Few films were so eagerly awaited like the The Fellowship of the Ring, first part of the epic trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien's classic fantasy novels. Peter Jackson, New Zealand director and one of Tolkien's biggest fans, have used the opportunity to make his dream project reality. Wise decision to make three instead of one film allowed basic narrative structure of the novel to be put on screen, and most of the characters and plot were kept, with only handful of interventions to anger Tolkien purists. Those unfamiliar with Middle Earth were, on the other hand, introduced to diverse but talented cast, impressive New Zealand locations and the most advanced CGI special effects. The resut was one of the greatest commercial successes at the beginning of 21st Century. The Fellowship as a film by itself is far from classic. Jackson sometimes strays too much into pathos, some of the scenes aren't as spectacular as imagined in Tolkien's book, and the abscence of female characters leads to often too distracting speculations about relationship between certain male characters. The Fellowship, on the other hand, serves its purposes as an introduction to the saga. Many of its flaws would be corrected in next two sequels.
RATING: 7/10