Tuesday, March 11, 2003

The Lord of the Rings, BBC Radio production

This radio dramatization of Tolkien's classic work in incredible. Nearly an un-abridged version at 13(!) hours (and CD's). Tremendous voices and effects - something missing in the movies is here, too - song - poetry and singing is integral to the books, but left out of the movies. Ian Holm (Bilbo in the new movies) is Frodo, and with Samwise, is excellent. The actor doing Gollum is wonderful - bringing to life the cringing, sneaking, twisted character without the slightest help of special effects.

The Lord of the Rings is monumental - and at the end tremendously harrowing. I feel like I've been to Mordor and back after listening to it...