The Flipcritic

Long before Li Mu Bai gave up the Green Destiny, before Indiana Jones found the Ark of the Covenant, and before Luke Skywalker learned of the Force, a man named John Ronald Reuel Tolkien created what is widely regarded to be one of the greatest sword and sorcery epics of all time (arguably second only to Arthurian Legend). It has inspired legions of fans, countless imitators, and now it has inspired this film. I can’t say that I’ve read this trilogy, but Peter Jackson’s work intrigues me greatly to read the book. His work is simply the best sword and sorcery epic I have ever seen (and I’ve seen a lot).

The first episode of this three-part epic revolves around the quest of the hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), who comes into the possession of the ring of power, a mystical circlet of omnipotence which corrupts all those who don it. The ring had been forged in fires of Mount Doom (can’t get more foreboding than that name) and had been given to him by his uncle Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm of THE SWEET HEREAFTER and CHARIOTS OF FIRE) who finds he is not up to the task of destroying it in the only place it can be, which is at the ring’s place of creation. The Baggins’ dear wizard-friend Gandalf (Ian McKellen of GODS AND MONSTERS and RICHARD III) knows how dangerous the ring can be since it is relentlessly pursued by the dark lord Sauron through his minions the dark riders (or ringwraiths) and orcs (warrior-beasts). Gandalf volunteers to assist Frodo to reach Mount Doom, and on their way to do so, they enlist the help of other races in the world of Middle-Earth, notably the human warrior Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen of G.I. JANE), the elf Arwen (Liv Tyler of THAT THING YOU DO), her father Lord Elrond (Hugo Weaving of THE MATRIX), and the elven queen Galadriel (Cate Blanchett of ELIZABETH). Along with dwarves, elves and other hobbits, a fellowship is formed with the one goal of destroying the ring of power.

I have longed for a film like this. Looking back, I tried to think of sword and sorcery adventures that could rival LOTR. I thought of Matthew Robbins’ DRAGONSLAYER, Rob Cohen’s DRAGONHEART, Ron Howard’s WILLOW, and John Boorman’s EXCALIBUR (which is the closest of the group, but it’s a distant close). What separates EXCALIBUR and LOTR from its peers is its conviction, its ferocity, its fearsome quality. If you were one of the actors who had to read the script, it might’ve been difficult to keep a straight face just reciting the lines. But the actors play their parts with serious intent, as if something great were at stake, and indeed something was – the author’s legacy. I felt as if we are watching Shakespearean actors at work, only doing Tolkien instead, with the characters so well-acted and so uncanny.

Peter Jackson has also injected something I’ve never quite felt in a S&S film until now: a sense of raising tension. With other fantasy films, one always has the comfort of knowing of being in a fairy tale. But from the first majestic battle scene, we are shown perils of using the ring’s might. We realize that using it even for seemingly good intentions results in the undoing of Middle-Earth. And with that knowledge, each moment in which Frodo seems to be cornered turns up the notch in level of suspense. It also helps that Sauron’s pawns are chillingly effective (except for the orcs whose appearance I found to be a bit disappointing). Although the picture is timed at almost three hours, it is paced astonishingly well. I never felt I was being rushed or being talked to death, and few long adventure films can do that.

Ah, but if Excalibur matches LOTR in its certainty, it helplessly falls behind LOTR’s imagery, which is the finest you will ever see in a live-action fantasy film (until the next revolution in special effects that is). Its majestic scenes deservedly draws comparisons to those of the STAR WARS trilogy. Peter Jackson seems in love with wide vista shots of mountain ranges, landscapes, and imaginary realms. His envisioning of the Shire, which is a hobbit forest-dwelling, will remind you of Babe’s farm (maybe because both were shot in New Zealand?). Lord Elrond’s kingdom of Rivendell is impossibly beautiful as one could ever imagine an elven realm. And have I mentioned the underground dwarven stronghold in the Mines of Moria, the forests of Lothlorien where Galadriel reigns (which reminded me of scenes in Final Fantasy IX), and the grim dark landscapes of Mount Doom? Peter Jackson’s visual interpretation is incredible. I will never forget the sight of Sauron as a fiery red eye, the bleak dimension which the ring wearer inhabits, the war of the orcs against the races of Middle-Earth, and especially the spectacular battle where Gandalf makes a last stand against the demon Balrog ("You shall not pass!!!").

It is interesting how Tolkien describes the distinct characteristics among hobbits, dwarves, and elves (finally I know the difference). In Middle-Earth, elves don’t help Santa make toys for Christmas, but look more like Norse gods and goddesses. Elves seem noble and hold great power (Arwen turns a wall of water into wraiths of charging stallions), dwarves are only interested in acquiring wealth (well, that’s according to Lord Elrond), and men hold the capability for great things but weakly adhere to their beliefs (hey, Lord Elrond again). Hobbits on the other hand are naïve and guileless, with no other wish than to live good lives within their communities and eat loads and loads of food (according to the novel, they eat six or seven times a day).

I imagined hobbits to be shorter, chubbier, and more childlike though. That was the image given to me by the original Lord of The Rings film (A well-intentioned but incomplete and over-reaching animated picture back in 1978). The movie utilizes special effects to make characters larger or smaller than they really are (Elijah Wood is almost as tall as Cate Blanchett in real life), and it can be distracting at times, but to no great deal. Elijah Wood captures the innocent heroism of Frodo Baggins without seeming mushy (he’s got the bluest eyes since Christopher Reeves). It’s great to Ian Holm and Ian McKellen (Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf respectively) together in a scene. Holm is wonderful as a gentle hobbit who wishes to be tempted no more, and McKellen is thoroughly enjoyable as a wise old wizard. I was quite impressed with Viggo Mortensen who’s no-nonsense and guilt-ridden performance elevates him among the fellowship members. Liv Tyler and Cate Blanchett are perfectly cast as elves since both of them possess an ethereal Anglo-Saxon beauty fit for this story. Hugo Weaving basically reprises his role as Agent Smith in THE MATRIX, but to good effect. And it is an absolute wicked treat to see Christopher Lee again. He is the second most memorable Dracula to ever grace the screen (behind Bela Lugosi), and plays Saruman just as evil.

Some Tolkien fans will be disappointed and others will weep with joy upon seeing this film. I refuse to compare novels with movies since they are different forms of storytelling, each having their own limitations. Some say that the movie doesn’t have time to see the beauty of its world as the book does. That it doesn’t have the time for songs and poems that novel pauses for. I say that Peter Jackson has produced the best film interpretation one could ever hope for. The novel has, as Elvis Mitchell of the New York Times puts it, has "a crushing amount of explanation…" which maybe necessary, but this film can never hope to discuss all of Middle-Earth, unless you want a documentary. He has opted to focus on the danger which threatens his world, the dreadful consequences, and the high stakes that must be played to prevent it.

Who would’ve thought Mr. Jackson could’ve made such a grand experience. I always knew he was a gifted director. His HEAVENLY CREATURES is an eerily beautiful film about obsession, and his DEAD ALIVE is the most gory (yet entertaining) horror movie ever made (it is unimaginably gory. See it at your own risk). This work substantially surpasses his past ones, and revives a genre in need of a boost (ever see Dungeons and Dragons? Don’t.). THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING is a full realization of the gift of moviemaking. It takes us into new unseen worlds that exist only in our minds, and sits alongside Star Wars and Indiana Jones as one of the great trilogies. Thank God for it living up to the hype. This picture is Mr. Jackson’s way of saying "Thank you" to Tolkien. They say a picture says a thousand words, and Mr. Jackson has spoken gloriously.

Posted by FLIPCRITIC at January 8, 2002 12:00 AM