Lady Ninja Review

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(More customer reviews)I'd like to start by saying that Lady Ninja, also known as Kunoichi, was a decent film for it's genre.
This film is actually based on a series of Ninja stories from Japan and is way down on the list in the order. However it is it's own film and can be viewed as an individual story. The story centers around 7 Kunoichi (female ninja in Japanese) who under the supervision of Jyubei Yagyuu (a samurai)try to get revenge for their slain buddist nun sisters. The nuns are ruthlessly killed by a Japanese Lord who enjoys the company of women a little too much. In fact he has a habbit of kiddnapping brides on their wedding nights and keeping them for his own little private harem.
Throughout the film the 7 ninja battle against the Lords Henchmen. Some of whom have magical capabilities. (such as pulling eyes out which become one eyed assasins and another who can poison you by touching you) The Kunoichi also have some tricks up their sleves which the girls learn to unlock during the film. There are several confrontations throughout the film where the ninjas kill the henchmen one by one. Also, some of the girls don't make it to the end. I won't say anymore, so as not to spoil it for you.
The lead ninja is played by Yuko Moriyama. She is the one who really shines in this film with her strong screen presence and solid performace. The film does offer some B movie special effects which come across well in the film, and a cartoonish ammount of gore. I will point out however, that this is in NO way a child's film. The situations and violence would not be appropriate for kids. Also, a couple of the ninja women use strange attacks (one with her breasts and another with her hind end) The action is fast and uses a lot of wire work. Not many grounded swordplay or martial arts sequences though. The film has a very fantstical aire about it, more like Jet Li's Legend of the Swordsmen or Swordsmen II.
The release company on this film is Tokyo Shock, and they offer both the original Japanese language track, and an English dubbed track. (which is pretty much garbage) Tokyo Shock has a ways to go in their dubbing department. Other features include some interviews with cast and crew in Japanese (subtitled in English) and the film trailer.
This film may not be in everyone's taste, so if you're a Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon fan, this may be a littel over the top for you. However, it does have some nice cinematography, some nice surprises in the special effects department, and lots of cute ninja girls running around so it got a 3 in my book.
This is definately a rent it before you buy it film. I did buy it before renting, and plan to watch it occasionally, but it's not going to be frequently played in my DVD player. It's not that kind of film.

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In feudal japan the evil lord akinari katou ruled aizu prefecture. He had private troops known as the 7 spears who were trained assassins. When the 7 spears killed the hori clan 7 daughters were left in edo. They swore revenge using the power of kunoichi inside each one of them.Studio: Media Blasters Inc.Release Date: 04/29/2003Starring: Yuko MoriyamaRun time: 105 minutes

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Dragonslayer: When Dragons Were Real (1981) Review

