Keith Watanabe * NET 2.0

It's hard to make a statement about such a thing that has received so many statements. However, as this is my homepage that I've paid for and built with my own hours of labor, I'm allowing myself the luxury of blabbing on a bit about a story that has really taken hold of me. I haven't watched any of the series in theatres as of yet. My exposure has been completely through the DVDs and extended DVDs (yes, I actually purchased my versions as I find them to be well worth the money). And the fact that I actually purchased them should be a statement of my partiality towards this movie. There are many critics out there who have assessed various ratings for and against this movie. I think most people who are towards the extreme ends are either too blind by their fealty towards the series or are brainwashed by the media/MTV. For myself, I've viewed it in two manners. First, I viewed it in a critical nature. This past year I've finally sat myself down and read the series. I've seen the Ralph Bashki version when I was a child. That cartoon was what originally gave interest to me in the series as well as my general interest in fantasy literature (and games). However, up until now, I've never taken the opportunity to read the books. The whole triology regained my interest in the books as I wanted to see what would happen after the first movie ended. Yes, I knew what would happen as I also had viewed the animated Return of the King as a child. But that wasn't the point. The point was to engage myself in Tolkien's world and compare that with Jackson and company's vision. For the most part, I think Jackson did a praiseworthy job. One of my biggest approbations of his interpretation was that, from the start, they grabbed the right conceptual artists who would be a major factor in giving the movie a real life. It wasn't just grabbing some hack kids off the street to illustrate the series. It was people who were dedicated for many years that fans were already familiar with that had the opportunity to participate in this event. To me that was a true sincerity as the artistic vision would be preserved with us that had become fond of the Tolkien. Next, I found myself becoming closer to the actors themselves with each passing episode. Now, perhaps a good part of that is attributable to my viewing of the off camera shots that tend to humanize actors rather than glamorize them. But at the same time, I found myself sensing more bonds that the actors and their characters would draw from each other with each passing movie. Naturally, there are debates about this. I think most people frown upon the arbitrary ways Jackson and crew edited Tolkien's story and would re-work it into their own idiom. Hardcore fanatics naturally feel this way. However, given the environment that Jackson and crew were working with (namely Hollywood and a limited amount of time on the screen), you can say that, at the very least, they were able to portray enough of the characters to generate feeling of the story. You have to realize that this is an epic story being shot within around 9-10 hours total. You have to balance this out with these parameters and virtually a new generation of people who barely know the name Tolkien. Going back to the cast, I thought most were done very well. Naturally, I think the biggest ones people will end up remembering are Sean Astin, Andy Serkis, and of course Christopher Lee and Ian McKellen. That's not to say the rest of the cast failed, but that these people in particular just stood out far beyond. In addition to this crew, I found myself extremely partial to Viggo Mortensen, Sean Bean, and Orlando Bloom. Also, I'm a perpertual fan of Ian Holm as he played Ash in my all-time favorite Alien. Still, the cast each took advantage of what they were given. I think my only dislike in terms of casting was Liv Tyler. I think it was more because of the type of role she was given rather than the fact that she was in it at all. Yes, she was able to take advantage of her portion as well, but I just felt that she added nothing and actually was a distraction that slowed the pace rather than enriched the storyline. But she's received enough flack from the rest of the internet so I'll leave her at that. Setting: Just magnificent. I've met people from New Zealand before, but I never really thought about their landscape when I was hanging with them. Now after seeing this movie, it makes me a huge admirer of their land. As of now, I'm in Tokyo which is just barren of nature, imo. It's more akin to the lands of Mordor with it's concrete streets and the sound of industry pulsing everywhere (note: that's just Tokyo; outside is wonderful). Seeing the natural vertiginous zones and sweeping shots sent chills down my back as it drew me into this realm that sometimes seemed more real than the one I currently inhabit. One of the subtle things I think the series has done was produce a storyline was the various wideshots of the countryside of New Zealand. You get a real feeling of traveling rather than a few guys running up and down hills all day long. Sets: What can I say? Jackson and company were able to accomplish my life long dream: do the war of Helms Deep and Gondor. After seeing the animated versions of these movies, I've always been motivated to collect enough Lego to replicate those scenes. But to see it on screen has been a real treat. Beyond those, I'd say that there wasn't a set that wasn't wrought with the dignity and realism that I could imagine from such a large scale production. I think two of the best sets that I had been longing to view were the Dead Marshes and the Witch King's citadel. The Dead Marshes has been a favorite of mine since seeing one of these conceptual drawings as a kid. I had been horrified and fascinated simultaneously by this scene. It's one of those that really gives you the chills as you can see these two little hobbits and this nasty creature slipping through a fen in the dark (although this was done during the day). Then around them little wisps of light flicker about. Suddenly, eerie faces are conjured in the swamp as Frodo peers too deep and is but rescued in time by an unlikely saviour. Just the pinnacle of dark fantasy for me. The Witch King's citadel caught my attention completely when I saw the previews for the third part. It's a fantastic scene where the citadel lights up with this ghastly light-blue-green color that swirls towards the heavens and emits this sound. The colors used in that scene aren't ones you'd normally imagine from a castle. But I think having those colors gave dimension to the scene and made it really stand out. Still, you can say that for most of the sets in the movie. As I mentioned though, these are the ones that really thrilled me. The culture of Tolkien's world I think was brought to life well. The scenes and sounds reminded me a bit of some games I played like Baldur's Gate 2 where you visit the elf lands. Sure, there is a commonality among them, but bringing to life on the big screen is what really makes a movie. Some subtle points I've been curious about were the food. I think one of the most interesting characteristics that we will never get to experience is the food used in the movie. Naturally, the lembas bread is one of the focal points in the story. When you look at such a device, it makes you wonder what that aspect would actually taste like. A shame that as a society we don't really manufacture something like that. It would definitely be efficient for survival (or maybe lemba's bread is astronaut food?) The whole feeling of the story is just intimate. It really grows on you and gives you a sense of triumph as it closes and shows our values as a people. The messages aren't sophisticated yet their poignant and relevant to our lives. For me it's made me feel like a child again, re-exposing my imagination to the realms that I would explore as a kid. I think a good movie produces a catharsis and this one had indeed left me crying in the end because as a journey, as companions and as messages I felt something like a full complete circle. Not all movies are capable of handling this, but this movie had the endurance, patience and craft to drive home this feeling. Thank you Peter Jackson and company. I think you've taken a bow, but let me take this one for you.