wanderinglinton This is a short film which is not designed to stand on its own, referencing direct and indirect (appendices) parts of the Lord of the Rings books by JRRT, and very deliberately mimicking the style of the Peter Jackson's Tolkien works.It is telling a small part of a very large story which heretofore has not and likely would not be told (on screen), so a bunch of talented people have come together for an extraordinarily modest budget and created something very special.The plot-line is relatively thin - but it is not supposed to hold its own in this aspect - but rather be viewed as an adjunct to the story as already told by others.Some have complained that the principal actors do not have the gravitas of Viggo Mortenson or Ian McKellen .. lol - really? For 3000 quid - all up (reportedly) What are you really expecting? .. given the budget that they were working to - they have done a pretty remarkable job.I read a review that suggested that it ran counter to the PJ versions since they had shown the Mordorites torturing Smeagol/Gollum, but here it shows Gandalf and the elves "torturing" him. Tolkien makes it clear that Gollum was tortured in Mordor revealing the name Baggins and Shire - he says nothing about what Gandalf or the elves did to find out what Sauron had found out. It does not seem at odds in any way with the story as told by JRRT.I think the people involved in this endeavor have done an exceptional job on a very limited budget and should be rightly proud of what they have achieved.Another common voice though I hear through these reviews is - if these guys can do this on a shoestring - why can't Hollywood do better with less. To those people I say - have a look through the IMDb resumes of some of the people involved in this. You will see names like Harry Potter (more than once), The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Exodus: Gods and Kings.. etc.. Although these people might have worked for free on this title - they also have to make a living. It is one thing to do one project out of love - a whole other thing to have to pay a mortgage and put kids through school.If you want a complete, independent story shot in a unique fashion - this is not it. If you're prepared to give up 40 minutes to watch some talented people add some more to the tapestry of JRRT's works in the style of Peter Jackson - done on a shoestring budget and done pretty *darn* (apparently I'm not allowed to use my normal expression) well - then this is well worth your time. Kudos to the people involved.

CDuggan96 OK first off the actor for aragorn wasn't enigmatic enough for me, he wasn't the best choice for the part. he didn't have the same charisma as viggo mortensen (which is expected to be honest) but the actor chosen just wasn't powerful enough. he didn't command the movie like we come to expect from aragorn. there was surely someone else they could of used. secondly, the story was clever with the time it was set, just before frodo sets out on his journey but the ending was weak. i don't think they did the ending right at all. it was a bit silly how the witch king just disappears and the elves are everywhere. and finally, the fighting scene was so bad-ass. when the guys came out with the spear and aragorn got both of them it was brilliant. the fight with the boss orc too, very good fight. on par with the lord of the rings for fighting choreography in my opinion.

Frogfisher I have to say this short film surprised my quite a lot and that being after I heard good things about it. It actually was extremely well done for a free internet film. The premise is taken from The Lord of The Rings appendices where in Gandalf tells Frodo that Aragorn had been trying to capture Gollum before the Quest of the Ring began. Basically we see Gandalf ask Aragorn to find Gollum and thereafter how Aragorn track him down and capture him. Not a very intricate story. Which it appears the filmmakers have realised. Because they have in the Spirit of Peter Jackson & Co added some romance to the story in form of Arwen (much like The Two Towers added appendix material to the story)What one can not help but notice is the similarities with Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings. The visual side as well as the narrative and audio side lifting much from Jacksons work. And as the film is a fan made film about a subject only true Ringer fans would find interesting this works very well for the film and helps us just come to term with the universe in which it takes place since we already know it.The production value is incredible, everything from the action, the cinematography, the make-up to the few glimpses we get of Gollum. And how everything is carried out just makes the film so much stronger. What is the films only weak point I would have to say is the story. As mentioned there has been added romance to give some meaning to the film and with a story the ultimately doesn't lead to many revelations one can come to think of the films as a "why" thing. But the strength comes in the effort and love for the project that is clear to see in the whole film. And how it with no effort actually just manage to fit right in with the films it so long to be part of. It is well worth the hour it takes to watch it!

el_monty_BCN I'm sure I will going to get a lot of negative votes from the fans for this comment, but after reading so many glowing reviews I feel I need to tell my truth. It's true that the visuals of the film are pretty impressive (at times, not all the time) for a no-budget short, and that the makers have made a mighty good attempt at reproducing the atmosphere of Jackson's movies at a tiny fraction of the cost; also, there is a notably well choreographed fight scene of Strider against the orcs; but once you get past all the shiny packaging, it's impossible not to notice that the plot is not just thin, but practically non-existent. There are absolutely no surprises, and in 40 minutes it hardly manages to go beyond its one-line synopsis. All the film seems to do is its own little riff on some of the characters of Jackson's trilogy without adding anything new or meaningful. It certainly serves as a good calling card for the director, but it left me with a feeling of... nothingness.