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(More customer reviews)Ultimately, "Dragonslayer" succeeds where the vast majority of monster movies fail, which is the point at which you get to see the creature and it is a big disappointment. Very few movies had really great monsters when I was growing up and you get to the point where you just expect them to be bad. Even when the make up is pretty good, say Boris Karloff in the original version of "The Mummy" or Oliver Reed in "The Curse of the Werewolf," you get shorted on how often the monster actually gets to be on screen. "Dragonslayer" ups the ante because there is a big build up to the point when you finally get to see the dragon. But for my money it is well worth the wait because the folks at Industrial Light & Magic delivery even though we are talking 1981 special effects.
The story in "Dragonslayer" combines a couple of recognizable plot lines from the fantasy genre. First there is the hapless young apprentice, Galen (Peter MacNicol), trying to learn his craft from a great wizard, Ulrich (Ralph Richardson). I am certainly reminded of Mickey Mouse from "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" in "Fantasia," except that Galen is a lot more earnest. Second, there is the fact that Casiodorus Rex (Peter Eyre), the ruler of the land, has been sacrificing virgins to keep the local dragon from leveling the countryside. Young Valerian (Caitlin Clarke) arrives to beseech Ulrich, the last wizard around, to kill the dragon, which is probably the last of its kind as well.
The only problem is that Ulrich has died, which means that young Galen has to become a dragonslayer. Galen wants to do the great deed for the right reasons, but there is also the Princess Elspeth (Chloe Salaman) to consider, along with all the other young virgins forced to participate in the grim lottery. Casiodorus is not thrilled by the prospect of the fate of his kingdom resting on the shoulders of Galen, so he tries to thwart the young man's plans. However, there is somebody who thinks that the rules of the game in Urland have to be changed.
Beyond the Oscar nominated special effects (and musical score by Alex North) what makes "Dragonslayer" work is that it takes place in a grungy medieval world where everybody is dirty and outright despair seems like an appropriate response to each sunrise. In such a world sacrificing a virgin once a year seems rather reasonable, and an act of heroism seems improbable, especially when your hopes rest on the baby-faced Galen. The atmosphere and the special effects fit together just perfectly, and Ralph Richardson's performance as the sorcerer gives the film its memorable performance.
The casting of MacNichol is seen as problematic by some, especially those familiar with his stellar comedy work on "Chicago Hope" and "Ally McBeal," but I think he works well in this particular context. The idea here is that the hero is not somebody who wants to be a great fighter with a sword but a sorcerer using potions and magicks. MacNichol looks like somebody who would be more comfortable with a staff than a sword, so that when he actually has to pick up a spear and shield to fight the dragon he looks really uncomfortable. Then he sees the dragon and he looks scared. We see the dragon, so we completely understand.
Although a lot of the elements are familiar to everyone weaned on Tolkien and excited by the original "Star Wars" films, there are some attempts to be different. I especially liked the fate of the Princess and the ending has a sense of fatalism we rarely get in a fantasy film, with or without a monster. Unfortunately, the DVD version of "Dragonslayer" has absolutely nothing in terms of bonus features (not even the trailer), but at least the film is presented in anamorphic widescreen so you can enjoy all of the Scottish landscape. More importantly, there is the CGI dragon that mandates this one getting five stars because that dragon is that good. When a movie delivers the goods with the monster the way "Dragonslayer" does, attention must be paid.

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A fire-breathing dragon terrorizes the 6th century British countryside whose only hope is an aging sorcerer. When he is killed before he can save the people, the task falls to his young apprentice.Genre: Science FictionRating: PGRelease Date: 9-AUG-2005Media Type: DVD

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The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (The Fellowship of the Ring / The Two Towers / The Return of the King)(Theatrical and Extended Limited Edition) (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)DVD double dipping, it's become a standard of the home video world. Case in point, Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. When the films first saw the light of day on DVD, they were released on New Line's Platinum Series DVD line, featuring two discs of mostly fluffy extras. Then, the four disc Extended Editions would be subsequently released, featuring extended versions of the films with a horde of commentaries and extras that brought fans to their knees. While I always recommended the theatrical versions to casual fans and the Extended Editions to the Tolkien fanatics, New Line has once again dipped into our wallets by releasing the Theatrical and Extended versions in one set, with some "new" extras thrown in for good measure (because they need to sell it to those of us who bought either or both versions before). Now, I'll say right off the bat, each of the three films are technical marvels of modern film making, with incredible battle scenes, effects, and everything else that's made these films the Star Wars trilogy of a new generation. That in mind, these new editions of the film are only worth owning for those who don't already own any of the previous releases; the rest of which should leave the new editions of the trilogy on the shelf where they belong, and maybe then and only then, will the studios stop with the double dipping frenzy that's been going on forever now.

