Pub.lished Movie Reviews
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Very few movies are memorable. Some are memorable because of their sparkling brilliance. Some are memorable more like a slap upside the head.
"The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" is memorable in a different way.
This movie is like a new glove that doesn't just fit perfectly the very first time, but feels like you have worn it forever.
After watching this movie when it first came out, I felt like I had known about Middle Earth all this time, but simply forgotten about it, until the movie reminded me of everything I already knew.
There was a time before this movie existed. Back when only literary geeks cared about LOTR. This was before Peter Jackson was a household name. Before New Zealand was known as Middle Earth. But Middle Earth is so embedded in our brains it is hard to remember what that was like.
The most remarkable thing to me, while the movies were being made, was that someone trusted Peter Jackson to make all three films almost simultaneously.
Because up until that point, Peter Jackson had failed to make any sort of box office profit, and the only movie he had made that even hinted at his massive potential was "Heavenly Creatures", which while an art house success, was a dismal box office failure.
How did the producers justify giving $100 million dollars to someone who had never once turned a profit? Did the producers watch "Bad Taste" or "Brain Dead" or "Meet the Feebles" prior to giving Jackson $200 million dollars? I don't think so. They couldn't possibly have seen these movies and thought it was a good idea to give this director $300 million dollars.
Yet as a huge fan of Peter Jackson's earlier work, I never once doubted that he would succeed in making a great movie. Peter Jackson showed with "Heavenly Creatures" that he is capable of incredible directing and that his Weta visual effects company was capable of incredible special effects. It was always Peter's choice of story that let him down, and surely LOTR was a story worthy of telling. But there is a huge difference in having faith and being willing to risk hundreds of millions of dollars that the movie will be a box office success.
And the plan was to shoot this movie in New Zealand. Which isn't the largest of countries. Practically everyone and their dog would be pulled in as an extra when the movie was finally filmed.
Fundamentally, LOTR is a story about the humblest of creatures, the hobbits, who are entrusted with the single most important task to the future survival of Middle Earth and all its inhabitants. There are beings far wiser and stronger and faster than hobbits. But perhaps because the hobbits care more about food and friendship than they do about earthly power, they are able to remain largely uncorrupted by the power of the one ring. And therefore only one hobbit was entrusted with the mammoth task of carrying it through enemy territory in order to throw it into Mount Doom, and surprisingly displayed an impressive amount of can-do ingenuity.
So it seems entirely appropriate that the director chosen with the mammoth task of creating three LOTR films was well known as being humble, friendly, and full of can-do ingenuity. And make no mistake, it was a mammoth task. Only 20% of people had even heard of LOTR, so Peter Jackson had to please both the fanatical fan base and also make a movie that would appeal to an incredibly wide audience. Luckily he succeeded on all counts.
The movie generated a number of popular memes, including "Second Breakfast," "One simply does not" and "You Shall Not Pass!" The original book and movie script of course had Gandalf saying "You cannot pass." But the actor forgot his lines, and Peter Jackson apparently preferred the flub, as do we all.
The movie has perhaps only a couple of weaknesses. The first is that it is long. The extended edition is even longer. I am not sure the extended edition adds anything worthwhile to justify sitting down for an entire three and a half hours. The other weakness is that I am not sure the plot of the underlying book makes a lot of sense. At some point in the movie, we discover that Gandalf can simply hitch a ride on a giant eagle to be flown anywhere he apparently wants. It certainly begs the question why Gandalf couldn't fly with Frodo on the giant Eagle directly to Mount Doom and simply throw the ring in and be done with it.
"You Shall Not Pass!"
- You are not comfortable with scenes of intense action and violence.
- You get bored with long movies as its running time is 178 minutes.
- You aren't a fan of fantasy genre movies.
- You don't have the patience for complex plot with numerous characters.
- Movie is not recommended for children under the age of 13 due to violence and intensity.
Warning: The following may contain spoilers:
What’s the deal with "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring"? I mean, you've got this tiny golden ring that supposedly controls the fate of the world, and yet, nobody thinks to put it on a chain or something? I lose my keys every other day and they're on a keychain!
And let's talk about this fellowship. What an HR nightmare! You've got four hobbits, who are basically just toddlers with a beer problem, three tall, brooding guys who can't smile to save their lives, a grumpy dwarf with an axe obsession, and an elf who seems to have a personal wind machine for his hair at all times. I mean, how did they ever get anything done?
Then there's Gandalf, the wizard, who's supposedly so powerful, but he's always just showing up late and saying cryptic stuff. It's like he's constantly trying to be the most interesting man in the room. "I was delayed." Oh, really Gandalf? By what? Did you forget your staff at the wizard dry cleaners?
And don't even get me started on the walking. They're constantly trekking across mountains, through swamps, and over plains. Ever heard of horses, guys? Oh wait, they did have horses, but they lost them at the first sign of trouble. Nice job, team.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
For fans of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring", "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" is a brilliant choice. Being the fourth installment in the franchise, it offers the same enchanting fantasy universe complete with enthralling quests and strong bonds of friendship. A story of magic, mystery, and camaraderie, it's sure to meet the taste of Tolkien fans.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005):If you enjoyed the fantasy elements and journey of self-discovery in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring", you'll likely appreciate "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe". Based on the beloved children's book by C.S. Lewis, this film follows the Pevensie children as they stumble upon a magical world through a wardrobe. Much like "The Fellowship of the Ring", this film explores themes of courage, friendship, and the battle between good and evil.
Stardust (2007):"Stardust" is an excellent movie for those who love the blend of fantasy and adventure present in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring". This film tells the story of a young man who ventures into a magical realm to find a falling star. Along the way, he encounters witches, pirates, and a variety of magical creatures, all portrayed with a delightful balance of humor and drama.
Avatar (2009):"Avatar" is a must-watch for any fan of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring". This James Cameron film takes you to the alien world of Pandora, immersing you in its lush, vibrant environments and cultures, much like Tolkien's Middle-earth. With its epic plot, spectacular visual effects, and themes of unity and respect for nature, "Avatar" is sure to resonate with fans of fantasy and adventure.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012):Being a prequel to "The Lord of the Rings" series, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" carries the same fantasy, adventure, and camaraderie themes, which are likely to appeal to you. It follows Bilbo Baggins, an unassuming hobbit, on an epic quest to reclaim a dwarf kingdom from the fearsome dragon Smaug. This journey leading to unexpected self-discovery is both humorous and thrilling, filled with Tolkien's signature world-building and rich narrative.
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