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Ringers: Lord of the Fans [UMD for PSP] | ![Ringers: Lord of the Fans [UMD for PSP]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5116200PGYL._SL160_.jpg) | Director: Carlene Cordova
Actors: Dominic Monaghan, Elijah Wood, Peter Jackson, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom
Studio: Sony Pictures
Category: DVD
Buy Used: $43.43
as of 7/30/2010 03:22 UTC details
Seller: bull_moose_music
Rating:  35 reviews
Sales Rank: 319073
Format: Color, Full Screen, Subtitled
Languages: English (Unknown), Chinese (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Korean (Subtitled), Portuguese (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: UMD for PSP
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Running Time: 97 Minutes
UPC: 043396122574
EAN: 0043396122574
ASIN: B000BBOUEA
Theatrical Release Date: 2005
Release Date: November 22, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
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
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 35
 Ring around the fandom October 18, 2005
E. A Solinas (MD USA)
69 out of 71 found this review helpful
"The Lord of the Rings" was first published in the mid-1950s, to relatively little notice. Nobody knew -- even the author -- how important this one story would become.
In the years since, however, J.R.R. Tolkien's masterful trilogy has gained a fandom that might just be the most eclectic in all of pop culture. And in "Ringers: Lord of the Fans," we get to see an affectionate love note to the fans who helped establish it as a modern classic, and turned the movies into megahits.
This documentary traces "Lord of the Ring's" influence over the years -- and boy, does it spread wide. In pop culture history we get: Led Zeppelin, the recent cover of "Where There's a Whip There's A Way" by World Without Sundays, who performed at a triumphant Oscar-geek party, and the aborted Beatles movie. Paul would have made a cute Frodo, but it was never to be.
And, of course, Tolkien's work spawned modern fantasy literature, here represented by Terry Pratchett and Terry Brooks, who speak of Tolkien's influence on literature. But media attention isn't all there is -- we get to see a town called Hobbiton, hear about elves and Woodstock, trivia, and a cute little reenactment with action figures.
And of course, there are the new movies. Dominic Monaghan ("Merry") narrates this with a mix of gravity and humour, and there are snippets of actors like Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Viggo Mortensen, Billy Boyd and Ian McKellen being interviewed. And, of course, fans: Fans at parties, at cons, in costume, in rock bands, adoring actors, talking about the books, the movies... fans and more fans.
It tells you something that filmmakers Carlene Cordova and Cliff Broadway have done work for TheOneRing.net for the past few years. Namely: They are Ringers.
And so you can expect a certain amount of affectionate wackiness here. There is not a single dull moment in all of "Ringers: Lord of the Fans," from the Terry-Gilliam-style cartoons to those miniskirted "hobbits" dancing around Leonard Nimoy. Its main flaw is that it is way too short -- I could have used a few more of those costumed fans making armour.
But will it be sneering and mean-spirited towards the fans? Thankfully, no.
"Ringers: Lord of the Fans" is nice. Really nice. Nice to the fans. It's good-hearted, humorous and very geeky; Broadway and Cordova get down there with the fans and treat them as equals. We do get to hear about the more fannish activities (spending six months making a costume), but the fans range from serious and analytical to a bit wacky. They don't look foolish, just geeky and passionate. Which, of course, is precisely what they are.
Ringers, be at peace -- the affectionate "Ringers: Lord of the Fans" is not making fun of you. Instead, it's a quirky, offbeat valentine not only to the fans, but to "Lord of the Rings" itself.
Bless them all, bless them all, the long & the short & the tall... November 19, 2005
Junglies (Morrisville, NC United States)
39 out of 42 found this review helpful
I have always had a thing about fanzines, you know the magazine written by fans for fans which sometimes grows into something more like Relix, for instance. To the uninitiated it is a way into another world so that you no longer feel like an outsider. I really liked the movie tie-dyed for that reason alone although in my case it was an exploration into a US phenomenom which had not crossed the Atlantic except when American Deadheads did!
