The Hunt for Gollum: A Return to Middle Earth

The Hunt For Gollum (HD version) by HuntForGollum

Ok, I'll admit it. Just the idea of Lord of the Rings intrigued me into watching this film. Why Lord of the Rings you may ask? Let me inform you of a rather important fact about me: Lord of the Rings was a major part of my childhood. I can remember from the age of about 10 thinking that the film trilogy was one of the most beautifully shot movie franchises. I must clarify. At the age of 10, I had absolutely no interest in pursuing film as a career, yet I found the films to be stunning pieces of art. The films inspired me to read the books (which I managed to read in a week!) I quickly found myself addicted to the world of Middle Earth, but not in a creepy way. I grew to appreciate the concept of LOTR as one of the most ingenious literary works of all time. So, in essence, finding this short film brought me back to my childhood. Then I started watching it, and I found myself laughing. Perhaps not the greatest sign, considering that the film is not a comedy.

DON'T GET ME WRONG! Chris Bouchard's film brought Middle Earth back to life in a rather realistic way, considering that it is a short film. However, I found the actor playing Aragorn to be...well, put it this way: he is no Viggo Mortensen, at least in appearance. Maybe, I still have the image of Viggo Mortensen's rugged Aragorn stuck in my head...

I'm just not completely convinced by this new portrayal of Aragorn. Something is just off

(his voice maybe?) On a brighter note, his acting is superb. He does manage to capture

the warrior aspect well.

THAT is my major problem associated with Chris Bouchard's The Hunt for Gollum. I found

every other aspect of this film so strikingly similar to the Peter Jackson films. The precision to details

is evident from Aragorn's fight style to the music and closing credits. The cinematography was beyond

perfect. It was as if this short film was shot in the same locations as the original films. Even the CGI

(yes, it was a bit cheesy at certain points) matched the tone of the LOTR film trilogy. The fight scenes

were well choreographed. One would find it hard to believe that a director could manage to bring

a fantasy world to life in such an accurate way on such a small budget. That fact alone is brilliant.

Ok, some of you may be wondering: Did this guy try to remake the LOTR trilogy into a short film? To put is simply, no. However, he managed to make somewhat of a prequel to the first film. I hesitate to say prequel because there actually is a prequel to LOTR - The Hobbit - however, Chris Bouchard put his own take on the story. Basically, this film centers around Aragorn, before the Fellowship of the Ring is formed, on a quest to find Gollum to prevent him from revealing the location of the ring.

To end this rant, I must conclude by stating that this is not your ordinary fan film. Bouchard clearly masters Peter Jackson's film techniques, like the wide shot, in this film. Any LOTR lover should give this film a chance. The visual and technical aspects of this film alone are enough to intrigue any film buff. If you are dying for the release of the Hobbit this December, then this film may be for you. Although it is no 3 and a half hour epic, it is enough of Middle Earth to tie you over until the next part of Peter Jackson's LOTR franchise.