May 9, 2002

Re: Criticisms...
BA

While I don't share your specific reasons for the film's unsatisfying feeling, I would agree that there was something missing from it. Maybe it wasn't something that couldn't have been helped, since PJ had already pushed the limits of running time; but the thing (pretty much the only thing) that left me feeling that way was the passage of time and the sense of distance. I believe that viewers who were not Tolkien fans got the impression that Middle Earth was a lot smaller than it actually is, and that it took a far shorter time to get from place to place. Maybe it could have used more night shots, sleeping (or waking) scenes, etc. I think that TTT movie will help this by introducing more civilizations and different peoples.

The attraction of Tolkien for me was the way the story progressed from a world we believed was so small, quiet, and peaceful, to one that was of incredible scale, danger, and glory. And maybe that is what we will have at the end of the series. Maybe PJ wanted to make us feel like we ARE in a smaller world in FotR, and that the world will get larger as the story progresses...hope hope.

But overall, I absolutely adore the movie. Seeing these characters brought to life was such a powerful feeling for me, at times I almost lost it in the theater (ie, after the Mines, Sam and Frodo, anything concerning Aragorn-what a brilliant actor!!!). Can't wait until I can just sit down and experience Middle Earth for 9 hours!!