This isn’t some happy, kid-friendly adventure – it’s the story of how an entire world is plunged into war.
To be precise, it’s the story of how that war starts, focusing on the first stage of the quest by unassuming young hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) to take down the dark lord Sauron by lobbing his evil magic ring into the fires of bad-guy-stronghold Mount Doom.
On the way, we meet a wide array of supporting characters, including fiery-tempered dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies), feisty she-elf Arwen (Liv Tyler), rugged, heroic ranger Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) and powerful wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen).
Sadly, though, we don’t really have time to get to know many of them properly, despite the hefty three-hour running time.
This is the film’s only weakness: if you haven’t already read the book, the whirl of fantastic names, references, and brief introductions will leave you a little confused.
However, that doesn’t mean Jackson and co-writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens have botched the adaptation. Far from it – it’s hard to see how anyone could have condensed JRR Tolkien’s text, with Jackson and the others keeping the dialogue true to the book without it sounding overly theatrical or campy.
It’s just that there’s so much to take in, and those who aren’t Tolkien-savvy won’t catch it all on the first watch.
On the other hand, you’ll be so swept away by Jackson’s ambitious realisation of Tolkien’s world, you won’t be bothered too much by missing the odd plot detail.
This isn’t the pristine, digitised universe of The Phantom Menace, but something grittier, darker and more immersive. FX house Weta seamlessly blends the beautiful New Zealand landscapes with some Oscar-beckoning virtual creations, and shows admirable restraint with CGI, relying on more traditional make-up effects when pixels aren’t really needed.
Then there’s Jackson’s deft handling of the action, keeping things pacey despite several rest stops, and delivering some feverish, frenetic swordplaying set-pieces.
Most notable is the Mines of Moria sequence, which is surely up there with the chariot battle in Gladiatorand the lobby shootout in The Matrix as one of the action-movie high points.
With its scurrying goblin army, roaring cave troll and the towering, flame-whipping Balrog, it’ll jam your heart in your gob and hold it there, beating wildly, for a good half-hour.
But great effects aren’t enough, and thankfully Jackson has assembled a strong cast. Wood, in particular, handles Frodo’s descent from happy-go-lucky adventurer to tragedy-courting hero with subtlety and sensitivity, while the relatively unknown Mortensen perfectly captures Aragorn’s rugged charisma and mystique.
But it’s McKellen’s Gandalf who stands tallest. It must be hard to play someone who you’re told brims with power without making it too hammy, but McKellen manages it effortlessly.
Gandalf may be a fearsome, spell-slinging wizard, but, thanks to McKellen, he’s easily the most accessible and ‘human’ character portrayed.
Pointed hats off to Jackson, then, for delivering on his promise to stay faithful to the book and produce a movie that’ll make the hairs on your feet tingle, rather than unleashing another horrendous sword-and-sorcery clag-beast.
George Lucas and Chris Columbus, take note: this is fantasy filmmaking at its spine-shivering best.
Frodo Baggins
Elijah Wood Sauron/Uruk-hai
Sala Baker Gimli
John Rhys-Davies Arwen
Liv Tyler Aragorn
Viggo Mortensen Gandalf
Ian McKellen Saruman
Christopher Lee Boromir
Sean Bean The Ring (voice)
Alan Howard Everard Proudfoot
Noel Appleby Sam
Sean Astin Pippin
Billy Boyd Gollum (voice)
Andy Serkis Celeborn
Marton Csokas Legolas
Orlando Bloom Mrs Proudfoot
Megan Edwards Cirdan the Shipwright
Michael Elsworth Galadriel
Cate Blanchett Gil-galad
Mark Ferguson Bilbo Baggins
Ian Holm Lurtz
Lawrence Makoare Witch-king
Brent McIntyre Elendil
Peter McKenzie Rosie Cotton
Sarah McLeod Merry
Dominic Monaghan Bounder
Ian Mune Haldir
Craig Parker Farmer Maggot
Cameron Rhodes Gate Keeper
Martyn Sanderson Ted Sandyman
Brian Sergent Isildur
Harry Sinclair Barliman Butterbur
David Weatherley Elrond
Hugo Weaving
Lobelia
Elizabeth Moody
Director
Peter Jackson
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On the way, we meet a wide array of supporting characters, including fiery-tempered dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies), feisty she-elf Arwen (Liv Tyler), rugged, heroic ranger Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) and powerful wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen).
It’s just that there’s so much to take in, and those who aren’t Tolkien-savvy won’t catch it all on the first watch.
Then there’s Jackson’s deft handling of the action, keeping things pacey despite several rest stops, and delivering some feverish, frenetic swordplaying set-pieces.
But it’s McKellen’s Gandalf who stands tallest. It must be hard to play someone who you’re told brims with power without making it too hammy, but McKellen manages it effortlessly.
