Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin
Directed by: Peter Jackson

It's finally upon us, and doesn't disappoint. Peter Jackson's first installment of the Lord of the Rings, entitled The Fellowship of the Ring, is a movie that couldn't have been make even a decade ago. Using much computer effect, J.R.R. Tolkien's world of Middle-earth comes alive, just like our collective imagination pictured it.

Having read the books over five years ago, I recall most of the main events that take place, and based on what I remember, watching the movie is like having someone read you the novel. The events in the film are very faithful to those in the book. Sure, there are some concessions made, but they are understandable. Still, whether you've read the books or not, The Fellowship of the Ring is a must-see.

If you've never heard of Lord of the Rings, then you should get out from that rock you're living under. If you want a synopsis of the story, it goes something like this: In the land of Middle-earth, all sorts of creatures exist, namely Dwarves, Elves, Men and Hobbits, in addition to evil ones like Orcs and Goblins. One day, Frodo, a Hobbit, inherits a magical ring from his uncle. All's well, until the wise old wizard Gandalf discovers the ring in Frodo's possession is the One Ring, a ring so powerful that if it fell into the hands of the dark lord Sauron, it could spell the end for Middle-earth. Sauron sends his evil minions to the far reaches of Middle-earth to find the ring and bring it back. Meanwhile, a fellowship is created, charged with the task of escorting the ring into the heart of darkness and dropping the ring into Mount Doom, the only place where the ring can be destroyed, and the world saved. Can Frodo and the rest of the fellowship make it to Mount Doom safely and dispose of the ring? That's for the third movie to say. For now, we see how the fellowship is formed, as well as some adventures they have on their way.

At almost three hours long, this movie may seem long to some, but I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute of it. The sets are fantastic, straight out of my own imagination. It's hard to believe that they did everything as perfectly as I had imagined. From the snow-capped mountains to Lorien and the Shire, everything was dead on. The battle sequences were likewise great, seamlessly combining live actors with great looking computer generated monsters. What a thrill it was to see Jackson?s interpretation of a Balrog. It's not to say that The Fellowship of the Ring is strictly an action movie. The story is deep, with so many references to Tolkien's own lore that non-readers of the book may have some difficulty grasping the entire story. The acting is also of the highest caliber. Sometimes, Elijah Wood seemed a little too overwhelmed, but it's understandable; not only is Frodo a person who had never seen the wondrous lands outside his village, but Wood is an actor who had never before starred in anything this big. Not many actors have, and probably never will, due to the expense of making movies this big.

What a huge undertaking this movie must have been. And with the second and third installments already filmed, we, the oh-so grateful audience, are guaranteed around six more hours of unbridled imagination. Movies like this don't come along very often, but we're thankful when they do. We need more movies like The Fellowship of the Ring. It delivers on all fronts. It's immense in scope, big on vision and meets the expectations of half a century of readers.

DroopyMcC
King

ASY		Spectacular if you've read LotR. Those who haven't may find that it's just another monster movie. I'm SURE MastaCSG agrees with me...
Queen