Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes! (Especially after seeing it on opening night! Moviemaking as I've *never* seen before - spectacular!)

What does Fellowship of the Rings have over every other movie? Quite a few things:

1) Emphasis on the beauty and sanctity of everyday life, as personified by the Hobbits in the Shire;
2) A "way of the cross" for the main character, Frodo, who must carry the burden of the ring to its very destruction in the fires of Mt. Doom;
3) Chivalry, morals and ethics that respect free will as well as duty;
4) The splendid worldbuilding - no one does it quite like Tolkien!

And, while you're at it, go ahead and buy that extra large popcorn - show the movie theatre what you'd like to see more of!

For more, please see the article: "Will Lord of the Rings Be Faithful?" by Steven Greydanus at decentfilms.com.

J. R. R. Tolkien

Often considered the "Father of High Fantasy," J. R. R. Tolkien's several books of Middle Earth are rightfully well-beloved. Combining adventure, quests, archetypes, language and Catholic Christian morals, Tolkein towers above all of modern fantasy.

His works, therefore, are unabashedly recommended.

The Hobbit

Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Excellent
Age Appropriateness: Pre-Teen

A prequel to The Lord of the Rings, this book chronicals Bilbo Baggins (the Hobbit) discovery of the Ring itself, which will turn the wearer invisible, but at the price of obsession. En route, he encounters Orcs, dwarves, a wizard named Gandalf, and a fearsome dragon named Smaug, as well as a creepy and mysterious character, Glolem.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Two Towers
The Return of the King

Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Excellent
Age Appropriateness: Pre-Teen/Teenager

Frodo, the newphew of Bilbo, comes into possession of the Ring, which he must destroy, which he must destroy before its power overwhelms him. Also involving a lost king, a power-crazed wizard, and a good old-fashioned romance. Might be a little scary at times for younger children.

The Simarillion

Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Excellent
Age Appropriateness: Teenager

Everything you ever wanted to know about Middle Earth's History is here...and in several other books Tolkein's son edited. A great companion piece to LOTR; better approached as a scholarly work than a story.

A Tolkein Reader

Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Excellent
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult

Includes Tolkein's "On Fairy Stories" as well as "Tree and Leaf," an essay on the place of myth in literature, and several short stories.

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Updated 22 July, 2007
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