Stars:
****
Rating: PG-13 for violence,
intensity
Run
Time: 3
hours
J.R.R. Tolkien published his imaginative cult trilogy in 1954, mesmerizing readers with his dark fantasy of Hobbits, Elvin kings, and assorted Dark Lords. Now New Zealander Peter Jackson (“Heavenly Creatures”) has assumed the daunting task of directing this three-part epic (parts II and III for Christmas 2002 and 2003, respectively) for the big screen. And how.
Embracing the classic
literature on which it is based, Jackson and his merry band of adventurers
bring a palpable passion to their project that infuses every one of its one
hundred and eighty screen minutes. The
Hobbit Frodo (Elijah Wood) is the epicenter of the story, a tiny, mirthsome
fellow who is entrusted with a golden ring of startling powers. The malevolent circle of gold must be
destroyed, but can only be done so by transporting it to its place of origin –
the cracks of Mount Doom
Joining Frodo on the
intimidating journey to Doom is an unlikely fellowship of brave voyagers that
include a pair of Hobbit pals, an Eflin marksman (Orlando Bloom), two Mortal
Men warriors (Viggo Mortenson and Sean Bean) and a stout and courageous
Dwarf. Heading up the charge is the
strapping, gentle wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan), a wise and comforting sage who
transcends the Middle-earth ethnic barriers by becoming friend and savior to
all.
The rumor is true - Jackson
and company offered up a year and a half of their lives to film three
full-length films in sequence, absorbing their characters with a devotion seldom
seen on screen. Wood is an endearing blend of fierce spirit and wide-eyed
innocence. Mortenson is every girl’s
dream of the knight in shining armor (mine, at least), and McKellan deserves an
Oscar for parlaying his craft into sheer warmth and wisdom. Jackson masters
every nuance of the production, from the wee homes of the Hobbit village Shire,
to the CG-enhanced monster wars and the up-close-and-personal moments of his
diverse population. The costumes, the
energy, and the special effects are brilliant, but the bottom line is that this
must be respected for the overwhelming achievement that it
is. The bar has been raised, and the
world of film entertainment will hereinafter be better for it.