"The Fellowship Of The Ring": review by Darth Sidious

The presently elated state of my gray matter | December 19th, 2001 | Darth Sidious

[Darth Sidious]

Well, as of this moment it's now been an hour since we (the Lovely Lisa and yours truly) left the theater, after the 12:01 am first showing of The Fellowship Of The Ring. To say that a fun time was had by all would be an understatement: the place was packed! One knot of fans came in costume as Aragorn, elves etc. I brought a sign saying "Gandalf 3:16" I waved around before the movie. Lots of "Lord Of The Rings" discussion, including the ubiquitous "do Balrogs have wings" going on. I'd say the crowd ranged in age from 16 to 75 easily, with probably 20-35 being the most in attendance.

Oh yeah, and the movie... the movie...

At this point I want to say something - a three word phrase - but I'm trying awfully hard not to take the Lord's name in vain. It's commonly used, however, to indicate that one is completely and utterly overwhelmed by an event. And gosh-darnnit, I want to say those three words, over and over and over again... until it becomes absolutely clear to you, Dear Reader, that this writer has indeed become completely and utterly overwhelmed by this particular event.

Lisa had never done a midnight showing of a movie before. I'd been telling her the past few days that this would be "fun". 'Course, this comes from a guy who camped out overnight for tickets to Star Wars: Episode I a few years ago too, so my own senses may be kind of inured to this sort of nonsense. But to someone blessedly belonging to the realm of normal mortals, the idea of seeing a movie at midnight - unless it's Rocky Horror Picture Show - is still a bit peculiar. Still, the Episode I first showing was loads of fun, and Lisa trusted me enough to give this a whirl.

I'm thankful she went along for the ride. Years from now when we've a houseful of children, the little tykes are going to be in awe that Mommy and Daddy were among the very first to watch The Fellowship Of The Ring. As much as someone would be in awe of their parents being the first to see The Wizard Of Oz or Gone With The Wind.

Okay, the temptation is too great, but fill in the blank: oh my ___.

Oh my ___ oh my ___ oh my ___.

This is easily the best movie I've seen since The Patriot, and maybe the best I've seen ever. That'll have to wait 'til later this morning, when the full experience has "soaked in". Peter Jackson has raised the bar higher than any film has since the original Star Wars in '77. Indeed, The Fellowship Of The Ring may be the finest marrying of story and special-effects in film history: a wonderful fruit of the seed that was planted from George Lucas's endeavours. And if Star Wars is ever supplanted as the predominant saga of cinema, there is no more suitable an heir in sight than there is The Fellowship Of The Ring.

So if you're wondering how the first chapter of cinema's The Lord Of The Rings gets rolling without making a film of "The Hobbit" first, you're in for a treat. The first eight minutes sets the stage for both newcomers to the saga and die-hard Tolkienites, introducing the Rings of Power and who they were meant for, and how the One Ring wound up in the hands of Bilbo Baggins (Sir Ian Holm). I *loved* this part, because from the getgo it's laying down a history for what's to come. And probably the spookiest is when it shows the nine of the race of Men, who are given nine rings: I've always wondered who these nine guys were, what they looked like before they turned into the Ringwraiths, and somehow Jackson's interpretation was exactly what I imagined. If only the same could be said for Sauron...

Ahhhh, Sauron... the Lord of the Ring. We see him forge the One Ring to ensnare the others, and then in action during the most BRUTAL battle you could imagine. After you see Sauron, Darth Vader is a wuss. Darth Maul is a wuss. Darth I'm-A-Drunken-Soccer-Hooligan-And-You're-Shite-I'm-Gonna-Break-Your-Skull is a wuss even.

Okay, anyhoo... the story goes from a beautifully orchestrated intro to Frodo (Elijah Wood) meeting Gandalf (Sir Ian McKellen) en route to the Shire for Bilbo's 111th birthday party, and...

Ahhh, okay, look, it doesn't matter who's playing who in this film. I know who McKellen is, I know he played Magneto in X-Men and he's openly homosexual, and if anyone else has a problem with that, fine. I know a few Christians who have vocally said this is reason enough to boycott the film. Well, as a fellow believer I'll go on record as saying this film hits the mark closer than any other interpretation of Tolkien's overwhelmingly Christian-inspired work. That's NOT McKellen on the screen, that is Gandalf. Hugo Weaving isn't in this movie: Peter Jackson convinced Elrond to come back East across the Sea to play himself: the real Weaving is busy filming The Matrix Reloaded, so that can't be him.

