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List Price: $14.94 | | Label: Sony Pictures
Salesrank: 27614
Released: November 22, 2005 |
| Our Price: $3.84 |
| Used Price: $1.15 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
A FEATURE-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY THAT EXPLORES HOW 'THE LORD OF THE RINGS' HAS INFLUENCED WESTERN POPULAR CULTURE OVER THE PAST 50YEARS. 'RINGERS' COVERS TOLKIEN'S INFLUENCE ON POP CULTURE FROM THE PUBLICATION OF THE BOOK IN THE 50S, THROUGH THE 60S HIPPIECOUNTERCULTURE, 70S ROCK & ROLL & THE CURRENT INTERNET CRAZE.
Description of Ringers - Lord of the Fans:
Of all the documentaries devoted to J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy classic, Ringers: Lord of the Fans is the first and only one to respectfully honor the good-natured depth and breadth of Lord of the Rings fandom. Like Peter Jackson with his phenomenal Lord of the Rings film trilogy, director Carlene Cordova and cowriter Cliff Broadway (contributors to theonering.net, the definitive LOTR fan site) were the perfect team to create this wildly entertaining tribute. The film's globetrotting ambition is constantly impressive, but Ringers remains keenly focused on its lively exploration of Rings fan devotion, presented here with a flawless combination of informative objectivity and insider enthusiasm. From the inspiration behind Tolkien's Middle-earth and the immediate success of The Hobbit upon its 1937 publication, to the hippie embrace of Rings mythology in the late 1960s and the revival of fandom in the wake of Jackson's trilogy, Ringers (the accepted nickname of devotees) has it all: Influential authors such as Clive Barker, Terry Pratchett, and Terry Brooks offer their Rings-related insights along with such Tolkien-inspired musicians as Rush's Geddy Lee and Motorhead's Lenny Kilmister, and literally hundreds of fans provide affectionate testimonials to the source of their devotion. Peter Jackson and most of the LOTR trilogy's primary cast are also included in the constant flow of interviews.
Dedicated to Tolkien as a valentine by smart and dedicated fans, the film generates its own infectious goodwill; it's so fun to watch that even non-fans will concede (to borrow a phrase from another world of fandom) that resistance is futile. (Oh, and speaking of Star Trek, the vintage clip of Leonard Nimoy singing his novelty hit "Bilbo Baggins" is absolutely priceless.) Actor Dominic Monaghan ("Merry" from Jackson's trilogy, before joining the ensemble cast of Lost) perfectly delivers the film's eloquent narration, which runs the LOTR gamut from intellectual appreciation to the hilarious eccentricities of über-fan obsession. Unfailingly noble in spirit and delightfully comprehensive, Ringers is a collector's gift that can proudly stand alongside Tolkien's books and Jackson's timeless movie trilogy. --Jeff Shannon
Ringers - Lord of the Fans Reviews:
LOTR nerd 
2009-06-23 - This is very good if you want to go more in depth about the LOTR fans and the world of LOTR. It's great and fun and funny, the interviews are great and it shows how dedicated-or crazy-LOTR fans are. It goes into the world of J.R.R and it shows the popularity of the movies and the fans that are willing to do anything and go anywhere to show thier love.
Empty, amateurish cheese 
2009-04-28 - Like others, I looked forward to the release of this, but was disappointed. Anyone more than a casual Tolkien reader will learn nothing new about the man or his works. Instead we are forced to endure amateurish reenactments of hippies, then eighties kids, THEN grunge kids (all the same people in cheesy getups) reading Tolkien, and dancing (why??) in a bedroom--none of this adds anything other than another layer of superficiality because they have nothing to offer.
Repeat, nothing of substance is introduced here. This is another disappointing product, flippantly put together, trying to cash in quickly on the current LOTR craze. You will be better served watching the extras on the LOTR box sets.
Thank goodness for the library
2008-05-05 - "Ringers" is disjointed and slow-moving. The overall quality is reminiscent of an unimpressive "special feature" on a movie DVD.
3 big problems 
2007-11-18 - My 3 biggest problems with this movie:
1. Unlike "Trekkies", it shatters any sense of objective journalism that would actually make it interesting. The filmmakers are obviously "Ringers" themselves and made a cheap film to heap praise on the choices they've made in their lives.
The guy doing the street interviews never pressed his subjects about questions normal people might want to know, such as: "How did you have 6 weeks free of any obligation to stand in line for Star Wars?" "Why are you dressed like a pirate / Klingon at a Lord of the Rings event?" "What in your personal life compells you to write sexual fantasy for fictional characters?"
Instead, he just smiles and nods along with their often absurd responses to his softball questions. That's not to say they shouldn't have these hobbies, but there was no "every man" Han Solo character in this absurd movie. Unlike "Trekkies", his questions never pressed these people to consider or reveal their life choices, which is what makes these people so compelling in the first place. It didn't follow any individuals through any sort of a character arc or revelation, getting only snippets of potentially interesting characters who would disappear from the movie the minute they exited the little video confessional booth. I wanted to know more!!!
2. The production value was just all over the map. The silly time-capsule dorm room transition scenes would have made Tolkien throw up, and were lingered on for far too long. The Mexican-style song about the product tie-ins was just flat-out weird, annoying, and out of context. The Monty Python-style animation reaked of low budget rather than quirky characterization.
3. The filmmakers had nowhere near the access necessary to accomplish what they tried to from a historical perspective. This is evidenced by the lack of access to anyone in the family (I'm assuming the "Chris Tolkien" over-the-shoulder hand shots weren't actually Chris' hands), reuse of the same cut-out photo of J.R.R., dated stock interview footage from LOTR movie publicity events, and the inability to show even one clip or original song from the Rankin and Bass movies.
What they revealed historically was something any casual fan would have picked up years ago, or gotten from a far better PBS historical documentary on Tolkien already made. What they revealed about the fans was frustratingly limited and gushing with admiration only fellow insiders who "get it" could offer.
On top of all that, the title "Ringers: Lord of the Fans" doesn't even make grammatical sense, seeing as "Lord" is singular and "Ringers" are a collective group.
ALLLLLLLL that said, the subject matter was interesting enough to keep the attention of a more casual LOTR fan such as myself.
amazingly well done 
2007-06-27 - i enjoyed this movie very much. it has TONS of interesting LOTRs information. its also very well done. the movie visits fun LOTRs places, a town in the USA named Hobbiton, California, and LOTRs conventions. great cast interviews make this a must have for all "ringers".
