The message in the movie is simple. You cannot always control the hand you are dealt, and you may not even like the cards you get. But, to be true to yourself, you must do the best with what you have been given. This is a theme that runs through many heroic movies, and for good reason. It is the greatest adventure story that can be told, and one that we can trivialize for comparisons with our everyday lives.
I thought the first installment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy was a brilliant beginning. And even after three hours, I found myself disappointed that the story had ended. Especially, knowing that I will have to wait a full year (until Christmas 2002) to see the second chapter. And, one more year to see how it all unfolds. I have not read the books, but I know many that have. And after watching the movie, I could see that I would get drawn into the story and never put the book down.
Many of special effects were wonderful and the theatre was perfectly equipped to capture all the sights and sounds. Yet, from my perspective, some of what appeared to be the easiest of effects looked poor in comparison to today’s standards. One example was a scene where the fellowship was running through the Mines of Moria. You could clearly tell that the characters and the background were not filmed together. So clearly in fact that I started to imagine the theme from “Land of the Lost”. (If you watched the show, you know the effect I’m talking about. If you haven’t, sorry.)
“The Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring” is well worth seeing on the big screen. And, one of the most critical facts for the 2001 movie season is that it is a better action/adventure film than "Harry Potter". |
