Frodo, Gandalf, Sam Gamgee, Aragon, Gimli, Legolas, Arwen, Sauraman, do any of these names ring a bell! To most people yes they are characters to the legendly trilogy Lord of the Rings.

New Zealand Director Peter Jackson has by far made teh best movie of 2001, hands down by putting his heart and soul into the first part of the epic saga, with "The Fellowship of the Ring"

Based upon the book by J.R.R.Tolkien, Fellowship of the Ring takes us to the Middle-Earth, a place where we meet the Hobbitt's (short furry-footed creatures who live in the Shire), we meet the Wizard Gandalf the Grey, Aragon a human, who is a ranger, Gimli the Dwarf, Leogas, and Arwen who ar elf's. And many more.

The movie stars are:
Frodo Baggins: Elijah Wood
Gandalf: Ian McKellen
Aragorn: Viggo Mortensen
Sam: Sean Astin
Bilbo: Ian Holm
Arwen: Liv Tyler
Saruman: Christopher Lee
Gimli- John Rhyes Davies
Boromir-Sean Bean

The film proper begins in Bilbo's bucolic home, the Shire. During his 111th birthday party, attended by his wizard friend, Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen), Bilbo bequeaths the Ring to his young cousin, Frodo (Elijah Wood.) Gandalf determines that this is the One Ring, forged by the evil lord, Sauron, eons ago. The only way to destroy the Ring and its malevolent power is to take it to the land of Mordor and throw it into the flames of Mt. Doom where it was formed. The proverbial ordinary soul caught up in extraordinary events, Frodo accepts the Ring's burden: "I will take it, though I do not know the way."

To help him on his onerous and dangerous quest, a fellowship is formed, consisting of Frodo and Gandalf; Frodo's loyal Hobbit friend and servant, Sam (Sean Astin) and the mischievous Hobbit pair, Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) ; the mysterious and brooding ranger known as Strider (Viggo Mortensen); the strong-armed warrior, Boromir (Sean Bean); the elfin archer, Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and the gruffly stalwart dwarf, Gimli (John Rhys-Davies).

Opposing them are Orcs, trolls, Ringwariths (like a combo of Sleepy Hollow's Headless Horseman and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse), the monstrous mutant army known as the Urki-Hai, and the fellowship's own weaknesses which the Ring preys upon mercilessly.

Also in the mix are Saruman the White (Christopher Lee), a wizard as powerful as Gandalf; Arwen (Liv Tyler), an elvish warrior-princess; Galadriel (Cate Blnchett), the regal and beautiful elf-queen of Lorien; and the barely-glimpsed Gollum who,as Gandalf says, "still may have a part to play for good or evil."

Some characters have been cut. Others have been amplified or diminished. But Jackson's exceedingly well-crafted script (co-written with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens) employs these changes to the picture's advantage. Characters are used to advance the plot and the plot is used to develop the characters.

The large ensemble cast is flawless, though special mention must be made of Wood, McKellen and Mortensen. As for the way the film looks (both actual locations in New Zealand, where it was filmed, and computer-generated special effects), no matter how you imagined Tolkien's detailed fantasy world would look, Jackson has somehow rendered it exactly as you imagined.

Just as the One Ring waited for thousands of years for the right time to become known again,"The Lord of The Rings" trilogy seems to have waited as well, until the movies' technological magic could match Tolkien's visionary words. The second(The Two Towers) and third (The Return of the King) installments are due Christmas 2002 and 2003. The thought of waiting a year to experience more wonders from Jackson and Tolkien is excruciating. My advice: go see "The Fellowship of the Ring" again. And again.

THUMBS ARE UP TONIGHT!!
Critic Review-
Roger Ebert 3 stars of 4
Tor Torson of Reel.com- 4 stars of 4
yahoo movies-A+
Entertainment Weekly- A+

"This movie will be loved by many, and adored for generations to come"- Tor Torson

Golden Globe Noms of the moment
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Score
Best Original Song
and another one.

From Roger Ebert-New Line presents a film directed by Peter Jackson. Written by Frances Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Jackson, based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. Running time: 178 minutes. Rated PG-13 (for epic battle sequences and some scary images).

AGAIN GREAT FLICK!

SEE IT!

OSCARS 2002 BEST PICTURE: and the envelope please....

The winner is....

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings!





Recommended:
Yes

Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older