My
precious!
Unlike many
"Rings" addicts, this will not be an in-depth
review of the film. In fact, I've not read the
books (Gasp!). I've started them twice and both
times found myself bored to tears. So, I'm
approaching this film from the angle of a
newcomer.
Indeed, this
film did make me somewhat interested in trying
to read the books again...I could at least could
grasp it a bit more fully. Peter Jackson has
directed this film beautifully, and I certainly
admire it. It is great filmmaking. Yet, I found
myself unattached to it at the end of the film.
Having not
seen "Fellowship" first, I felt perhaps I hadn't
had the opportunity to bond with the characters.
Upon further thought, I don't really think
that's the problem. Still, the technical aspects
of this film are mind-boggling, especially
Gollum. Gollum, perhaps, is the one piece of
this film that did stay with me after I had left
the theater. Elijah Wood does a nice job as
Frodo, Ian Mckellen is wonderful as Gandalf and
Viggo Mortensen is good as Aragorn. I can't help
but say that the performances are not what make
a movie like this great...it's the technical
aspects, the production itself. Perhaps this
will be the difficulty in any of the three films
winning a "Best Picture" Oscar.
While all the
performances suffice...none really stand out.
Liv Tyler is serviceable at best as is Sean
Astin as Sam. The entire cast, as an ensemble,
does a good job with their characters. Yet,
there are no great performances here...This is a
film I enjoyed greatly, yet this is not a film I
will view repeatedly. I did go back and view
"Fellowship" and I will view the final
installment...However, if you are a fan of the
"Rings" or you love this sort of film...well,
then, you must see this film.
©
Written by Richard Propes
TC Candler's Comment
Peter Jackson
is a 14 year old boy with attention deficit
disorder. This is yet another
finger-drumming flirtation with insane excesses
in the special effects arena. What
happened to the innocence of the Tolkien books?
All these films seem to care about is obese
battle scenes and horrific creatures... There is
so much more to this trilogy than that!
Jacob
Hall's Comment
n/a
