies): represents the Dwarfs whose ancestral home of Moria has fallen to darkness.
Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood): Hobbit and bearer of the One Ring, the reluctant hero.
Legolas (Orlando Bloom): the immortal Elf, he represents his people in the fellowship.
Merry (Dominic Monaghan): Hobbit and friend to Frodo.
Sam Gamgee (Sean Astin): Hobbit and loyal servant to Frodo.
Pippen (Billy Boyd): Hobbit and friend to Frodo.
Still another faction of people expressed disappointment in the ending of the movie, but the ending is how it should be, for it is true to the book. And let us not forget that the sequel to Lord of The Rings Fellowship of the Ring the Two Towers will be release next year and pick up where Fellowship of the Ring left off. For any who have read the books, I implore you to do so, for it will lend plenty to your understanding of unfolding events in the movies.
When the movie was over and the credits rolled, I found myself rooted in my seat not wanting to leave, but wanting to see the movie once again. I would of course see this movie again and again, if time and circumstance would allow. My spouse has expressed a desire to see the movie after she completes the book and I will willingly accompany her, and still again through a truly outstanding adaptation of a classic of 20th century literature.
Recommended:
Yes
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older
