Posted on 12/17/2001 11:04:26 PM PST by PoorMuttly
This is a Post, not an Article...and my first. I just returned from the N.Y.C. Opening of and industry cocktail party for the feature film "Lord of the Rings," having been an invited guest of the New Zealand Film Board and Gov't, Trade Commission, etc. This is without any doubt the greatest film of the past dozen or more years...and an excellent start of our new century. It was shot in the old, vintage style of intercut close-ups, long, moving "matte-shots," which did not particularly look computer generated, the acting was simple and sparse, subtitles appropriate and believable, violence real and justifiably horrifying, action and behavior legitimate, practical and called-for...scenery real and not falsely exploited...and this coming from the recognized WORST person on Earth to see a film with...even on TV. I will actually try to PAY to see this motion picture again tomorow, and feel I got over twice the value for my money than I would at ANY other venue. I even mistakenly ventured into some other films on my way back to my seat from "feeding the meter" for my parked mini-van...and was repelled by the shallow pap I was exposed to...Top Gun turned yuppie gambler...all sorts of shallow soap-opera uselessness...then back into the depths of the great Adventure...and my friends. That's how you judge a great Motion Picture. You KNOW, and are With the characters, and living where they are. I must get to sleep now, because I want to finish all my work and chores tomorrow, in time to see this film again, fresh and aware...and be ready for the next day...to do it again. You too, will not be disappointed. I have had a wonderful, and totally unexpected, happy birthday. I have told you the truth. Have fun, and Freep On!
NOT!
The real question is will it be any better than an average episode of Xena, Warrior Princess. I don't think so... Well I guess if you're gay, you'll like it more getting to see Elijah Wood and Sean Astin kiss each other...
It isn't age... all you need to tolerate this drivel is a lobotomy.
Wow! I wish I had your power to judge something before I had seen it for myself! Maybe you could make some tapes and hawk them on early morning infomercials. You`d make a fortune! Are you a wizard of some sort?
No dumb dumb. He said it was the best film in last DOZEN YEARS. Not the last 50 years. DOH!!!
It isn't age... all you need to tolerate this drivel is a lobotomy.This from the person who asked us, "What is the square root of pi?"
ecurbh, please ping your list.
I hope (suspect not) 10 years of age will be merciful and safe for them...but one does stay tense but very interested for the full 3 hours or so. 13 would be better....but the Red baron died at age 24....it's your choice. It's not an idiot space alien, but human-related...and they live...mostly.
The good guys win, the bad guys lose (although there aren't too many lingering shots of the bodies). Some of the good guys are tempted.
There are several scenes of visual wonder to enjoy. Old Tarzan and Christopher Lee Hammer Dracula films could spook me as a kid, so I don't know how this will set with young audiences. The bigger challenge for young audiences is the 3 hour length and heavy background story laid out. Names and places should be easy to pick up but again, someone younger could find it overwhelming.
The bigger drawback is that this film leaves the audience wanting more. Yes there are battle scenes and bits of tragedy but at the end of the film, we are on the brink of a grand adventure. That adventure won't continue for another year. Some people (young and old) may be disappointed in this world of "instant" gratification.
Some younger audiences may do better to wait a year (when they are older) and see FOTR and The Two Towers "back to back" (say within the same week).
No foul language, no sex or nudity, some violence with some consequences shown. I can't do more to offer help for bringing young kids.
No sex, foul language, implication, non-essential gore...the kids (boys) will like the arrow in the monster's eye...not the arrows (plural) in the warrior's chest...but a good lesson of the reality of fighting for real...not comic books...and what even primitive weapons can do...and how long it may take (really).
I think it's a bad idea to expose an actually young, but brave and willing child to this, though. May God protect them from the real thing until they are older...or forever...but you mess with an impressionable and creative person's head when they are fed it sitting down, in the dark. Not at all a good thing. Better to take them hunting first, for practical experience reference...or deal with the death of fish or other pets, a lot, first.
Finally, yes...three hours is not nearly enough...for an experienced (the harder experience, the better) ADULT. Waiting a year will be excruciating...but character-building.
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