Having been one of those people, although i will not say which, who read the Lord of the Rings in the 1960's/'70's, I could relate to much of this celebration. There is much within which is a joy to watch including the segments of actor interviews although to some extent I mourn the absence of others in the cast, and there is much amusement too.
i would have preferred not to have to see the re-enactment of 60's and 70's grooviness but it is a harmless distraction. The camerawork is sometimes cliched but at other times somewhat amateurishly fresh but despite those things there is an honesty and sincerity which shines throughout.
This is a labour of love which brings some insight into the mysterious world of the Ringers, their revitalisation through the movies, gives some marvellous views of some of the settings in New Zealand and some quirky though absolutely adorable antics of the Ringers, shall we say, on tour.
This is one of those movies you can watch in all honesty to yourself. It has no pretensions other than to let us into their world. A world of characters as individual as the ones they are interested in. Whether young or old there is a lot for you in this movie. I wish I knew where my old , well worn paperback omnibus (British) edition is now and whose possession it might be in.
On a personal note, it was the Fellowship of the Ring and the first Harry Potter movie which galvanised my youngest son into reading, something which he has continued to do voluntarily to this day. This movie has shown him a different side to the novel and made him aware of the broader enthusiasm in the world for the books so much so that after watching it he began a web search on Rings issues.
This is a great piece of fun for all the family. It made me laugh it made me cry with a twinkle in my eye and for that alone I heartily, without reservation commend it to the readers.
The Anti -'Trekkies' September 14, 2005
DJ_D (Georgia)
23 out of 28 found this review helpful
'Ringers' is a documentary by & for fans that examines the impact that
J.R.R. Tolkien and 'The Lord of the Rings' has had on popular culture.
It's narrated by Dominic Monaghan ('Merry'), and takes the audience
on a journey through the last 50 years, from the publication of the books,
up to the release of the films. My favorite moments are when the
filmmakers talk to ordinary, everyday fans about how Tolkien has
changed their lives, but it's also cool to hear from people like David
Carradine, Terry Pratchett, Cameron Crowe, and Geddy Lee of Rush. And
rather than mock the fans, as 'Trekkies' did, the film celebrates them.
Highly recommended!
Fandom in all its glory February 20, 2007
Daisy Brambletoes (the Shire)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Okay, they've finally done it! On top of the documentaries about Elvis fans, Trek fans, and even Mozart fans, showcasing some of the kookier aspects of those fandoms, "Ringers" is an exploration of Tolkien fandom as a whole, with the good sides and silly sides, and manages to do so without the usual tongue-in-cheek ridicule of "come see the freak show, folks!" Having been part of all of these fandoms (minus Elvis), I have to admit that there ARE some screwballs, and that just goes with the territory. I found the history of American Tolkien fandom interesting because I discovered Tolkien in the early 70's, myself, and have never cared for the association many people of my generation have with hippiedom, pot-smoking, rock music and other such counter-culture garbage that in reality has nothing whatsoever to with Tolkien - except in the minds of such people. Likewise, in more recent times it has become the turf of New Agers who see magic and mysticism in Tolkien that was never there any more than pot-smoking hobbits or genial hippies in the Old Forest. But perhaps this is because in the end Tolkien is such a terribly personal experience. To people of the 60's, perhaps they truly did see Tolkien as a counter-cultuer tour de force. Perhaps today's New Agers truly do see Wiccan mysticism in Hobbitry and Elfdom. Environmentalists see Treebeard as the ultimate spokesman for protecting the forests (and perhaps they are right). And likewise, I see it as a superb conveyer of the Christian message, whether it was intentionally so or not.
All that being said, "Ringers" shows the history of the fandom in all its splendor, and shows some of the truly clever costuming created by the fans. The one thing that stands out is a love for Tolkien, however his great writings are perceived. This is an excellent documentary, and one of the best, most comprehensive of its kind. I recommend it most highly.
This is not the "Trekies" of Lord of the Ring fandom September 14, 2005
CAhobbit (Southern California)
17 out of 21 found this review helpful
A documentary many years in the making. Lots of interviews with musicians, actors, authors and the everyday joe with one thing all in common...a love for Tolkien and Lord of the Rings. This film shows the influence the books and most recently the films have had on the famous and not so famous (whether it be a song inspired by, a book inspired by, a path in life inspired by). It's all in one DVD. A film about fans (that stretches generations) by fans.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 35
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