Speculation about the new Tolkien movie...

It's a bit unusual to see so many reviews posted before the movie opens. Normal practice is to wait until the day, regardless of how early the critic sees the pic. No offence intended to Marcio; had I been free to attend the press screening in T.O. I'd have been there too.

I will say that buzz I've heard on this flick has been tremendous.

Michael,

I'm really sorry if my review spoiled someone's expectations about the movie. You are right, it's not usual to have reviews before the movie opens, except for weekly magazines.

Anyway, I guess I just confirmated some things that had already appeared here, and added some more information that, IMHO, doesn't reveal very important details (and the only important one had a spoiler warning before it). Since there was too much speculation on the movie (as the title of this thread says), I just thought it'd be nice to tell you what I actually saw.

Anyway, what I said is true: go see it, it's outstanding!

All the best from Brazil

Marcio Campos
www.modelismo-ww1.cjb.net

[WFS]

WWI connection:

J.R.R. Tolkien enlisted in 1915 and served with the 11th Lancashire Fusiliers. Some people beleve that his description of the "Dead Marshes" came in part from his infantry experience.

Wayne

[gregoire]

Seen it yesterday night. 8)
Great movie light years ahead of Harry smoke the Pot
The movie is 3 hours long.
the first 90 minute or so are quite slow then you forget about it and enjoy it
the scenery is superb
the combat scene are some of the best I have seen (the best beeing in that litlle know movie 13th warrior that is a crap movies with great battle action)

All in all go and see it

lol the best sword/melee combat scenes are in Army of Darkness.

Wayne you are right about the dead marshes, Tolkien's regiment was nearly wholescale slaughtered in the Somme. I believe one of his letters he alludes to the allegory.

[Dreamer]

This film had better be as good as you fellows say it is !!

[Lufbery]

All,

I'm happy to report that "The Fellowship of the Ring" is an excellent movie. It is, in fact, one of the best movies that I've seen in a very long time. The differences from the book are minor compared to the way the director has captured the look, feel, and emotions of the story. It was also interesting getting another person's interpretation of the story and I saw things that I hadn't thought of before -- even though I've read the books four times.

Go see the film, you won't be disappointed!

-Drew

[Barrett]

It's a great film. Too long by about 15-20 min. but as noted, the NZ scenery is magnificent. Wonderful cast. Bad news: we gotta wait a year for Pt Two?

Wait a year for part 2 then another year for part 3.

It looks like all money made in part 2 and 3 will be profit....

I guess throwing Sexy Liv Tyler in the mix and blowing her role up to an Andre' the Giant-sized blowup doll helps. For me, as I've said to friends it's like knowing Jar-Jar Binks(umm star wars fame) will be in the next two movies. Note to hollywood: Token Romance is NOT required.

WOW

They were all shot at once, they could probably show part 2 right now.

[Mark_Miller]

Note to hollywood: *Token Romance is NOT required.

I don't think the inflation of Arwen's role hurt this movie.
But Hollywood does have a long history of wrecking a perfectly good story by inserting gratuitous romance.
I hope the next 2 movies are not marred this way, but you got to know that they will put some focus on the Arwen/Aragorn relationship. The giving up immortality thing kinda puts a lock on it *

I did miss Bombadil and the Barrow downes, and I thought it a little odd how they just bumped into Merry and Pippin.
Another thing which isn't coming across well is the sense that everything is alive.
Best example is when they try to get over the Misty mountains and fail.
In the movie this is shown as the result of Sauroman's intervention. But in the book it is just because the mountain is mean and hates creatures that can walk around. The books are full of this kind of thing.

That being said
I LOVED this movie. It was far better than i expected it to be.
The visuals and effects were excelent.
And, most importantly, the characters were dead on.
The whole thing just felt right.

I think I will go see it again *
Mark