My concurrence with Thenamir. Well put.<P>Lets face it. Super strong movie. It is a testament to Mr. Tolkien's work that should have been done years ago. (9 out of 10) Sometime I'll relate some of what I remember from the whole thing with Bashki and all that in the 1970s. Yes, I was alive then.<P>One has to do different things and focus on certain characters and things to make a film work. Over time, the Harry Potter movie will be seen as a disaster for its dogmatic adherence to the book, as the critics said. I could get into a lot of film intellectualism that I may or may not understand, concerning visuals, character recognition, and so forth.<P>But the basic point. A book is a personal investment. Time must be created and manipulated in both the author's text and the reader's mind. A movie is locked into real event time. Even for a very long one such as this, IT'S ONLY THREE HOURS. But it is not about the length of time available. But the emotional and rational attachments of the viewer, if too many key characters or places come and go rapidly in that time, you won't care for them. Film has enormous strengths of letting you see facial expressions, physical perspectives and so forth, which are to be treasured for being potrayed like these were on the big screen.<P>Because I read LOTR and Co. several times years ago, I don't even know how many times in total.<P>BUT IN TERMS OF LOOK, FEEL AND POINTS THAT RESONATE, THE MOVIE REMINDS OF HOW READING THE FELLOWSHIP THE FIRST TIME HIT ME.<P>And the filmmakers found balance. You have to think of the folks who haven't read the books (poor souls) but many may do so now. Hell, book displays are everywhere.<P>This should be a very successful film, which is as it should be. This film will get around in our real world.<P>Now to get some of my minor quibbles off my chest:<P>I found the Council of Elrond to Moria a little mixed. (1) Council to much wham-bam-thank..., (2) We could have done with more elves in the background at Rivendell, they haven't all left yet, (3)Between Gandalf and Gimli there should have been more clarification on their perspectives for entering Moria. Clearly, in the film Gimli assumed all was well. At least Gandalf could have expressed an argument about no word from Moria in some years, instead of only having Saruman imply that Gandalf and he knew of the Balrog. Still, you are free to think in terms of the book story, or if uninitiated you'd assume that Moria (but why the name?) was a long-standing kingdom with no previous abandonment and recolonization.<P>And the thing with Arwen, again, you can believe that Elrond and Gandalf caused the flood, if you like, and that she was simply tripping the trigger. I think PJ is to be congratulated for leaving things vague enough that book-enthusiasts can fall back on that explanation in places, while those not so graced can just take it at face value. Don't be surprised if Liv Tyler ends up a composite character in for her book-bound brethren too, as part of the Grey Company. And ya know what, Man-of-the-Wold don't mind.<P>********<P>"the Riders of Rohan look almost as boys beside them" -- Gimli
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The hoes unrecked in the fields were flung, __ and fallen ladders in the long grass lay __ of the lush orchards; every tree there turned __ its tangled head and eyed them secretly, __ and the ears listened of the nodding grasses; __ though noontide glowed on land and leaf, __ their limbs were chilled.
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