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Disc 1: For the first time, the Theatrical and Extended versions of each film are on one disc!This 2-sided DVD puts both versions of the epic film on one convenient, portable disc.You can choose which version you'd like to see from the main DVD menu.
Disc 2: Each film has a new behind-the-scenes documentary created by filmmaker Costa Botes.Mr. Botes was personally selected by Peter Jackson to capture every moment during production of the trilogy.He had unprecedented access to the cast and crew during staff meetings and down time, training and rehearsals, laughter and arguments.
Mr. Botes created 3 feature-length documentaries using a raw editing style that gives the viewer a complete fly-on-the-wall experience.Here are the types of stories and moments you can expect to find throughout the 3 documentaries (one per film in the trilogy):

Billy Boyd (Pippin) and Dom Monaghan (Merry) are the ultimate comedy duo, hamming it up for the camera.Highlights of their antics include: candid descriptions of how uncomfortable Treebeard's branches could be, hanging out in their trailer with an "inflatable" friend, and more!
When Peter Jackson loses a roll of 3-D film, it's up to everyone to find it.See the lengths that the crew go to uncover the lost photos!
New Zealand means beautiful landscapes and... rain, snow, wind and more!See how frustrating Mother Nature can be when even the most menacing Ringwraiths must huddle under giant umbrellas.
Even the best laid plans can change and the easiest tasks can take longer than expected... cast and crew deal with scene changes, long hours, overtime and additional takes.
Pranks on set?Really?Get a good laugh from Ian McKellan in a "fancy" Gandalf wig, Andy Serkis assessing his Gollum getup, orcs and Uruk-hai doing a little between-take dancing and more!
And, of course, there are things that go wrong…a phone ringing during a scene, forgetting a line or two, and mastering a fight sequence that doesn't even get into the final film!
FAQs Still have questions about this release?Here are some Frequently Asked Questions from fans.
When Is The Lord of the Rings Going to Be Released in High Definition (Either HD-DVD or Blu-ray)? The high definition formats that have recently launched offer exceptional picture and sound quality in addition to new interactive bonus feature capabilities.New Line Home Entertainment is committed to the high definition format and is very excited about the idea of releasing the Trilogy in the format.However, New Line is also committed to maximizing the capabilities of the technology to deliver a cutting edge high definition experience.This will take more time as well as the participation of the filmmakers to achieve.It is currently not scheduled for release until, at the earliest, 2008.
I already own both versions of each film.Why doesn't New Line just release the documentaries? Having unprecedented access to the cast and crew during film production inevitably means that there are some restrictions.In this case, releasing these documentaries unaccompanied by the film would be nearly impossible because of agreements that are in place with the cast and crew.We wanted to make the documentaries available while also giving the fans something they don't have, which is why we included both versions of the film on one disc.
How are these documentaries different from the ones on the special extended DVD editions? The in-depth documentaries on the Special Extended DVD Editions were custom made for the DVDs using new interviews from the cast and crew incorporated with the behind-the-scenes footage to tell the stories.The Costa Botes documentaries use only creatively edited behind-the-scenes footage to give you, the viewer, a feeling of "being there" in the moment while things are happening.There is no narrative to tell the story, but instead a constantly running series of clips that show the raw moments that make up the day-to-day progress on a large film production.
Do I have to flip the disc over to watch the whole movie? Yes.Due to space capacities of the DVD format and the use of seamless branching, both the theatrical and extended versions of the film are split in the middle of disc 1, so part 1 of the film is on one side of the disc and the conclusion is on the other.

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Conan - The Complete Quest (1982) Review