I'm going to cut to the chase about The Fellowship Of The Ring, about how to watch it and get the most from it. It doesn't have Tom Bombadil and Goldberry in it. The barrow-downs scene is nowhere. The Council of Elrond is greatly abbreviated from how it's depicted in the original text. Arwen has a far greater presence than she has in the novel. A dozen differences and more will be enough to rankle some die-hard Rings fans... but don't worry about those. Go into The Fellowship Of The Ring with the mindset that this is a historical film... and as faithful to its historical matter as is Apollo 13 or Gettysburg. Tell yourself that this is a cinematic translation of the War of the Ring. That it doesn't matter if some of those things did or didn't happen inside the Apollo 13 capsule: they made it home and that's all that's really important. So too is it with this movie: tell yourself that this is one translation of a real historical event, just like Tolkien didn't invent the story, he merely translated it from the Red Book of Westmarch (collecting dust somewhere in some forgotten corner of the Oxford library). That this is a depiction of events as they happened 9,000 years ago. It doesn't matter that no one will ever find the ruins of Barad-Dur or Rivendell on this earth, because they aren't to be found.

But the metaphors and analogies in this movie are all quite true. This is a story centered on a metaphor for absolute power, symbolized in an innocent-looking gold band. It's a warning against seeking power for power's sake. It's about resisting the temptation of power, of refusing to yield to the lust for glory. And it's about the strength that is found, not in the gods of this world or the might of fortresses, but in accepting with the most abject humility that one must do what one can to stand against evil - however meek or mean the effort - in the time God has given us. As I have come to discover those aspects of life, so too do I believe that The Fellowship Of The Ring is a very true and real story... if only as analogy to our struggle against our own ring's temptings.

[BigBlueJon]

I saw the 12:01 viewing last night also. Fantastic!! The special effects were believable. (if you were scared by Bilbo's transition, raise your hand) From the terrifying orcs to the majestic landscape shots, everything was just how I imagined it.

The acting was perfect. Every character was just perfect, even the glimpse of Gollum. I'll say it again, just how I imagined them. I saw the movie with my brother and I'll probably see it again with my wife if we can work something out with the 2 month old.

I'm confident that this will be the best movie of the year and will continue into next year with high marks. I've waited since I was a kid to see this movie and was not disappointed.

[Deb]

Just curious about the Aragon shot. It's the most important "character presentation" (next to the Gandalf hat reveal) in the movie and in some theatres the picture is so dark you can't see Viggo sitting, hooded and smoking his pipe in the corner.

Theatre owners drive me crazy in their attempt to save money by cutting down on the lumin light that projects the picture on-screen. Sometimes you can't even see a movie completely till it comes out on VHS or DVD.

Sorry, just a technical obsession of mine.

[Huck]

Maybe you meant that you hadn't seen a movie at all since the Patriot, in which case I retract my sneering look :)

yeah, and what's all this crap about Star Wars "raising the bar"? :-P

[HairOfTheDog]

I will give a response from a chick and a fan of the books who read them through and through more times than I can count.

I don't know the basis of your gut-level rejection of "sorcery" so I will answer from the two bases that I think you may be coming from... If I am wrong, correct me.

If you object to sorcery from the position that you just aren't really "into" the "gothic sort of sorcery-wizards and fantay genre", I will tell you that, at least in the books, that part of the story is secondary to the main theme. Clearly there are magical things that are not of this world, but the main theme of the story to me is character, temptation, valor, fellowship and devotion. There is enough "chick stuff" underneath the reasons all the events happen. You will bond with these characters.

If you don't like sorcery because of a christian rejection of magic, I may not be able to help as much as one of the theology scholars that are around... Did you read the review done by a Catholic and fan of the books? Posted here A Christian Review of the Fellowship of the Rings

Anyhow... try it... if you like it, maybe you will read the books and enjoy them as much as I did (have you asked your mother?). If you don't... you will know more about it than you did before.

[John Farson]

In Tolkien's books, bad things happen to men who use magic. Gandalf is not a man, but an Istari -- a spirit sent by Manwe to protect the people of the Middle-Earth.
(Tolkien geeks please correct me if I'm wrong.)

