"It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing. Such a little thing."
STARRING
Elijah Wood
Ian McKellan
Sean Astin
Viggo Mortensen
Directed by Peter Jackson, rated PG-13
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new classic on our hands. Peter Jackson has accomplished something that few directors can claim to have done. He has taken one of the most beloved books in history and made a movie that actually lives up to it. That’s right. This is one of the few times that a movie is actually as good as, if not better than, the book from which it was adapted. And to have it done with something as epic as Lord of Rings is nothing short of incredible.
For those of you who haven’t read the books or have been sleeping for the past three years, here’s the basic plot: The land of Middle-Earth is inhabited by creatures such as men, elves, dwarves and hobbits. A thousand years ago this guy named Sauron came along and forged a ring in a volcano called Mount Doom in the land of Mordor. This Ring enabled him to come really really close to taking power over Middle-Earth and enslaving all of its beings. A final alliance, however, was able to defeat him. Unfortunately, the Ring wasn’t destroyed. Now, it’s in the hands of this little short guy (a hobbit) named Frodo. Sauron has returned and is getting ready to launch an assault on Middle-Earth again. It’s up to Frodo (Wood), along with a fellowship of eight others, to travel to Mordor and throw the Ring of Power into Mount Doom – the only way it can be destroyed. One of the best trilogies of all time ensues.
Now, if you’re not into fantasy, some of you might think that sounds like the dumbest plot line ever conceived. Believe me, I was skeptical at first. But after you see the grandness of Peter Jackson’s vision, you’ll be converted.
This film is absolutely amazing. I don’t want to give away any major events, so I’m going to try to keep things as general as possible. This film has it all: characterization, action, humor, romance…it’s all here. Since I’ll probably be using these names in the upcoming reviews, I’d better clear things up now so you don’t get confused.
Frodo: A hobbit (one of those little people). Everyone is trying to make sure he doesn’t die long enough for him to get to Mordor and destroy the Ring.
Sam: A hobbit. Frodo’s gardener. He’s basically Frodo’s best friend, and makes sure Frodo doesn’t do anything stupid (like putting on the Ring).
Merry and Pippin: Two other hobbits. They provide most of the comic relief.
Aragorn: A man. This guy is supposedly heir to the throne of Gondor (a big kingdom). Unfortunately, since his ancestors weren’t able to destroy the Ring, he doubts he’ll be able to. He spends the first two movies trying to figure out his destiny.
Boromir: A man. A Prince of Gondor. He wants to use the Ring as a weapon against Sauron, and doesn’t realize that the Ring can only destroy and not be used for good.
Gandalf: A wizard. He has this staff he uses for magic. He’s basically one of the leaders of the fellowship, second only to Frodo.
Legolas: An elf. This guy can shoot a dozen arrows faster than you can say, “Hey that’s really cool.”
Gimli: A dwarf. He carries around a huge axe and likes to hunt orcs.
That’s the fellowship. Now onto the other important characters.
Arwen: Aragorn’s elvish girlfriend.
Sauron: The Big Bad Guy. The one everyone’s trying to stop.
Saruman: A wizard who has allied with Sauron.
Gollum: Formerly similar to a hobbit, he had the Ring for a long time and it turned him into an unrecognizable and pitiful creature. He refers to it as his “precious” and wants it back.
Bilbo: A hobbit who stole the Ring from Gollum and then gave it to Frodo after a few decades.
The Nazgul: Saruman’s undead warriors whose sole purpose is to find the Ring and kill the Ring-bearer.
Orcs: Sauron’s minions. Basically the stormtroopers of Lord of the Rings - their aim might actually be worse.
Uruk-hai: Saruman’s breed of warriors. A cross between humans and orcs, these guys are ugly.
You’re probably thinking, “Huh?” right about now. That’s as best as I can explain it. As with most movies, it’s nearly impossible to explain the entire plot and character web. You’ll just have to see it for yourself.
The only flaw I can find with this first installment of the trilogy is that at some places it seems a bit slow. However, this is to be expected, since being the first film it has to introduce the audience to all the characters. And it’s really not that much of a problem considering the entire movie is about three hours long. A few minutes of slowness is hardly worth complaining about.
This trilogy is “epic” for a reason. It goes everywhere. Through a hobbit village, to an elvish city, to the mines of Moria (where one of the coolest action scenes take place), to a final showdown with Uruk-hai in the woods. The ending is, by the way, my favorite part of the entire movie. It’s definitely one of the most stunning pieces of action ever seen on film.
The acting is top-notch, though the real standouts here are Ian McKellan as Gandalf, Elijah Wood as Frodo, and Sean Bean as Boromir. Bean and Wood are excellent at communicating how the Ring is tempting them and gradually destroying them.
Jackson’s directing is superb. From the wide, breathtaking shots of New Zealand countryside to the majestic views of places such as Rivendell and the mines of Moria, you will really feel for a few hours like you’re in Middle-Earth. It’s obvious why he was nominated for an Oscar.
