Round Seven - Musical Lord of the Rings

This match up pitted two directors who are masters in very different fields against each other: Bob Fosse is one of the most prolific musical directors and Peter Jackson brought Tolkien's epic Lord of the Rings series to brilliant life. So it's song and dance versus battle and glory, so with feet kicking and swords flailing, LET'S GET IT ON!

Cabaret

I had seen this movie before and there are several aspects of it that are very impressive, including the singing and acting of Liza Minelli. Some people have issues with the apparent hatred in the movie, which takes place in Berlin as the Nazis are coming into power. The compelling scenes of violence coupled with the unsettling beauty of a young male Nazi officer singing a German pride song evokes a powerful, conflicted picture of the city at the time. Fosse skillfully cuts between the general circumstances of the city and the strange, dramatic stories of the individual characters. Their conflicts mirror some of those occurring on a more widespread basis, and throughout the film relevant musical numbers interject into the commentary. It's a stunning film, well-edited and interestingly told, but doesn't impact me emotionally the way that it does other people.

The Fellowship of the Rings

I remember seeing this film in the theater and since it came out, I've seen it over and over again. Watching it critically for this project did not lessen the impact of seeing this compelling story come to life, and the special effects are still impressive. What is more impressive is the fluid acting and fresh feel of an old story. I love this trilogy, and the introductory film sets the tone perfectly for the rest of the story.


All That Jazz

This autobiographical musical by Fosse is an interesting example of the product of his perfectionism; the editing is nearly flawless and communicates the emotion and pacing of the story very well. The music and dancing are spectacular, and Roy Sheider performs awesomely as the Bob Fosse-esque intense director. Again, while the emotions were communicated in the film, they didn't evoke a tangible response in me like most high-caliber films do. 

The Two Towers

Again, not to reiterate or be repetitive, this film is still engaging, visually stunning, and exciting to watch after repeated viewings. I'm sure that nostalgia has something to do with it, but the Lord of the Rings series has excellent staying power. Even though it tends to drag at times, overall the action is invigorating and the story is always moving.

This probably doesn't come as a surprise: Peter Jackson is the winner! Although I enjoyed seeing more of Fosse in All That Jazz, and his talent is evident in these two films, the Lord of the Rings epic definitely moves me, and continues to do so after years.