J.R.R. Tolkien: The Master of the Rings (2001) Stephen Grant   Although endless books and "making of" productions covering the Lord of the Rings trilogy have flooded the market and airwaves over the past three years, there is comparatively little that covers the author and books alone. This particular production, made before the release of the films, thus proves a refreshing look at J.R.R. Tolkien and his work. Even to someone who has read all of Tolkien's Middle Earth books, the detail and background of Tolkien's world remains astonishing, even staggering (and unfortunately, barely glimpsed in Peter Jackson's films). This documentary takes a look into the background of Tolkien's life and work, providing insight into the man and the inspiration behind The Lord of the Rings. Numerous critics and scholars are interviewed, joined by brief comments from two of Tolkien's children, Priscilla and John, along with BBC archival footage of Tolkien himself. At the outset, we are presented with a geographical cross-section of Middle Earth (via 3D computer graphics) which covers the background of all its major realms-the Shire, Rohan, Gondor, Mordor, and the woodland strongholds of the elves. Modeled loosely on the geography of Britain and Europe, Middle Earth was created by Tolkien as an attempt to create a mythology for England. The geographical overview is then followed by an examination of the storyline, characters, and creatures of Middle Earth. The production also looks at the life of Tolkien himself-how his childhood that began as a rural idyll ended in urban squalor was so traumatic, and how his experiences in the trenches during the first world war informed his attitudes on war itself. His professional life at Oxford is also covered, along with his friendship with fellow author C.S. Lewis, whose encouragement was vital to the completion of Lord of the Rings. What comes across is that Tolkien's Middle Earth saga is a work of both colossal scale and minute detail, of which The Lord of the Rings trilogy is but a part (albeit a major one). Throughout the production, the gorgeous illustrations by Greg and Tim Hidlebrandt (first seen in the Tolkien calendars of the 1970s) provide a visual frame of reference to the discussions. The DVD menu also includes the separate option to view the illustrations on their own. Quite different from the dreary, visual style of the feature films, the Hildebrandt paintings have a dreamlike, fairytale quality, which, for the most part, better captures the tone of Tolkien's work. Admittedly, the presentation of this production is somewhat dry and facile. Having seen more of the BBC interview with Tolkien in other productions, I find it disappointing that some of his most interesting statements were not included here. But there is no denying that there is no denying that there is a wealth of insight and informatio nimparted throughtout the 80 minutes of J.R.R. Tolkien: Master of teh Rings. —Paul Andrew MacLean

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