Great review. 90% of the things that mystified you about the film (the Elves sailing away, the Army of the Dead, The Eagles) are all explained in the films in one form or another. I will admit that sometimes Jackson takes one's knowledge of the book and history for granted, but if he tried to explain them more they would distract form the story and it's pacing.

If you watch the first and second films again, I am sure you would know exactly where and why the Elves are leaving Middle Earth.

Again, great review. It's nice to see that someone who did not read the books can still enjoy a master work like this.

Very good review of the movie, I'm glad you hadn't read the books, it give you a fresh perspective on the story. I think the films were an incredible effort and I give serious props to the production companies for letting a practically unknown director spend $300 million on a fantasy film. I don't know whether they're crazy or geniuses. Even though I love the story, I'm not certain I would have had the balls to green light it.

To answer some of the questions though:

The Elves are leaving Middle Earth because a new age is beginning, an age without magic. Elves are inherently magical, so they cannot survive without the presence of magic. This to a lesser degree is also true of the Ringbearers. If you look back at the story, anyone in the story who had worn a ring of power (and thereby had been touched by magic) either died or left Middle Earth in some form or another. That is the reason Frodo and Bilbo left. (BTW, Sam was affected by this becuase he never actually put on the One ring)

As for the army of the dead, they are actually a group from another book that Tolkien wrote about the first war of the ring when Isildur was king. They betrayed him and were cursed until they fufilled their promise. Their function in the storyline was that they provided a transition point in Aragorn's character from the Ranger mentality to the mentality of a King. By calling out that debt owed, he symbolically and literally was coronated King of Gondor.

Arwen's fate isn't tied directly to the ring but to Aragorn, that necklace he wears is a connection to him, by giving it to him she made a decision to grow old and die in Middle Earth instead of travelling to the Grey Havens with the rest of the Elves. The two fell in love with each other even though (in elf terms) their life together would be interminably short. That is why, in an earlier film, when Arwen gives Aragorn the necklace he refuses it at first, because he knows that it will end in her death.

Cate Blanchette was Galadriel, Queen of the elven kingdom of Lothlorien. She didn't have very much to do as far as the storyline was concerned. Her primary contributions were the gifts that she give the fellowship (the camoflague cloaks, star of elendil, etc.) and she is the first person Frodo (and the audience) actually witnesses being tested by the ring. Other than that, she's a bit player.

I am sorry, but you need to read the book. Liv Tyler's-madeup character in this book does not kiss the king. I would be rude since he marries the princess of Rohan.

Apparently, Jackson did not think the princess was pretty enough to kiss the king.

I have to also give due credit to the author of the first review as i am pleased to find a non-reader of LOTR able to watch and understand and give a clear headed view of what Middle Earth is like for them!!

****So, if I am to understand correctly, when the wizard says "thus begins the age of man", basically all magic is eliminated from Middle Earth for some reason, and at some later point Middle Earth becomes Modern Earth? ****

ANSWER: Almost! The time frame Tolkein was going far was when the earth had no recorded history - he basically wanted to make up a mythology for britain because unlike many other countries who had their own mythology, Britain did not. Not all magic is eliminated, it just fades as the world of men grows and they forget this "past."

*****so do the Middle Earth locations have geographic equivalents in England?*****

ANSWER: Hrmm, this is a hotly contested topic, though not exactly right. It is true he modelled The Shire on the town he used to live in as a boy, but not all places have an equaivalent as he allows for the wrold to change signifigantly.

*****what ever happened to the Hobbits and their civilization? If the humans basically evolved to become modern humans, what of the Shire? Did they die out at some point?*****

ANSWER: I think, and i could be wrong, this was explained either in the foreword of the Hobbit or Lord of the Rings. He says they are a species few in number but able to, at the first sign of human activity, disappear. The notes say how men began to forget the hobbits and now we see them no more. I don't know how accurate this is as i don't have the books at hand, you will have to read them youself i guess! *grin*

One last note on Galadriel and the rings. All the rings of power (and there were 9 for men[all corrupted and destroyed], 7 for dwarves, 3 for elves and the ruling ring) were tied together. Once the ONE ring was destroyed their power would cease as well, so in fact, Galadriel - a wielder of Nenya the Adamant an elven ring of great power - knows this when Frodo comes to her, knows that if he succeeds the time of the elves will end and the beauty of Lothlorien will fade as the power that sustains it is gone. If she had taken the ring, she would have saved the elves but in turn become corrupted.
By declining the offer of the one ring by Frodo she is able to be accpeted back to Valinor (a place of peace and healing where the elves go to leave Middle Earth if they haven't already died - thats what you see them sailing off to) as she once had done a great wrong and this righted it a long time ago, (or something to that effect) and showed her strength and compassion.
It's actually one of the greatest displays of sacrifice. The world has found their new King - Aragorn -, the evil is destroyed forever and she can see that there is no room now for the elves in this "New Age".

Now Arwen, Liv Tyler, had a choice she could either go to Valinor with her people and Father or stay and die as a mortal. Choose to be elf or mortal. As a mortal she would feel the weight of mortality including old age, pain, greif and death. As an elf she would loose Aragorn, and when she goes to the undying lands (Valinor) her love will never be more than a memory. Either father or Aragorn....... one of the hardest decisions to make as she will never see her father again if she chooses mortality and Aragorn - not even in death as her father is immortal.
Her fate is tied to the ring as when it is destroyed then she will have to choose. Will she choose to stay with the leader of men Aragorn and die or go with the elves whose time has ended now that the power of the Elven Rings has gone and a new leader of men is chosen - no longer leaderless.

I hope this brings you more clarification, it is the best i can do at such a time. If you have any more queries please ask them and I'm sure someone will try and explain them over. I am sorry also if i have confused you... i tend to do that sometimes!!

Whyte Ivy

Arwen is not made-up. An elf who chooses mortality, she marries Aragorn, the king. The Rohan princess, Eowin, marries Faramir, son of the steward of Gondor. Their story will most likely have more detail in the extended edition of the film.