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(More customer reviews)First, for those that are just looking for this answer, this Conan the Barbarian is The Director's Cut with its alternate ending, which John Milius intended to have. Nowhere on this DVD will you find the original ending in the DVD extras, etc., but I do want to say that this ending is not much different from the original, so if you have not seen the original ending, you will not be missing much at all. It also has an additional scene with Subotai and Conan dialoging. That's all that I remember being different from the original version. As for Conan the Destroyer, I don't recall any difference.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE NEW TO THE CONAN CHARACTER:
Conan is the barbarian/warrior character created by writer Robert E. Howard (1906-1936). His stories take place in the Hyborian Age (a mystical age between the sinking of Atlantis and the beginning of civilization, which was created by Howard as well). Much of the Conan artwork was painted by artist Frank Frazetta (1928-), which is probably Frazetta's better-known work.
John Milus' own liberal interpretation found on his Director's Commentary of Conan the Barbarian says how he thinks Howard created the Conan character and the warrior's many tales, that he conjured in his mind, a dead warrior king bearing an axe, and soon felt as if his character actually oppressed his very thoughts, forcing him to tell the tales of Conan, a king long forgotten by mankind and that he feared that if he did not write as the warrior commanded, the warrior king would strike him down with his axe.
The real story on how Howard came up with the character can be found on The Official Robert E. Howard Website at [...], where they quote Glenn Lord's The Last Celt: A Bio-Bibliography of Robert Ervin Howard
The Last Celt: A Bio-Bibliography of Robert Ervin Howard
FOR THOSE WHO ARE NEW TO THE CONAN MOVIES:
Only two movies have been made up till now on Howard's character, Conan the Barbarian (1982) and Conan the Destroyer (1984). Most people (as I am) are fans of the first, and not the second, though the second was entertaining in its on ways.
No joke, Conan the Barbarian is my All-Time favorite movie. I first saw this film when I was young, and remember that back in those days this movie was "the movie to see", with its action packed storyline, wonderful cinematography, and its beautifully composed musical score. Not to mention, starring Mr. Olympia himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who starred in both films. Conan was Arnold's first big-time role after winning his last Mr. Olympia in 1980, so Arnold was still gee-golly-huge and ideal for the part. Nevertheless, this first movie also starred renowned actor, James Earl Jones, who plays the very charismatic cult leader, Thulsa Doom, and with a voice like his, who can deny that he's the perfect fit for that role.
Oliver Stone (a fan of the Conan novels) co-wrote the first screenplay of Conan the Barbarian. He actually had an entire screenplay for the movie, which was quickly bought out by producer Dino DeLaurentis and modified by writer/director, John Milius, who also co-wrote and directed Red Dawn. John envisioned on making Conan a trilogy, while assistant producer, Edward Summer, intended the Conan films to be a huge series, much like the 007 series. Either of which would have been nice for us fans, but neither person played any part in the creation of our only sequel. Instead, two writers from Marvel Comics were brought onboard, Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway, who wrote the initial screenplay for the sequel, which was drastically changed by writer Stanley Mann. Director Richard Fleischer, who also directed Tora! Tora! Tora! in 1970 and Red Sonja in 1985, directed Conan the Destroyer. I think the only thing the two movies shared in common were Arnold and producer Dino DeLaurentis; this is why you find extreme differences between the two finished works.
On another note, many celebrities co-stared in these movies, like NBA star Wilt Chamberlain, and model Grace Jones. But one person out of the rest, whom I would like to point out, is Hawaiian Gerry Lopez, who plays Subotai in the first film. Gerry is actually a world-renowned champion surfer, and from an early age in his life, he read many of the Conan novels. With Gerry's features and his great appreciation of Howard's work, it was difficult for old friend John Milius to find anyone else as a better fit for the role of Subotai. Gerry Lopez also co-stars in Big Wednesday (another work of John Milius) and North Shore, which are both classic surfer movies, next to the Endless Summer films.
MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE CONAN DIALOG:
To bring you up to speed, early on in the movie Conan was enslaved and bought to be a Pit Fighter. After countless victories, his master takes him to the Far East for breeding (yes, I said breeding). As a reward for his success, Conan was given an education in eastern philosophies and was taught the art of swordsmanship from the eastern masters.
And so, in the next scene you see some sort of general talking to his men. He says to them, "We have won again. That is good! But what is best in life?"
One of his men replies, "The open steppe, fleet horse, falcon on your wrist, wind in your hair!"
"Wrong!" replies the general, and then asks, "Conan, what is best in life?"
Which Conan replies, "To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women!"
... that's just wicked man.
WHAT'S IN THIS SPECIAL RELEASE:
One DVD Disc
SIDE ONE: Conan the Barbarian
Widescreen version (2 Hrs, 11 Min) in Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Bonus Materials:
Commentary with Director John Milius and with Arnold Schwarzenegger
Deleted Scenes
Theatrical Trailers
The Making of Conan
Special Effects
Archives
SIDE TWO: Conan the Destroyer
Widescreen version (1 Hr, 42 Min) in Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Bonus Materials:
Theatrical Trailer

