| Product: |
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (DVD) |
| Date: |
11/01/02 (28 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: great production, sound, action scenes
Disadvantages: story, ending, hype
Don't read this opinion if Lord of the Rings is the best film you've ever seen! This is not a bad movie ... but it isn't a great one. When I give an honest opinion about the first episode in this blockbuster series I am told that I haven't appreciated the subtle storyline; that I don't understand the historical context; and, especially, that I couldn't possibly expect to enjoy the film because I haven't read the book.
Time for a reality check Tolkein fans, so here it is in descending order. The special effects are brilliant. The sound and overall cinema experience is good - nearly 3 hours was not an unpleasant experience. The story is not really that great. The characters are not engaging or particularly likeable. Parts of the film are frightening - even for children over the recommended 8 years. The film was over-hyped. And,bottom of the heap, the film doesn't have an ending ... at all. Just as our hero gets to the interesting part, the credits roll up!
OK, so tell me I'm ignorant. It is a trilogy after all. If I'd read the books ...etc etc. Utter tripe! The Godfather is a cinematic trilogy - a continuing story that nevertheless has logical breaks. The Harry Potter books, and subsequent films will work too on this basis. Lord of the Rings was more akin to a soap or made-for-TV series: "...to be continued". Just think of some parallels from your favourite films. Martin Sheen in Apocalypse Now travels up the river, reaches his target and up go the credits before he sets foot on land?
I hadn't read the books before this film, and I felt that I'd been conned. And I suspect that, deep down, those who sing the praises of this film on the basis of the books, the history or other things that weren't up on the screen, really feel the same.
Summary:
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Last comments:
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- 13/01/02 I dont think Tolkien wrote the book so they could make it into a film which is where the problems arise. It's difficult to fit this classic into our modern schedule of life! Nice review though.
David ;-) |
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- 11/01/02 I had read the books before I saw the film so I could't say for sure that you need to read TLOR in order to understand the film but I don't think you do. However I can understand your feelings about the ending. It is after all a cliffhanger. Most sequels follow rise from the success of the first movie. TLOR was intended to be a trilogy, and there is no other place to end it. Michaelhudson is correct, expect the same of the next one. |
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- 11/01/02 I don't know where else they could have ended it (they went into the start of 'The Two Towers' as it was) short of at the very end of the trilogy. Actually, it made a pleasant change in a way to see a film that didn't attempt to tie up every loose end at its climax. I hadn't read the books before I saw the film, but I have now so I'd warn you to expect exactly the same kind of ending this Christmas. |
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