DVD, DVD, how do I love thee?
Let me count the ways … Perhaps you have not experienced the joy that is the DVD.
If so, change that immediately.
The DVD is to video what a brand new Porsche is to an old Model T.
Last year the world was treated to the screen adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s odyssey “The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings.”
But don’t despair if you missed it on the big-screen.
Thanks to the ingenuity and power of DVD, you don’t have to live with the guilt of missing it first-run.
Plus, DVD is giving you a double whammy.
With Fellowship of the Rings you have two choices to pick from, the DVD edition recently released in August and a “Special Extended Edition” DVD in November.
Fellowship of the Rings is a fantasy movie.
Elves, wizards and humans run around fighting with swords, battling goblins and behaving very pre-industrial revolution.
Even if you’re not an avid gamer of “Dungeon’s and Dragons” or have never read the book on which the movie is based, don’t be concerned.
Neither is required.
Straight from the start, Fellowship of the Rings grabs your attention.
Shot in New Zealand, it is a visually stunning piece of cinematography.
New Zealand, with snowy peaks and green valleys, is a perfect double for Tolkien’s mythical Middle-earth.
Massive sets were constructed to create elven villages, hobbit towns and human castles.
The cast is flawless.
Elijah Wood stars as humble-hobbit Frodo Baggins, who is challenged with guardianship of the most evil and powerful ring imaginable.
Delivering one of her sexiest performances in history is Liv Tyler as Elven Queen Arwen, which can only be compared to Cate Blanchet’s talented ability to bring Galadriel’s, elf queen of Lothlorien, character to life.
Orlando Bloom and Viggo Mortensen as Legolas, the archer, and the exiled Prince Aragon are lead by the noble wizard Gandalf, played by Ian McKellan.
Screen-legend Christopher Lee completes the movie as the evil Saruman, doing three-times the villainy he did in Star Wars: Episode 2.
Speaking of Star Wars: Episode 2, Fellowship of the Rings is also a movie steeped in computer-generated images and animation.
But unlike Episode 2, you don’t notice it.
Director Peter Jackson put in many long hours to blend the fantasy elements into the lush background.
The special effects do not detract from the movie.
Fellowship of the Rings carried home an Oscar for visual effects, as well as for make-up and cinematography.
The movie benefits from an Oscar-winning score composed by Howard Shore; with The London Philharmonic, the New Zealand Symphony and Enya all mixing together to provide a powerful movie soundtrack.
The haunting and majestic instrumentals are key to the movie’s much-acclaimed success.
After being blown away by disc one, the second disc offers almost 3 hours of extras.
Production secrets, behind the scenes footage, theatrical trailers, cast and crew interviews, and music videos are all featured.
The second disk even offers a sneak preview at the sequel, The Two Towers.
As previously mentioned, a “Special Extended Edition” DVD will be available in November.
A unique version of the movie is offered, incorporating over 30 minutes of additional footage.
This package will be two disks as well, and will include documentaries and commentaries that delve deep into how the fictional Middle-Earth came to life in the movie.
As of date, no DVD can compare.
So this weekend, when Barbershop is sold-out, treat yourself to a date with my fave DVD.
Take a chance on The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings, a movie that won four Oscars has to be worth one weekend night.
You won’t be disappointed.
Matthew Ray can be reached at slaphappymat@hotmail.com.
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