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The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (Widescreen Theatrical Edition) (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)Peter Jackson has done what could not be done. Deemed unfilmable for decades (with the terrible cartoons as an example of why), "The Lord of the Rings" took the audiences by storm when "Fellowship of the Ring" premiered in 2001. In 2002, anticipation was even higher, dread was lower -- and "Two Towers" is an outstanding continuation of the epic fantasy tale.
The movie picks up where "Fellowship" left off: Merry and Pippin have been captured by Uruk-hai, and Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli are pursuing them. But they are sidetracked by an old friend: Gandalf, returned in a new form and with new powers, as Gandalf the White. He takes them to the kingdom of Rohan, whose king is bewitched by the evil Saruman. They barricade the people of Rohan in the fortress of Helm's Deep, for a final defiant stand against an army of Uruk-hai.
Sam and Frodo have left, to venture into Mordor alone so that Frodo can destroy the Ring in Mordor's Mount Doom. When the two hobbits become lost in Emyn Muil, Frodo realizes that someone is following them: Gollum, the tormented, twisted former owner of the Ring. They capture Gollum, who swears to serve "the master of the Precious." But even Gollum's shaky allegiance isn't enough for them to succeed, because the Ring has started to bend Frodo to its will.
While the first movie revolved around Frodo, the Ring and the Fellowship, here the focus widens. We get a better sense of the epic quality of the story and how it affects the whole world, not just our heroes. Gondor is crumbling, Rohan is beaten down by orcs, and even the forces of nature -- the tree-like ents -- are being attacked by Sauron and Saruman. It's nature versus the destructive machines, and the wild wrecking of Saruman's forges by these ancient tree shepherds is something to cheer for.
Elijah Wood blossoms in this film as Frodo Baggins, the little hobbit who could. In the first movie Wood played Frodo as an innocent who loses his innocence; here he takes it a step further, showing the darkness and violence that are swallowing Frodo up. Because we saw what a bright, sweet person Frodo was before, it's all the more horrible to see him starting to slide down (even attacking his best friend -- the look on Frodo's face as he comes to his senses is stunning). Sean Astin perfectly embodies Sam Gamgee -- increasingly desperate, trying to keep Frodo from going under. He serves as a reminder of what Frodo is fighting for, and Astin has perhaps the most powerful lines of the film, near the end: "But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer." These simply-worded lines will bring tears to your eyes.
But if Frodo is just starting to be addicted, Gollum is a junkie. Even if Andy Serkis doesn't appear in one frame in the entire movie, his motions and voice are heard and seen behind an exquisitely detailed CGI puppet. This is no Jar Jar or Dobby -- Gollum is detailed down to the last hair and wrinkle, believable in his appearance (I actually forgot he was animated for most of the movie), and has a multifaceted personality that reflects his own inner struggle -- Smeagol and Gollum, good and evil. The scene where Gollum's two halves argue is too amazing for words.
The other supporting actors shine almost as brightly. Viggo Mortensen turns his reluctant hero Aragorn into a leader and a warrior. Ian McKellen manages to make Gandalf more stately and majestic, yet keeps that little grandfatherly twinkle. John Rhys-Davies provides a bit of comedy as Gimli, mostly related to Gimli's stature, but never loses his dignity; Orlando Bloom is outstanding as ethereal elf archer Legolas once again. Liv Tyler captures Arwen's fear of mortality and loneliness. Billy Boyd's Pippin and Dominic Monaghan's Merry, the well-meaning goofballs of "Fellowship," are now forced to make their own decisions. And new cast members Miranda Otto and Bernard Hill also shine as the strong-willed Eowyn and tough old king Theoden, in roles that will bloom further in the third film.
Peter Jackson (who makes a few cameos) once again outdoes himself with camerawork and direction. His cameras as like living things: they swoop, dive, pull back for outstanding combat shots and then zoom in for exquisite close-ups. The battle scenes are dark, bloody, explosive, and full of chaos; only near the finale does any hint of glory shine through. He adds little human touches (the family split up by the war) that give a glimpse of what the non-heroic, ordinary people are suffering.
Of course "Two Towers" isn't as good as the book. Few movies are. But taken purely as a cinematic experience, and an adaptation, "Two Towers" is virtually without peer. Epic, majestic, action-packed and brimming with pathos, this is a treasure. And they say "Return of the King" will be the best of all...

