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Review at TORN
I wanted to post a review at TORN... so I did. If you want to read it, though, you can do so
I realize there is a tendency to dismiss reviews that don't contain critical or negative comments. This often results in reviews that have paragraph after paragraph of criticisms followed by an ending that says the movie gets 4 or 5 stars anyhow. This is not that type of review.
The most critical thing I can say is this: "Peter Jackson could have been a better movie for JUST ME, but he didn't make a movie for just me." Sure he could have done things differently based upon my own personal favorite characters and interpretations of scenes and themes in the book. But I don't think that he could have made a BETTER movie.
Gollum is incredible. Treebeard and the Ents are wonderful. The themes are recognizable but don't ever become preachy. The action is astounding but not overwhelming. Frodo's obsession and loss of innocence is heartbreaking. Sam is loyal and steadfast and brave. Aragorn is everything I ever imagined him to be and even a bit more. Legolas is the perfect elf. Merry and Pippin grow and mature in a natural and logical way. Gimli is funny without being only comic relief. And like in the book, Gandalf is both the same and different.
I felt that, just like Boromir, Faramir was only improved with the changes they did to his character. This Faramir, IMHO, was more believable and three-dimensional than the Faramir in the book ever was. Theoden, his transformation and his actions were handled simply and eloquently. Shadowfax is simply the best fictional horse ever. Eowyn was great in her nobility and her fear that she would never be able to overcome the restrictions placed on her. Eomer was every bit the noble and soldier and loyal rider for Rohan that he was in the book.
The movie, just like the book, speaks to each in its own way. The movie's characters and themes are presented so skillfully that each viewer is allowed to interpret it as they see fit. Best of all, despite the fact that the setting is Middle Earth and the backdrop is a cataclysmic battle between Good and Evil, each viewer can see those same themes in his or her everyday life and world.
It may not be perfect and it may not be a direct copy of the book. But the movie is true to the spirit of Tolkien's work, is an epic adventure and a grand tale of themes and ideas.
In a word, it is brilliant.
No spoilage, really.
I realize there is a tendency to dismiss reviews that don't contain critical or negative comments. This often results in reviews that have paragraph after paragraph of criticisms followed by an ending that says the movie gets 4 or 5 stars anyhow. This is not that type of review.
The most critical thing I can say is this: "Peter Jackson could have been a better movie for JUST ME, but he didn't make a movie for just me." Sure he could have done things differently based upon my own personal favorite characters and interpretations of scenes and themes in the book. But I don't think that he could have made a BETTER movie.
Gollum is incredible. Treebeard and the Ents are wonderful. The themes are recognizable but don't ever become preachy. The action is astounding but not overwhelming. Frodo's obsession and loss of innocence is heartbreaking. Sam is loyal and steadfast and brave. Aragorn is everything I ever imagined him to be and even a bit more. Legolas is the perfect elf. Merry and Pippin grow and mature in a natural and logical way. Gimli is funny without being only comic relief. And like in the book, Gandalf is both the same and different.
I felt that, just like Boromir, Faramir was only improved with the changes they did to his character. This Faramir, IMHO, was more believable and three-dimensional than the Faramir in the book ever was. Theoden, his transformation and his actions were handled simply and eloquently. Shadowfax is simply the best fictional horse ever. Eowyn was great in her nobility and her fear that she would never be able to overcome the restrictions placed on her. Eomer was every bit the noble and soldier and loyal rider for Rohan that he was in the book.
The movie, just like the book, speaks to each in its own way. The movie's characters and themes are presented so skillfully that each viewer is allowed to interpret it as they see fit. Best of all, despite the fact that the setting is Middle Earth and the backdrop is a cataclysmic battle between Good and Evil, each viewer can see those same themes in his or her everyday life and world.
It may not be perfect and it may not be a direct copy of the book. But the movie is true to the spirit of Tolkien's work, is an epic adventure and a grand tale of themes and ideas.
In a word, it is brilliant.
No spoilage, really.
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