Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Harmonia (A) on December 22, 2001 at 09:27:39

In Reply to: Re: Lord of the Rings! (spoilers!) posted by darkstar on December 22, 2001 at 08:04:50:

Interestingly, when I saw LOTR I was surrounded by people who had *not* read the books, and they all loved the film. A couple folks were disappointed that the ending was open ended, but several around me were making comments that they'd have to go buy the books 'cause they couldn't wait a who year to find out what happens. Cool!

On the whole, I LOTR is better than I'd hoped. Not dumbed down, not designed for the lowest comon denominator like so much Hollywood sci-fi & fantasy. I thought the casting was wonderful, McKellan and Wood especially. Vigo Mortensen was a happy surprise, and Orlando Bloom was perfect as Legolas. Those of us who know the trilogy have these characters fixed in our minds' eye, images of what they look like and who they are. IMO the casting and acting went a long way toward emotional involvement in the film.

I was also surprised how many scenes and places in LOTR looked as I'd imagined them - Hobbiton, Bree, Moria. The stunning New Zealand landscape was another character in itself, both familiar and exotic - the perfect Middle Earth. I agree, however, that the Elvish homelands are less successfully imagined than other locations mentioned. Possibly Jackson relied to much on the body of LOTR illustrations that tend to depict Rivendell & Lothlorien as cliched celtic airy faery.

There were some inspired touches too, like the smoking scene at Bilbo's party where the B. & Gandalf are companionably enjoying their pipes...Bilbo blows a smoke ring & Gandalf then blows a puff that looks like a masted ship which travels through Bilbo's ring...what a lovely image that both symbolizes & presages the quest.

The film isn't perfect but I've seldom felt 3 hours go by faster. I'll probably see it again.

Oh yeah, I liked the little bits of humour, even Gandalf hitting his head on the beam in Bilbo's house.