J.R.R. Tolkien, The Master of the Rings - is a good documentary film.

Sometimes, life treats you with pleasant surprises. this happened today, when I was browsing my local second-hand store for random treasures. I found a DVD case, titled with Tolkien, but clearly different from the now official Lord of the Rings -branding.

This DVD, according to the cover labels, came out 2001, the same year as Peter Jackson's movies. However, it was not another branch of the official franchise, and that showed! The design was different. Not one word in the whole product even mentioned the Peter Jackson movies. It was a thing of it's own. Here is a brief summary of what this DVD case contained.

• DVD Documentary film, about J.R.R. Tolkien, his life, the birthing process of the Lord of the Rings, and the summary of the story. 
• CD of Audio music, composed by Rick Wakeman.
• A booklet with pictures painted by the Hildebrand brothers, who - according to the description in te case, were leading Tolkien experts at the time.

The production is clearly and independent work, apart from the LOTR franchise that launched with Peter Jackson's films. This makes all of it's content different from what we see in the movies. It is from a time, when we did not have the movies yet, and we had to lay the mental landscapes of the story ourselves. Some great works came out from that time. Most of all, I myself enjoyed David Day's great artwork in his picture books.

I found it very delightful to find another alternative, to what we have since adapted as the style and look and feel of the lord of the Rings. In this portrayal of the story, the orcs looked like lizardmen, and the Balrog looked hairy. And it well can be so, if you so imagine it.

The music on the CD surprised me the most, because it was so different to what I - or the official brand, imagines nowadays. It was a fun reminder, that every reader has their own interpretention of the story, and sees things differently in their imagination. In that sense, I find it even a little dangerous, to aproach stories through a movie, - which lays images and moods out for us. It sort of steals from us the chance to imagine them ourselves first.

The documentary itself was quality work. Much thought had been put in it, and it was well structured. Only the 3D models and early CGI were outdated, but still charming. I recommend!

Get a glimpse inside the DVD, and see my video review here.

What is your favorite production of Tolkien's world and stories? Leave a comment. :)