My experience with Tolkien goes back only a few months. In preparation for the movie, I delved into “The Fellowship of the Ring” so that I was not completely ignorant of his style and vision. Tolkien’s imagination is as rich and fanciful as any fantasy writer that ever lived. The intricate worlds he conjured up, along with the beings who inhabit them, are so complex you can lose yourself after a paragraph or two of detailed description. After its initial publication in 1954, “The Lord of the Rings” become nothing less than a genre-defining moment in literature. Suffice to say, if you don’t care for the all-encompassing “Rings” series, it’s a safe assumption that you just don’t like the fantasy genre altogether.

Peter Jackson, a man of skewed genius and, above all, incredible vision, is an inspired choice to direct these films. The New Zealander’s work includes such oddball selections as the cult gore fiesta “Dead Alive”, the Michael J. Fox thriller “The Frighteners” and the critically acclaimed “Heavenly Creatures”. Jackson seems dedicated to this material. Every “Lord of the Rings” fan should be thanking their lucky stars that Miramax entrusted him, instead of some witless action jock, with the job.

After a prologue that explains the origins of the Ring, our story begins in the Shire, where hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) greets old wizard friend Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) on his way into town. Gandalf has come to celebrate the eleventy-first (or 111th) birthday of Frodo’s uncle Bilbo (Ian Holm), who has something in his possession of unspeakable power: a golden ring, forged by the Dark Lord Sauron, that can wield a power beyond anything in Middle-Earth. The ring is pure evil and “wants” to return to its maker, and even though Sauron was defeated and stripped of the ring many centuries ago, his spirit lives on and commands it. When Gandalf discovers this is “the one ring to rule them all”, he vows it must be destroyed. As Bilbo’s heir, Frodo takes on the task of journeying to the dark realm of Mordor, where he must cast it into the fires of Mount Doom - the place where it was originally conceived. Does this all sound like a big load of make-believe gobbledygook? Probably, right? Fear not: the storytelling is quite fluid and easy to follow, and the movie is not merely a barrage of in-depth fantasy politics. It’s also a thrilling sword-and-sorcery epic and, above all, a tale of courage and friendship in the face of unparalleled adversity.

Frodo embarks on his quest with three fellow hobbits: his good friend Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin), Merry Brandybuck (Dominic Monaghan) and Peregrin Took (Billy Boyd), aka “Pippin”. Gandalf seeks his wizard superior, Saruman the White (Christopher Lee), for council, only to find his longtime friend has been swayed by the powers of Sauron and his evil forces. Hunting the hobbits are the nine Ringwraiths, all former kings of men who now serve the underworld wearing dark cloaks and riding black steeds. But aiding them is the mysterious ranger Strider (Viggo Mortenson), conflicted Boromir (Sean Bean), graceful elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and irritable dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies), all of whom -- along with Gandalf -- make up the fellowship of the ring. These warriors make it their mission to travel alongside and protect Frodo, the ring-bearer, on his quest to Mordor. But there are evil entities who will stop at nothing to prevent this.

Of course, pleasing every Tolkien purist is something of sheer fantasy itself. Those particularly fond of the books will forever find elements to nitpick about (IE, where the heck is jolly Tom Bombadil?) However, Jackson and fellow screenwriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens have done an admirable job in staying true to the spirit and mythology of the book, and Jackson has -- dare I say it? -- reinvisioned it for the better. With the task of condensing 540 pages into a 178-minute film, “The Fellowship of the Ring” drops much of Tolkien’s languid description and transforms it into cinematic spectacle. The New Zealand scenery is gorgeous, with various aerial tracking shots capturing its lush, stunning landscapes like nothing in recent memory. The wonderful costumes and sets, whether authentic or CGI-generated, further contribute to the exquisitely detailed look and feel of the film. “The Fellowship of the Ring” is not just a glorious work of imagination, it’s a work of art; there are sights and sounds here that rock the senses in a manner reminiscent of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and the original “Star Wars”. And no, these aren’t the best special effects we’ve ever seen. They are exceptional, mind you, but they show certain flaws. My point is that “The Fellowship of the Ring” is not merely a showcase of visual fireworks sprucing up an otherwise hollow shell of a picture (ala “The Phantom Menace”). The film is full of heart, soul and raw emotion. For three full hours, Jackson’s creation is robust and marvelously exciting. More important, however, is that there is a grand vision behind it all.

I have some issues with the movie. It ain’t perfect. There is a segment where the fellowship stumbles into the territory of the Elf queen Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) that lacks focus. And then there’s the ending, which will cause some to gripe, because the film simply just... ends. The book’s conclusion is kept intact and there is little or no resolution to speak of, plot-wise. Faced with this, Jackson does a wonderful job of ensuring an emotionally climactic ending, even with so much more road to travel. In case you weren’t aware, two more “Rings” movies are on the way - “The Two Towers” in Christmas 2002 and “The Return of the King” for the festive season of 2003. Filmed in one batch, all three are in the bag, and with the same cast, crew and director having worked on each, there’s no reason to believe the upcoming installments won’t be just as good or even superior to this triumphant picture. And frankly, that excites me.

Nearly each performance contains a depth that is virtually unheard-of in the genre. With this, Elijah Wood has officially made a successful transition from child actor extraordinare to adult performer. His rich expression perfectly communicates the courageous personal morale of Frodo, as well as the incredible fear and reluctance the character undergoes to accept such a task. The standout, however, must be Ian McKellen as Gandalf. There is wisdom and authority in McKellen’s every gesture. He captivates us with each passage of dialogue and pulls off the powerful wizard act with flying colors. Another vital presence is Viggo Mortenson (“A Perfect Murder”, “GI Jane”), who has the role of the noble swashbuckling hero and commands the screen. Sean Astin (“Rudy” himself) provides a wonderful, loyal Sam Gamgee, while Liv Tyler is (quite surprisingly) very good in her brief appearance as Elf princess Arwen. Hugo Weaving, from “The Matrix”, plays Lord Elrond at the council of Rivendell.

Other supporting cast members include fearsome goblin-like creatures called Orcs, who provide the centerpiece battle inside the Mines of Moria. From one incredible set-piece to the next, the rousing and effective score by composer Howard Shore heightens the splendor of the experience. All things considered, “The Fellowship of the Ring” is an amazing movie that could very well signal the first step toward THE definitive fantasy film franchise. Bring on “The Two Towers”. Like millions of other filmgoers, I don’t know if I can stand the 12-month wait.