Review: 'Rings' DVD Burns Bright
Film Is Spectacular; Features Inform But Are Repetitive
POSTED: 7:38 p.m. EDT August 15, 2002
UPDATED: 7:56 p.m. EDT August 15, 2002
'The Lord of the Rings: 'The Fellowship Of Ring' (PG-13)
Some movies lose a bit of their edge with multiple viewings -- but that's hardly the case for "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," as the power of the "One Ring" becomes even more alluring on DVD.
After viewing it in the format, I came away with an even greater enthusiasm of the claims I made when it debuted in theaters. Whether you're a fan of the J.R.R. Tolkien books or not, you're about to witness a spectacular cinematic achievement; and inadvertently, the birth of an agonizing four-month wait for the next installment, "The Two Towers."
Perhaps the most important thing that"Rings" has going for it as a film is that it's accessible to all audiences. Admittedly, I had not read the book before seeing the film; but that changed immediately after when I bought the trilogy and it's prequel novel, "The Hobbit." There's no doubt much more of Middle Earth to be explored out there, and this movie makes me want to become a part of it.
Elijah Wood stars as the hobbit Frodo Baggins, a small creature entrusted with a big responsibility: He's inherited a mysterious ring from his cousin, Bilbo (Ian Holm) -- which the hobbits' friend and protector, the wizard, Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen), determines to be the "one ring" that holds the power to enslave the world if it falls into the evil hands of its creator, the Dark Lord Sauron.
Although Gandalf dwarfs Frodo in size, it's the hobbit who must stand tall to destroy the ring in the fires from which it was forged.
Joined by a fellowship that includes Gandalf, hobbits, dwarves, elves and humans, Frodo begins his journey, which is complicated by an evil wizard, Saruman (Christopher Lee). Looking to seize the ring and return it to its master, Saruman employs marauding creatures named Orcs and Ringwraiths to get the job done.
Perhaps what gives "The Fellowship of the Ring" its universal appeal is, in a nutshell, a classic tale of good versus evil. Readers of Tolkien will certainly tell you that the story is more complex than that tidy summary, but that's fleshed out by the Jackson's atmospheric settings, spectacular visuals (in both cinematography and effects), incredibly detailed costumes and makeup, an engaging score, and most importantly, great acting.
There's no showboating here, just the wonderfully diverse ensemble, which also includes Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, Liv Tyler, and several others. The actors nail it on all levels, including the film's dramatic, suspenseful, and even comedic moments.
DVD Features
The disc traces the origins of the Tolkien's works back to its very beginning, where a Houghton Mifflin publishing descendant, Rayner Unwin, recalls how at age 10 his father asked him to read a transcript entitled "The Hobbit." Thanks to Unwin's observations, a classic was born.
Perhaps the only thing that equals the excitement of the film itself on the "Rings" DVD is the preview of "The Two Towers." In the end, it's more of a behind-the-scenes look at the film, interspersing interview and production footage along with bits of the actual film. Jackson is the linchpin in this as well as many of the other disc's featurettes, but clearly lack of a commentary track for the film leaves a big hole in the disc.
That will come with the extended version of the film on the special edition four-disc DVD set in November. There's a satisfying peek at that version of the film, too, which tips us off to characters and scenes that didn't make the original cut.
If you missed them on the Internet, a string of short production vignettes produced exclusively for the official "Rings" Web site is included on the disc. The scenes range from the creation of some of the film's settings, to the actual filmmaking process itself.
The vignettes are dwarfed (no pun intended) by the much more elaborately produced specials by Fox Television and the Sci-Fi Channel. The Fox special is more of a companion piece that sketches out the narrative, while the Sci-Fi special delves deeper into the production. If you watch all the specials and Web vignettes at once, though, you'll also discover there's quite a bit of repetitiveness.
There's really no better way to see this movie on video than on DVD. But, if you only have access to VHS, then see the widescreen version. It's amazing how many more details you'll pick up by seeing the whole picture, from the sweeping landscape shots in the film's breathtaking prologue, to the Mines of Moria, to the film's final battle scenes. (New Line Home Entertainment)
Although Gandalf dwarfs Frodo in size, it's the hobbit who must stand tall to destroy the ring in the fires from which it was forged.
Joined by a fellowship that includes Gandalf, hobbits, dwarves, elves and humans, Frodo begins his journey, which is complicated by an evil wizard, Saruman (Christopher Lee). Looking to seize the ring and return it to its master, Saruman employs marauding creatures named Orcs and Ringwraiths to get the job done.
Perhaps what gives "The Fellowship of the Ring" its universal appeal is, in a nutshell, a classic tale of good versus evil. Readers of Tolkien will certainly tell you that the story is more complex than that tidy summary, but that's fleshed out by the Jackson's atmospheric settings, spectacular visuals (in both cinematography and effects), incredibly detailed costumes and makeup, an engaging score, and most importantly, great acting.
There's no showboating here, just the wonderfully diverse ensemble, which also includes Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, Liv Tyler, and several others. The actors nail it on all levels, including the film's dramatic, suspenseful, and even comedic moments.
DVD Features
The disc traces the origins of the Tolkien's works back to its very beginning, where a Houghton Mifflin publishing descendant, Rayner Unwin, recalls how at age 10 his father asked him to read a transcript entitled "The Hobbit." Thanks to Unwin's observations, a classic was born.
Perhaps the only thing that equals the excitement of the film itself on the "Rings" DVD is the preview of "The Two Towers." In the end, it's more of a behind-the-scenes look at the film, interspersing interview and production footage along with bits of the actual film. Jackson is the linchpin in this as well as many of the other disc's featurettes, but clearly lack of a commentary track for the film leaves a big hole in the disc.
That will come with the extended version of the film on the special edition four-disc DVD set in November. There's a satisfying peek at that version of the film, too, which tips us off to characters and scenes that didn't make the original cut.
If you missed them on the Internet, a string of short production vignettes produced exclusively for the official "Rings" Web site is included on the disc. The scenes range from the creation of some of the film's settings, to the actual filmmaking process itself.
The vignettes are dwarfed (no pun intended) by the much more elaborately produced specials by Fox Television and the Sci-Fi Channel. The Fox special is more of a companion piece that sketches out the narrative, while the Sci-Fi special delves deeper into the production. If you watch all the specials and Web vignettes at once, though, you'll also discover there's quite a bit of repetitiveness.
There's really no better way to see this movie on video than on DVD. But, if you only have access to VHS, then see the widescreen version. It's amazing how many more details you'll pick up by seeing the whole picture, from the sweeping landscape shots in the film's breathtaking prologue, to the Mines of Moria, to the film's final battle scenes. (New Line Home Entertainment)Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
