[Ionia Luffs Reindeer]

Let's throw in Ionia's two cents. And you know it's bad when she slips into third person.<P>What does Ionia know? She knows that it takes one helluva movie to make her cry, especially considering she knows what's going to happen (or should).<P>I went to the movie to see a movie. I forced myself not to acknowledge that I'd ever been a huge fan of the book (albeit that I AM a newcomer). And I adored it. I'd see it again and the fact that the second is a year in coming is gnawing at me even as we speak.<P>Jackson could not, I repeat, NOT, under any circumstances, make a movie geared just towards the Tolkien crowd. If he'd tried, and stayed true to the storyline, there would be complaints about bad acting and worse special effects... Why? Because he'd never make the money to PRODUCE such a stellar, major piece of work. Yes, some things seemed strictly unnecessary. I won't touch the Arwen deal. We all have our issues with that.<P>The wizard duel? As mentioned, necessary to demonstrate Gandalf's lesser power. <BR>The actors? I think that Jackson cast Tolkien's characters with a set goal in his mind: To capture the <I>aura, the atmosphere</I>, that Tolkien fans have grown to love. Does Elijah Wood look like a fifty year old Hobbit? No, admittedly, but doesn't he capture some of the martyred, downtrodden (yet courageous) innocence that Frodo represents? Doesn't Sean Astin seem like a loyal stand-by who'd never leave your side? And doesn't (the guy who plays Pippin), despite being rather overdone, seem like an irresponsible teenager? Jackson even took pains to express that in the "is that a pint" scene... Which, by the way, I found hilariously tasteful, despite being somewhat off the Tolkien-true path.<P>I'm avoiding the chatroom for the next few days. I won't be able to tolerate the criticism real-time. I know it's beyond justified, but I don't want my new favourite (yes, favourite, you read that correctly) movie ruined. Yes, I'm a newbie to Middle-Earth who needed the movie to drag my eyelids open, as I have mentioned before, but I appreciate the richness of the novels, hopefully that counts for quite a bit.<P>Maybe we all question it too hard? Just think, if you'd never read Tolkien, would you have enjoyed the movie? <P>The acting was superb, the locations breathtaking, the costume and makeup, while not accurate, beautiful.<P>It was stunning.