The Lord of the Rings (2001). There is so much to say about this
movie, largely but not entirely good. Naturally, huge amounts of cutting
had to be done, and the condensation of the story into a screenplay was
generally done very well. Effects -- seamless and exemplary. Acting (and
casting) -- praiseworth all 'round. Adherence to the original Tolkien
work -- excellent in places, but with several rather baffling alterations,
such as the insertion of Arwen into the situation at the crossing of the
Greyflood, and the consequent minimization of Frodo's own strength and
courage on that occasion. Also, why were Merry and Pippin downgraded from
being among the chief architects of the flight from the Shire, to little
more than ne'er-do-wells? Overall, though, it was an outstanding movie,
and I hate having to wait for the next two!
Update, 2007: It's been some years now since the last of these
movies was released, so I am late in updating this entry -- but I must
say that I was less impressed with each new movie. The effects were
excellent, the acting was (on the whole) quite good, the casting was on
the mark. But the changes, minor in the first movie, grew in scope and
damaging potential.
- Why destroy the character of Denethor, who in the book was a wise
and noble (although mad) character, but in the movie was portrayed as
uncouth and foolish?
- Why have Faramir temporarily fail and take Frodo prisoner, when in
the story he never did so? Notwithstanding the fact that Faramir
relents, this nevertheless damages the integrity of the character, who
in the story only mentions the possibility for a few moments but clearly
never intends to act on it.
- Why have the ringbearer face a ringwraith, standing in plain view,
in the middle of Osgiliath, when in the story Frodo was never there?
The fact that Frodo remained out of sight of the ringwraiths was
critical.
- Why change the psychological influence of Saruman over Theoden via
the whisperings of Grima, and instead make Saruman control Theoden
directly by magic from a distance? And why the grotesque physical
alteration in Theoden's appearance? It was dramatic, but
nonsensical.
I could go on and on, and probably will later... But I can sum it up
this way: I am massively disappointed in Jackson, who I thought was a
Tolkien fan but ended up ruining the very story he tried to tell with
these senseless alterations.