IP: Ring Magic

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

> Date: Tue, 04 Dec 2001 18:32:54 -0800
> From: "Janos G." <janos451@earthlink.net>
>
>
>
> As usual, Ian Holm's delivery is simple, low-key, but it hits home and stays
> with you, even after the three-hour juggernaut that follows. As Bilbo
> Baggins, Holm reflects on old age:
>
> "I feel thin, like butter spread over too much bread."
>
> In the split second that follows, Gandalf glances at him, and you could
> swear that Ian McKellen, under all that makeup, raises an eyebrow: "Hmmm.
> Nicely done!" I could watch those two just standing there, doing nothing,
> but, in fact, they are part of a plethora of golden butter spread over
> enormous surfaces of nourishing bread.
>
> There follows three hours of artistic and emotional rollercoaster, nonstop
> visual fireworks, an endless succession of moments like that, but forming a
> coherent, grand whole.
>
> "The Lord of the Rings," Part I: "The Fellowship of the Ring" is tremendous.
> Here, at last, in the age of movies depending on millions of dollars in
> advertising, is a work that should break records with just word-of-mouth. It
> 's a riveting, near-flawless, thoughtfully made, truly spectacular,
> beautiful work of art. It's difficult to imagine what's left over for the
> other two segments, made at the same time with "Fellowship," to be released
> later.
>
> Peter Jackson (director and writer) has produced a work of genius that is
> faithful to J.R.R. Tolkien, and operates on the same level with the
> original. As Tolkien provided a special, valid, humane variation on ancient
> legends and on Wagner's cycle, Jackson too came up with a gestalt, a
> near-overwhelming, complete world, something that will take your breath away
> for much of those three hours. Jackson, of "Heavenly Creatures," created a
> heavenly, spectacular movie.
>
> Speaking of Wagner, the music for "Fellowship" is an essential - and
> glorious - component of the film. Unusual for a director, Jackson personally
> supervised the creation of the soundtrack. It is mainly the work of Howard
> Shore, in the culmination of a distinguished career that ranges from TV work
> to 40 films. To identify Shore, just think of the role of music in
> "Philadelphia" - that says it all. His two-hour long score here is a
> coherent, unified work, although with different sound for each
> civilization - for example, the use of the raita from North Africa in
> segments involving the Ringwraiths - performed by the London Philharmonic
> and the Voices of London.
>
> Enya contributed two key songs: "Aniron," for the sequence between Arwen and
> Aragorn; and "May It Be," which is heard at the conclusion of the film.
> Although the music stays in the background (no hitting over the head,
> deafening the audience here, thank goodness), several times, it came to the
> fore for me through its great beauty, and I was making a note to listen to
> the soundtrack and find those excerpts.
>
> Grant Major's fabulous, Rackham-class design blends in perfectly with the
> scenery of New Zealand - where a crew of 2,400 spent two years creating the
> three films.
>
> The London Times review greeting the original publication of "Lord of the
> Rings" applies well to the film: "The world is now forever divided into
> those who have read these books and those who are going to read them."
> Except for the unavoidable objections by the hardcore purists, everyone -
> those who are not familiar with Tolkien and those who are fans - will revel
> in the film.
>
> Also, in the long run, "Fellowship" and its siblings will become
> best-sellers on tape and DVD. It's the most rewindable spectacle in my
> memory.
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Janos Gereben/SF
> janos451@earthlink.net

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