THE LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RINGS (2001) **1/2 Elfin fantasy has never been my thing, I find vampires and witches and even zombies much more credible. Despite intense peer pressure I never bothered meandering past page 12 of the Tolkien. But, that having been said, Peter Jackson does an excellent job of putting what I figure this stuff must look like on the screen. Whether he is true to or handicapped by the original is largely an issue of taste. The actors are intent on making it look real, again true to the original if blind to the winsome satirical possibilities, and even successful for the most part. Viggo Mortensen is intense as Strider (the warrior type guy that Robert Plant named his dog after), moving with the elegantly menacing grace of a kung fu instructor. And this thing wouldn't have had a chance without the great special effects of an excellent team that clearly majored in Harryhausen and doesn't fail to inject some of the humor into their most gruesome creations. Most importantly this film just smokes Harry Potter's ass, not to mention the contemporary schlock being pumped out of the Star Wars assembly line. My favorite part is when the leprechaun bewails the cultural ignorance of Strider, who is unfamiliar with the hallowed tradition of "second breakfast."
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