Ian McKellen

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Review

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Review

RATING: (3 STARS) The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey could certainly afford to lose a few pounds, but it’s nonetheless an enjoyable reintroduction to Middle Earth. The world depicted here is different from that of director Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy—it’s fluffier, much more light-hearted—but certain characters, tropes, and Howard Shore’s sweeping score […]

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Review

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Review

RATING: (4 STARS) After two phenomenal films, Peter Jackson and the crew for “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” had a lot to live up to. It’s hard to believe what an accomplishment this film is. What could they do that wasn’t in the first two movies? I asked myself that […]

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Review

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Review

RATING: (4 STARS) Often, the second in a trilogy is the strongest of the bunch. Look at “The Empire Strikes Back” or “Spider-Man 2.” Other times, they are the worst in the series. For proof of this, look at the other Star Wars trilogy and its subpar entry, “Attack of the Clones.” The “Lord of […]

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Review

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Review

RATING: (4 STARS) When New Line Cinema executives agreed to bankroll this massive project, to be filmed in New Zealand by a relatively unheralded director, they were risking their entire company. Sure, J.R.R. Tolkein’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy is beloved by many around the world, but plenty of folks in the know at […]