Pzippity

This film came out when I was a senior in college, and I loved it at the time. I thought it was really innovative and thought-provoking. It was also my first introduction to Eliot's famous fragment, which remains a particular favorite. It may be a difference in perceptions that is the root of the film vs book controversy because personally I can't stand Fowler as an author. I think he's extremely pretentious, not to mention boring. But that's just me. Other's like the book and hate the film because of their own perceptions. See the film and judge for yourself. I think it's definitely worth it.

Yes, it's corny. Yes, it's a little sappy and over sugary. In short, it's a good, old-fashioned, story-telling movie like you rarely find anymore coming out of Hollywood. That in itself should be worth the price of admission. To see an excellent group of actors spin their magic with little need of special effects (OK, the lion is animatronic in some scenes) or violence (if you don't count taking pot-shots at passing salesmen) or sex (it does have a love story, which is not the same thing) is so wonderful with the amount of repetitious dreck that normally pours nonstop out of the studios. Caine and Duvall are like Old Masters that just get better with time, and Haley Joel Osment continues his progress towards becoming a Master himself. Despite some awkward moments (but then, he's at that awkward age), Haley stands up well in comparison. A welcome relief to the "blockbuster" Hollywood mentality, and a danged good story as well!

I am not one given to fits of exuberance or to heaping praise on movies (or anything else, for that matter), but I have to honestly say that this is the best movie I have ever seen. I found it even more satisfying than the Fellowship of the Rings, hard as that may be to believe. While Smeagol was incredible, there are so many parts of this movie that were perfectly done I hesitate to focus on just one. One aspect that I haven't seen mentioned in other reviews, however, are the rohirrim, the Riders of Rohan. I thought their depiction as sort of Vikings on horseback was perfect! They were perhaps my most favorite characters in the books, and Peter Jackson really made them come to life for me. I only wish there had been time to see more of them. As for the "purists" who quibble over discrepancies between the "holy" text of the book and what is in the movie, get over it! The movie should be experienced and judged on its own merits, and as such, it is a true masterpiece. I can only wonder how PJ will top this movie in the finale!