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Frodo Baggins and the Fellowship continue their quest to destroy the One Ring and stand against the evil of the dark lord Sauron. The Fellowship has divided and now find themselves taking different paths to defeating Sauron and his allies. Their destinies now lie at two towers - Orthanc Tower in Isengard, where the corrupted wizard Saruman waits and Sauron's fortress at Baraddur, deep within the dark lands of Mordor.DVD Features:DVD ROM Features:Exclusive online contentDocumentaries:2 in-depth programs that reveal the secrets behind the production of this epic adventure, including: "On the set - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" (Starz/Encore special) "Return to Middle-earth" (WB special)Featurette:8 featurettes originally created for lordoftherings.net: Forces of Darkness Sounds of Middle-earth) Edoras & Rohan Culture Creatures Gandalf the White Arms & Armor Helm's Deep Gollum: Andy Serkis, Bay RaittInteractive MenusMusic Video:Emiliana Torrini "Gollum Song" music videoOther:Exclusive 10-minute behind-the-scenes preview of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Short film by Sean Astin "The Long and Short of It" + making of Preview of Electronic Arts' video game, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King An inside look at the Special Extended DVD Edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Two TowersTheatrical Trailer:Original theatrical trailers and TV spots

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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Two-Disc Widescreen Theatrical Edition) (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)...wow. That's all I can really say for this film. It was inspirational, beautiful, heartrenching, and captivating, making this film amazing. Jackson truly outdid himself for Return of the King. The hopelessness and pain Sam and Frodo are experiencing as they struggle to destroy the Ring is so wonderfully done that you truly feel as if you are with Sam and Frodo as they struggle to climb up the mountain. The love and friendship between the two is so moving that it seriously brought tears to my eyes, and I *rarely* cry.
The acting was simply superb in this film, especially Sean Astin (Sam) and Viggo Mortenson (Aragorn). As always, Miranda Otto was wonderful as Eowyn, as were Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan as Pippin and Merry. The movie flowed exceptionally, and despite its lengthy time, there was not a moment that I wasn't captivated by Tolkien's vision of Middle-earth. One of the lines that stands out the most to me is during the moment when Sam and Frodo believe they are going to die while Mt. Doom is erupting is, "I'm glad to be with you, Sam. Here, at the end of all things." Another beautiful scene is when Aragorn, crowned as the King of Gondor, bows down to the hobbits, telling them, "You bow to no one." The heartfelt emotion expressed really does make this film the greatest of all three.
As always, the everpresent rivalry between Gimli and Legolas is there, providing comic relief. Surprisingly, Merry and Pippin do not provide any humour other than at the beginning of the film, and are a very chief point in the plot. The two are separated for the first time since the triligy began and must mature, which largely develops their character. The lovable Smeagol has now once more become the treacherous Gollum; though in the beginning Smeagol pleads against his darker side, the Ring takes control of him, adding to the list of enemies.
Fans of the book will happy to find that Shelob is in this movie; in the books it was originally in the second. Also, the Sword that was Broken is in the film as well, while in the book it is carried by Aragorn in all three. Peter Jackson also remains faithful to the warrior side of Eowyn, which is touched upon in the second film. Though the Houses of Healing were cut out, hopefully they will be in the extended DVD version of the film.
I really can't do this movie justice. It's impossible to explain how I felt both times I saw the movie as I saw the struggle of Frodo and Sam. This movie isn't just a war-movie, or a fantasy movie; it's a movie about love and trust, finding hope in a world that has none, about companionship and fighting until the very end. All three and a half hours of this film is exceptional, and will surely be a classic for years to come.