The books by J.R.R. Tolkien are well known for containing various Christian themes and elements. These elements are present in the film version as well. The idea of one small person facing incredible odds is something we all can relate to. The only offensive material to some might be the violence. There’s no profanity or sex present at all.
The Fellowship of the Ring is one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. By the end, two of the major characters will supposedly have died, the Fellowship will be broken up by the influence of the Ring, and you won’t want to wait to see The Two Towers. In my opinion, this installment is actually better than the book it was based on. I give it a 9/10 simply for pacing problems.
The Bottom Line: Incredible.
Should I see it? Don’t bother to read the rest of the reviews of the trilogy. Just go rent them. Now.
In the second chapter of Lord of the Rings, the fellowship is broken. Frodo and Sam are off by themselves on their quest to Mordor. Pippin and Merry have been captured by orcs. Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas are doing their best to rescue them. Things are starting to look bad for the inhabitants of Middle-Earth. Sauron’s power is growing, and Saruman now has his own army of thousands.
This movie is awesome. As good as the first one? Almost, but not quite. Better than the book? Not this time. But it’s still an incredible ride. Whereas the first film focused more on character development, this one emphasizes cold, hard and great action. And when I say “great” I mean great. The final battle at Helm’s Deep is quite possibly the most incredible battle ever seen on screen (that is, until Return of the King is released).
We’re introduced to many new characters this time around. Most of them are from the kingdom of Rohan. Its king Theoden – played to perfection by Bernard Hill - is under a spell by Saruman (don’t you just hate it when that happens?) and is ruled by the crafty Wormtongue. His son Eomer is banished from the kingdom, and his daughter Eowyn has the hots for Aragorn (too bad he’s already taken – can you say sexual tension?).
The acting is fantastic once again. Elijah Wood is extremely convincing at showing how the Ring is beginning to affect him. However, the real show-stealer here is Gollum. And he’s not even real.
That’s right folks. Peter Jackson has redefined the art of special effects. Andy Serkis played the part of Gollum with motion-sensors and other sorts of hi-tech gadgetry attached to him. In post-production they pasted Gollum’s face and skin over his. The result: a CGI character that moves just like a real actor. The details are exquisite, from the finely tuned facial expressions to the gravely voice that changes depending on which one of Gollum’s split personalities is in control. Some people wanted him to be the first CGI character nominated for an Oscar, and it’s obvious why. Gollum is so life-like you’ll forget you’re watching a computer-animated character.
The other special effects are incredible as well. There’s an amazing sequence involving the Ents, a race of tree-like beings that can talk, in which they invade Saruman’s fortress at Isengard. They don’t look quite as good as Gollum, but they look good all the same. (Note: Look closely in the battle sequence to see an Ent on fire put himself out – it made me laugh so hard I almost cried).
This movie is not without flaws, unfortunately. I felt they took a few too many liberties from the book. For instance, they completely changed Faramir’s character (Boromir’s brother). I can understand why – in the book he was a little one-dimensional – but still. Having him take Frodo and Sam to Osgiliath didn’t really serve a purpose except to take up time. The same is true of a horrible sequence in which Aragorn supposedly dies. Come on, Mr. Jackson. You didn’t really think people were going to fall for that one, regardless of whether or not they’ve read the books, did you?
Also, I didn’t like the development of Gimli. Now with Merry and Pippin in a much more serious situation, he serves as the comic relief. And it just doesn’t seem right. Here we have a dwarf who thinks he’s the toughest thing ever to walk the face of Middle-Earth, and he stands around cracking jokes. Granted, some of them made me chuckle, but it just doesn’t seem very realistic. And the timing is horrible. The arrows started to fly at Helm’s Deep, and I was starting to get into it, and out of no where Gimli makes a one-liner. Talk about ruining the mood.
However, you’ll forget about all these small flaws once we get to the battle of Helm’s Deep. It’s a 45-minute long struggle between the forces of Rohan (a few hundred men) and some elves against 10,000 of Saruman’s Uruk-hai warriors. There are many HG moments scattered throughout, and we even get a Wilhelm. There might have been one in Fellowship, I’m not sure, but hearing one here just made my day. One thing’s for certain: you’ll spend forty-five minutes of your life in absolute awe about what you’re watching. You thought the final battle in Fellowship was good? It was, but it’s nothing compared to this baby.
This movie’s not as good overall as the first one, though it gets better every time I see it. By the end, you’ll be cheering for your favorite characters and the adrenaline will be pumping in your veins so hard you’ll have to take a few minutes after the movie and just calm down. It ends on a great cliffhanger (though not quite as good as that in the book) that will leave you biting your fingernails in anticipation for Return of the King. I give it an 8/10.
The Bottom Line: Not as good as the first one, but still amazing. You’re mouth will be hanging open for forty-five minutes during the final battle.
Should I see it? I can’t believe you’d even bother asking that question. Yes!
I would like to begin by saying: Thank you Mr. Jackson. Thank you for making the Fellowship of the Ring. Thank you for making The Two Towers. Thank you for making a concluding chapter that does not disappoint! I am pleased to write that the finale of this trilogy is just as good as the first two installments, if not better than both of them.
