J.R.R. Tolkien: Master of the Rings (2001)

Documentary. This is an unusual but generally effective treatment of Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings. It's effective in that it presents a cogent plot summary for the newcomer. It's unusual because it presents a lightly detailed computer-drawn topographic map of Middle-Earth in addition to blurry, colored (solarized) "re-creation" scenes of Tolkien's works where the hobbits seem to be "little people" dressed in Puritan caps and Strider resembles one of the Dutch masters. The production displays a large selection of Tolkien-inspired fantasy art (leaning heavily on the works of the Brothers Hildebrandt and somewhat on the work of Roger Dean) as well as snippets of filmed interviews with Tolkien's children, Tolkien's publisher, and Tolkien himself. (Some share footage with Inside Tolkien: The Hobbit.) It's a fair shake of an effort from a virtually unknown cast of Tolkien experts. Three stars.