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The final battle for Middle-earth begins. Frodo and Sam, led by Gollum, continue their dangerous mission toward the fires of Mount Doom in order to destroy the One Ring. Aragorn struggles to fulfill his legacy as he leads his outnumbered followers against the growing power of the Dark Lord Sauron, so that the Ring-bearer may complete his quest. DVD Features:3D Animated MenusDVD ROM Features:Exclusive online content Link to www.lordoftherings.netDocumentaries:3 in-depth programs that reveal the secrets behind the production of this epic adventure, including: "The Quest Fulfilled: A Director's Vision" (23:05) "A Filmmaker's Journey: Making The Return of The King" (28:30) National Geographic Special (45:57)Featurette:6 featurettes --Aragorn's Destiny (3:25) --Minas Tirith: Capital of Gondor (3:10) --The Battle of Pelennor Fields (2:14) --Samwise the Brave (4:32) --Eowyn: White Lady of Rohan (3:45) --Digital Horse Doubles (4:35)Other:2-DISC SET The Battle For Middle Eath Continues--Video Games from EA (3:00)TV SpotTheatrical Trailer:Original Theatrical Trailers "The Lord of The Rings" Trilogy Supertrailer (6:45)

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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Two-Disc Widescreen Theatrical Edition) (2001) Review

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(More customer reviews)A cinematic version of Tolkien's THE LORD OF THE RINGS ranks up with the hope that Lucas will indeed make another Star Wars Trilogy, and, I think I can safely say, this is one of the most anticipated films in the movie industry's long and checkered history. You would think it's movie paradise, considering Lucas has been in the midst of another Star Wars trilogy and LORD OF THE RINGS has finally got a cinema deal (live action!), but PHANTOM MENACE proved something of a disappointment (Mesa Jar Jar Binks!), and I think quite a few people will enter into the theatre with a certain amount of trepidation.
There's a reason for that. Three animated Tolkien films have been released with very problematic results. The 1978 Bakshi release is just embarrassing; the film is both incoherent and confusing.
Rankin & Bass's two movies are fine for little kids; those two films are Tolkien for Saturday Morning cartoons. They proved my introduction to Tolkien and for that I am thankful, but the movies still fail to capture the grandeur of Tolkien's imagination.
There are two things to consider here about a work of literature. Although all good literature has a polarization effect on its readers, this work has a gigantic legion of followers which are extremely dedicated to Tolkien's vision (I count myself a member of this camp). The other camp cannot figure out what the big fuss is about and why they should care about the novel.
Now, there's a reason why all this is relevant to the film: had Peter Jackson gone to far either way the film would have fallen apart. Appeal to much to the fan-base and you loose the general movie-goer. Appeal to much to the movie-goer, and you'll lose the fan-base.
So when the fan base learned of Peter Jackson's decision to film all three films at once, an unprecedented move in movie history, most of us really wanted it to be good but were just simply afraid. We've already been burnt. Would it be so bad that it would alienate both fan base and those who are just looking for a good movie?
Not only does Peter Jackson's film work, it's glorious, beautiful, has all the myth and grandeur of the book. Jackson, a Tolkien fanatic, could have gotten so involved with bringing out the extremely detailed world Tolkien gave us that the pacing would suffer or we'd lose patience with all these obscure details which would alienate the regular movie goer. Not only does he not alienate the general movie goer, but he entices the fan base so much they can't help but fall in love with his vision of Tolkien's world.
The only real flaw is how rushed first section of the movie is. Although I can understand cutting the Old Forest and Tom Bombadil, the way they handled getting the hobbits out of the Shire was unacceptable. There is not that sense of camaraderie between the Hobbits that there is in the book, there is no "conspiracy," and Merry and Pippin just join without any questioning from Sam and Frodo. While Jackson does a good job at building the Hobbits' characters and establishing their personalities, I couldn't come up with a good reason why Frodo and Sam would just let Merry and Pippin join them.