Whereas the first film focused on emotion and character development, and the second was more action-oriented, the third movie combines both into one incredible package. Everything is more epic in scope than the first two installments combined. I cannot describe what seeing this film is like. If Peter Jackson does not win every award possible at the Academy Awards, there is no justice in the world. It’s that good.
The acting is about the same as it was during the first two movies. Everyone’s ability is just about the same, so there are no standouts. Except for one. And by that, I mean Sean Astin. This movie gives him a chance to really shine. I truly felt for Sam as he continued to help the ever-decaying Frodo through Mordor to Mount Doom. By the end, I knew at least one thing for certain: Sam’s da man.
The other thing I can say about this movie is that it’s big. Really big. It’s longer than the first two installments (3 hours and 20 minutes – the Extended Edition will be more than 4). The action has stepped up a few notches. The battle of Pelennor Fields will have you saying, “Did I just see what I think I saw?” We get the forces of Gondor, Rohan and the rest of Middle-Earth fighting for survival against hundreds of thousands of Sauron’s forces. There is so much happening on the screen at one time that I will definitely have to go watch it again. There are trolls, orcs, catapults and these really big elephants known as oliphaunts (creative, eh?) all trying their hardest to take down the last real stronghold of man – the glorious city of Minas Tirith. And glorious it is. It’s just plain huge! At last we get to see what the towers of Gondor are really like, and they do not disappoint.
The action is so intense and with so many HG moments (Legolas + oliphaunt = wow) that I’m surprised it got a PG-13 rating. People are getting crushed by boulders, stomped by large creatures, heads are literally flying…it’s stunning. This is quite possibly the greatest and most epic battle in cinema history. Helm’s Deep is still amazing, but I think this just might surpass it.
The special effects are groundbreaking once again. Gollum is still amazing – in the close-up shots I could have sworn he was real. Although some things are obviously fake (the trolls in the Minas Tirith battle, for example) they are easily overlooked. The Army of the Dead is just plain awesome. It almost makes me want to be a zombie. The visuals are as good as, if not better than, the final battle in the Matrix trilogy. And that is a good thing.
Character-wise, there’s tons of development. We meet Denethor, the Steward (temporary leader) of Gondor, as well as the father of Boromir and Faramir, who’s gone insane. Pippin and Merry are split up after the “fool of a Tuk” looks into Saruman’s palantir. Sam and Frodo walk into Gollum’s trap. Shelob (you’ll have to have read the books to know what I’m talking about) does not disappoint. Eowyn turns warrior. Aragorn finally accepts his destiny (what did you think would happen?) and commands an Army of the Dead in one spectacular scene. And Gandalf gets to kick some major butt with his staff! Oh yeah. The characters are strongly developed and you’ll be applauding by the end.
Unfortunately, this film does have a few flaws. For starters, they left out a ton of things from the book (must like they did with the first movie). Now, if you haven’t read the books, you won’t really care. But if you have, you’ll wish they would have thrown them in because they really help add depth to the story. However, it’s understandable that everything could not be included – the first half of the movie is taken from the end of the Two Towers book. This will also probably be fixed once the Extended Edition DVD is released.
Also, it drags on a little too long. There are about five different endings, and I’m not kidding. The screen will fade to black for a few seconds, and you’ll think it’s over, but then it will fade back in again. It’s this type of transition that gets annoying. Why they didn’t just cut right into the next scene, I don’t know. The result is that you’ll think it’s over when it’s not. People were getting up and leaving the theater. Plus, at least one of the last scenes is incredibly corny – you’ll know which one I’m talking about – and really has no purpose being in the movie at all. It’s so hokey I almost laughed out loud.
However, these flaws are easily overlooked. Overall, the Return of the King is a masterpiece. Is it better than the book? It’s hard to say. Is it better than the first two? That’s also hard to say. But it is a fantastic end to an incredible journey. When the credits finally appeared, I had a startling realization. This is it. The three-year journey is over. And I, for one, can’t help but feel a bit sad that it has ended. It fully deserves a 9/10.
The Bottom Line: It deserves to win Best Picture, even with a few flaws.
Should I see it? Run to the theater and get your ticket. Now.
The trilogy as a whole will go down in history. This is destined to be known in the future as “a classic”. Just as George Lucas is known as “that guy who did Star Wars”, so Peter Jackson and the actors will now be known simply as “those people who made Lord of the Rings”.
It would be impossible to say which of the trilogy is the better chapter, because they're all so good. Also, all of them are very different in style. They're all so incredible it's hard to pick a favorite. Seen as a whole, the trilogy is greater than any one of its individual parts.
The Christian themes from the book are preserved intact. This is the eternal tale of good vs. evil, a world in need of a leader and savior, and (depending on your interpretation of the end) redemption. The Ring has often been seen as a symbol for power or sin – it corrupts the mind and destroys the spirit. I for one believe Tolkien would have been proud of the cinematic version of his story. Experiences like this are why I enjoy movies. Even though it’s not perfect, I give the trilogy a 10/10.