(rated PG-13, 2 hrs. 50 mins.)
All the fuss has certainly made an impression in the most challenging attempt at adaptation based on the globe captivating J.R.R. Tolkien’s literary masterpiece “Lord Of The Rings” trilogy (translation: sequels to come). If you’re somebody who’s never even picked up one of the books you’ll be impressed. The story begins with its dark, intense cinematography of how the history of a gold ring became a legend that became a myth. Fast forward sixty years later and the ring becomes the possession of Frado Baggins (Elijah Wood). Wood is perfectly cast as a hobbit with his Ivory Snow complexion and bursting blue eyes against a back drop of really ugly characters sans shoes and hairy feet who smoke a lot of weed and cross mountains barefoot. Baggins mission: destroy a magic ring of dark powers. These powers are of good vs. evil set in a time of uncertainty in the land of Middle-earth. The film also stars Ian McKellen who’s fantastic as Gandalf the man of wizardry. Liv Tyler as the beauty on a white horse in a forest full of black dark men and Cate Blanchett as Galadriel one of the few females in a male driven cast. But it’s Iam Holm as Bilbo Baggins who steals your heart as a sort of Wizard in Oz who starts the whole ring mess in the first place. If you’re in sci-fi and you’re a fan of “Gladiator” meets “Star Wars” flicks, you’ll be in hobbit heaven. If you’re not, you’ll be checking your wristwatch.
