Tolkien (2019)

I hadn't been aware that a J.R.R. Tolkien biopic was in the works, and so it came as a pleasant surprise when my wife and I learned about it.  We saw "Tolkien" in theatre, and both of us really enjoyed watching it.

Movie poster for "Tolkien" (2019)

Nicholas Hoult was a fitting choice to portray Tolkien as a young man.  There were also great performances by Lily Collins as Edith Bratt, and the actors who portrayed Tolkien's friends, the other members of the T.C.B.S. club.

I had read both Daniel Grotta-Kurska's "unauthorized" and Humphrey Carpenter's "authorized" biographies of Tolkien, published around the time of Ralph Bakshi's "The Lord of the Rings" movie, and so was already somewhat familiar with Tolkien's life.

I didn't realize the film had received such mixed reviews, or that the Tolkien Estate didn't endorse it.  (Certainly, there were liberties taken with historical facts.  Tolkien and Bratt were married by the time he went to fight in WWI, for instance).

Nevertheless, I'm a big fan of the Inklings, particularly J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams, and so am also looking forward to seeing "The Most Reluctant Convert: The Untold Story of C.S. Lewis".

As for "Tolkien", I think it needs to be understood that a biopic is a form of storytelling, just as historical films should not be equated with documentaries, and so my wife and I are looking forward to watching it again, this time with our kids.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

I was excited to see "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" with my son, back in 2012.  I had read him "The Hobbit" as a bedtime story, and each Christmas, we looked forward to seeing the next instalment.

Movie poster for "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" (2013)

While I had some issues with the first film, "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" was better (the wild barrel ride of the dwarves, escaping the wood-elves while simultaneously being attacked by orcs, was on its own worth the price of admission).

The Lake-town sequences were atmospheric and memorable.  (I love the Lake-town theme, and can listen to it for hours).  Steven Colbert's cameo was also fun, (although I didn't know who he was at the time).

In fact, I enjoyed the movie so much, I saw it a second time with my wife.  There was a widespread power outage that year, so we stopped at the theatre on our way home from dropping the kids off at my parents' house, who still had power.

Ed Sheeran's "I See Fire", which plays during the film's end credits (immediately following a smash to black), is a moving and evocative song.  (I like to listen to it, late at night, when I'm in a particular mood.)

Even though "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" failed to capture the spirit of "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" we've watched the films a couple more times.  There's apparently a fan version, which condenses the trilogy, which I've yet to see.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

It's difficult to explain to younger people just what a big deal Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" movies were.  What a relief that after two years of waiting, "The Return of the King" was the grand finale it was promised to be.

Movie poster for "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" (2003)

I enjoyed "The Two Towers" in 2002, although the extended edition on DVD was far better than the cinematic version (we also went to see the Two Towers exhibit at the old McLaughlin Planetarium in Toronto before the show.)

Jackson's conclusion to the film trilogy far exceeded most people's expectations, sweeping the Academy Awards with 11 Oscars, including Best Picture (which remains the most awards ever won by a single film, to date).

I can still remember how spellbound I was, watching Annie Lennox perform "Into the West" at the 2004 Oscars.  When I was in high school, I never would have imagined a pop icon such as Lennox singing a song inspired by Tolkien.

A year later, I cradled my newborn son upon my chest as I read "The Silmarillion".  When he was old enough, I read him a little part of "The Lord of the Rings" each night before going to bed, for the better part of a year.

Tolkien's masterpiece remains a touchstone of my existence, although I'm not certain when I'll get a chance to read it again.  More probably, I will listen to the story as an audiobook, some day.  Few tales withstand the test of time, like that.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Growing up, I was a big fan of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" (my first copy was a one-volume paperback tie-in edition released in conjunction with Ralph Bakshi's 1978 animated film, although I also owned the film storybook).

Movie poster for "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" (2001)

I remember when the BBC Radio dramatization first aired in 1981 (we listened to it on CBC Radio), and purchased it on cassette in the late 1990s (and again on CD in the early 2000s), for listening to in the car on long road trips.

Once I learned that the trilogy was being filmed in New Zealand, I checked theonering.net regularly for updates, and collected newspaper clippings with any shred of news.  Anticipation among fantasy fans was running high.

I saw the movie over the holidays with childhood friends.  We were blown away, mostly at how seriously the material had been handled.  I saw it again at least once, and couldn't fathom how long I'd have to wait until the next installment.

Casting was perfect, as were the costumes.  The cinematography was magical, with strategic use of color and special effects.  The score by Howard Shore was also finely done, and I loved the songs "Aníron" and "May It Be" by Enya.

"The Fellowship of the Ring" was a game changer.  Prior to its release, fantasy films weren't taken seriously by the industry, but its success had an immeasurable impact on both moviemaking and pop culture.