[ThinkPlease]

Great review! I just got back from the noon showing...whoo!!! Loved it!

By the way, on the wings thing, I think Peter answered the question once and for all. *ahem* But I think I'll have to go to the 7:30 pm showing to make sure. ;-).

[newgeezer]

not a single swearword anywhere, no mention of sex anywhere.

<anti-hollywood sarcasm> How could it possibly make a profit? No one will go to see such a movie in this day and age. </anti-hollywood sarcasm>

[4Freedom]

Excellent revue! I have to wait until next week to see it, but reviews like this will help me make it through.

[Overtaxed]

When the third film brings the Easterlings, Haradrim and Far Haradrim in as friends of Sauron, we'll hear plenty of howls ;)

I wonder if the part about Sam wondering if the Easterlings et al wouldn't rather be home with their families will be in the movie.

[Overtaxed]

Oh, while you at it, got some others who want to be added to your one ping list...

Overtaxed

I'm already on the list.
signed,

Overtaxed aka "Pingwraith"

[RobFromGa]

Just got back from seeing it. I thought all the effects were spectacular and the casting was excellent except I would have liked Strider and Boromir to look a little more different and Liv Tyler wasn't a great choice. I give it a solid A. I'll be interested to hear reactions from people who did not read the book.

[ottersnot]

bttt cant wait!

[New Horizon]

Saw it today at 9:00. It was AWESOME, to say the least.

[Skywalk]

Nice shot, Huck! =)

Just got back from seeing it con mi madre. I gotta tell ya, this movie was fantastic. I was nervous, scared(yes Bilbo's transition was frightful) excited, happy, and sad. There were more than a few times that my eyes welled up.

Yes, there were sacrifices for the sake of the film translation, but they take away very little.

I love Cate Blanchette. I mean, in general, I love her :)

Most importantly, it's easy for people to say that "nothing compares to imagination," except if that were true all directors would be equally visionary and creative, and none of us would watch films. Sometimes the visual effect is more stunning than anything you could imagine. The swarming orcs in Moria(the pillars!Look at the pillars!) is but one example of how a 2-D image in your mind can seem wooden next to the "reality" of the screen.

[Huck]

Thanks for the ping. All attempts at lowering my expectations have been met with abject failure. I haven't read the books (yet). I don't have that baggage. But I am scared of going into a theater, where I am so often disappointed, to see a movie touted as nothing short of a monumental moment in filmaking. Yikes. But I will see it. Maybe I'll try and see a matinee on Christmas eve. I am off from work that day.

[lowbridge]

But to someone blessedly belonging to the realm of normal mortals, the idea of seeing a movie at midnight - unless it's Rocky Horror Picture Show - is still a bit peculiar.

I haven't done that yet! :-)

[Samwise]

I would have liked Strider and Boromir to look a little more different

I'm glad you set that. I thought it was probably these tired old near-sighted eyes. I had problems distinguishing them.

[Samwise]

I saw it this afternoon. I have never before gone to an opening day movie. I couldn't wait any longer--30 years is long enough. Your review is spot on. I won't quibble about Braveheart. When I first saw the Shire, Rivendale, and Mirkwood I was delighted. The director did not depict them. He found them in time and teleported there for the filming. I was mesmerized by the scenery. I have imagined them so many times and there they were. I wanted to keep looking and gazing. I wanted to walk over that hill and see the view from there.

[Darth Sidious]

Schindler's List is no longer the greatest historical film ever. See my comments above for what I mean by that.

Fellowship Of The Ring is the movie that should be shown on network television, commercial free, sponsored by Ford(tm). Better than all the Star Wars movies put together, and far more to cry about than Titanic.

We've seen it twice this day. Going to take a little break and catch it again in another week or so. Lisa said she probably can't see any movie more than 4 times... but I'm determined to break my record of the number of times I've seen a movie during it's first run. Right now it stands at 9, for The Phantom Menace. Heck, I'll see it 20 more times :-)

[Cascadians]

We saw the first showing of it today. Beautiful.

TLOTR:FOTR aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, immersion in a dream, reading bliss materialized.

Now to see it again and again, to own it hold it freeze each frame and bathe in it ...

Back to Middle-earth :-) aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh thank You God