J.R.R. Tolkien - Master of the Rings - The Definitive Guide to the World of the Rings 2004 Horror Movie Review

This comprehensive survey of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings is billed as “the definitive guide to the world of the Rings,” and it delivers what it promises. Hosted by Tolkien scholar Robert Di Napoli, the 80-minute documentary is academic without being dry or pretentious, covering such aspects of the Tolkien epic as its literary influences (including Beowulf),  character and plot analysis, inspirations on other arts (such as the progressive rock of the 1970s), and enduring popularity. While Tolkien’s fiction is spectacularly visualized in the artwork of the Hildebrandt brothers and Roger Dean, an impressive variety of Tolkien experts—from literary scholar Helen Kidd to former Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman—offer eloquent insight into the value of Tolkien’s writing. A Hildebrandt gallery is included on the DVD, along with supplemental interview clips to expand on previous discussions and further examine Tolkien’s lasting influence. Altogether, this is an eminently respectable study that any Rings fan will readily appreciate. —Jeff Shannon