The Prancing Pony is worst. There is no questioning from the Hobbits about Aragorn proving himself, there is no scene about him asking them to trust him, and the whole sequence feels much too rushed. Sam only questions Aragorn while they're actually out of the inn and traveling.
Thankfully, however, that is the only real flaw. The rest of the things the script changed (tightening Elrond's council, the expansion of Arwen, cutting Sam from the Galadriel mirror sequence, tempting Aragorn with the ring, etc) I can see why they did it for dramatic tension. I also liked the way they handled Elrond's council, because that could have ruined the movie like it did with Bakshi's. They had established and covered much of the material in that chapter elsewhere by means of voice-over prologue and actually showing the viewer what is happening (especially with the Isengard sequences), and as a result lessened the screentime of that scene and helping with the dramatics of it.
As for the controversial expansion of Arwen, I tend to agree with the film makers in their decision to enlarge her role. By making her part of the Ford sequence it introduces the character and establishes her in the viewer's mind, and the relationship between Arwen and Aragorn is more fully explored. As for their romantic interlude in Rivendell, not only do I agree with that but think it should have been done in the book. Tolkien did not know who Strider was when he was first writing FELLOWSHIP, and did not go back and change the scenes to further explain the romance between Arwen and Aragorn, and by not including a scene in Rivendell to establish their love for one another lessens by far the impact of their union in Part III, and (for once) this romantic scene is actually an improvement on the book. As for her role in the Flight at the Ford, for the movie they made the right choice though the book is still preferable.
In achieving the balance between fan base and the more causal fan, this film is a spectacular success. Making a movie out of a book the size of Fellowship, the fact is you will have to condense, tighten, rearrange, and make changes for dramatic tensions. The mediums are different, and you cannot have a direct translation from a book to a film. Despite of what they cut, the movie still clocks in at three hours, which is very generous. The real problem with this film, as others noted, is it's going to be a full two years before we finally get to watch THE RETURN OF THE KING.
In the end, we get a movie that stays true to the SPIRIT of the book. This is what we Tolkien fans have long been waiting for. Thank you so much Peter Jackson and your cast and crew.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Two-Disc Widescreen Theatrical Edition) (2001)

Based on J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is an epic adventure of good against evil, the power of friendship and individual courage. The saga centers around an unassuming Hobbit named Frodo Baggins who inherits a Ring that would give a dark and powerful lord the power to enslave the world. With a loyal fellowship of elves, dwarves, men and a wizard, Frodo embarks on a heroic quest to destroy the One Ring and pave the way for the emergence of mankind.DVD Features:3D Animated MenusDVD ROM Features:Exclusive online contentDocumentaries:3 in-depth programs that reveal the secrets behind the production of this epic adventure, including: -"Welcome to Middle-earth" in-store special as shown by Houghton Mifflin -"The Quest for the Ring" as debuted on the FBC Network -"A Passage to Middle-earth" as premiered on the SCI-FI ChannelFeaturette:15 featurettes originally created for lordoftherings.net, which explore the locales and cultures of Middle-earth and include interviews with cast members Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Liv Tyler and others. Exclusive 10-minute behind-the-scenes preview of the next The Lord of the Rings theatrical release, The Two Towers.Music Video:Enya "May It Be" music videoOther:An inside look at the Special Extended DVD Edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Preview of Electronic Arts' video game, The Two Towers Double Amaray PackagingTV SpotTheatrical Trailer:Original theatrical trailers

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