I know there’s a lot of interest in this project. I know many people are worried: how much will they change? how much are they leaving in? and will it suck? …I’m here to assuage your fears.
The first movie (Fellowship of the Ring) will be released this coming Christmas, and in an effort to build advance awareness in the international entertainment press (the buzz on the 'net is already huge), the filmmakers screened twenty minutes of footage at Cannes yesterday. In attendance were executives from the studio (New Line), the director (Peter Jackson), and a few cast members.
The first bit of footage was about setting up the story (Gandalf talking to Frodo, then Bilbo, and showing off the Ring); the last bit of footage was a montage of various bits and pieces from all of the movies, including Frodo looking down into the Crack of Doom and deciding to keep the Ring. The middle bit is of primary interest: It was the complete 14-minute sequence wherein the Fellowship battles their way through the Mines of Moria. Orcs, the Cave Troll, the whole bit, up to the introduction of the Balrog.
Many, many web geeks were there, and published their reactions within hours. In a word: OH MY <expletive> GOD.
Okay, I know, that’s more than one word. But the reaction from all who were privileged to attend was absolute amazement. The look of the world, the effects, the actors, everything – it sounds like it’s exactly perfectly right. Based on the reports, it sounds as if we have nothing to worry about.
I’m including links to some of these reports so you can read them for yourself. Check them out at your leisure, but be advised:[list=1][li]They contain spoilers, not for plot (because, hopefully, you already know the story) but in terms of design and description, i.e. an overview of the look of the Balrog, specific details of how the plot is being executed, and so on;[]as with so much on the Internet, some of it is profane, poorly written (grammar and punctuation), and kind of hard to read (especially the aintitcool link); and[]obligatory greeting to the gemstone feline.[/list=1]Based on these caveats, if you choose not to read it, that’s fine; just know, again, that the summary reaction is that the footage is flat-out AMAZING. Come December, we’ll be in for a real treat.[/li]
Anyway, here are the links.[ul][li]French Premiere magazine (mediocre translation)[/li][li]Associated Press[/li][li]AintItCool[/li][li]Reuters[/li][li]TheOneRing.net (more of a clearing-house of coverage with links and other material)[/ul]Oh, and one more link: You can download a PDF of the official press booklet handed out at the screenings. You’ll need Adobe Acrobat to read it; also, be advised, it’s quite large, so if you’re not in Bandwidth Heaven you’ll be tying up your phone line for quite a while. It is, however, worth it. Download it here.[/li]
Enjoy, and discuss!