The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (DVD))

Member Name: movie_reviewer

Product:	The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (DVD)
Date:	28/08/09 (3 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: story, cast, filming

Disadvantages: can be slow at times

I have not read the books by J R R Tolkien on which these fantasy films are based as I have just not got round to it although I hope to someday. The movie is a great epic piece of cinema and the trilogy of films went on to gross massive amounts.

The film has a sweeping scale thanks to director Peter Jackson and his on location shoots in New Zealand. The story of a battle between good and evil and how the chief bad guy Sauron creates a ring all powerful that it can enable him to rule Middle Earth is classic and simple. The use of cgi is inspired and at no point do you get the feeling it is over the top. The battle scenes set new standards in film and the movies long running time gives a lot of room to develop the characters and story while still packing in some great action.

The film takes a while to get going as it sets the story out and introduces the numerous characters from hobbits, elves, men, dwarfs and wizards (who go on to make up the fellowship as they protect the young hobbit who carries the ring on a journey to destroy it while evil forces trail them) which some viewers can find boring. The cast is very strong and there are some great performances by the likes of Mckellan, Astin.

This first part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy is a great introduction and an epic piece of cinema yet to be bettered.

Summary: great intro to the trilogy