JRR Tolkien's classic tale of the Lord of the Rings, which is sweeping cinemas world-wide, comes nearly 30 years after the author's death in 1973.

Members of the great man's family, who live in and around Evesham, have been amazed and delighted by the film's international acclaim.

Although Tolkien spent a huge part of his life in Oxford, first as an undergraduate then later as a professor of Anglo Saxon, he still entertained his Vale nephews and nieces at his home.

Later when he retired he spent many an enjoyable holiday in Blackminster with his brother, Hilary, and his family, including his nephew, Gabriel, who now lives in Evesham.

Gabriel's son, Chris Tolkien, who now owns the family home in Blackminster, went to see the blockbuster, and was greatly impressed with the first of the epic trilogy, The Fellowship of the Rings. This is his review.

The Fellowship of the Rings is the first part of New Zealander Peter Jackson's adaptation of JRR Tolkien's epic trilogy.

The question for many would be could Jackson capture and recreate the array of characters in the same depth possible as in the imagination of the reader. The answer for my part has to be a resounding yes.

The story is set in Middle Earth and begins in the Shire, which I have to say was portrayed just as I had imagined it. Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm) is throwing a lavish party to celebrate joint birthdays, his eleventy-first birthday and his young cousin Frodo's thirty-third birthday.

Frodo is played by Elijah Wood, who whether he likes it or not will now always be known as a hobbit no matter what else he does during his acting career.

Enter Gandolf the Wizard, superbly played by Sir Ian McKellan. He must have portrayed most people's exact image of Gandalf. With Gandalf at the party the adventure begins. Bilbo announces that he is to leave the Shire and then promptly vanishes, it emerges that the ability to disappear is given to him by a ring, but not just any ring. Bilbo reappears and prepares to leave. His old friend Gandolf tells Bilbo that he must leave the ring with Frodo.

Gandalf then breaks the news to Frodo that the ring is the Master Ring made by the Dark Lord Sauron The Great. It is more powerful than any of the rings made in ancient times by the Elves.

Gandalf explains how after many years the Dark Lord Sauron is preparing to spread his evil shadow over Middle Earth, if he gets possession of the Master Ring nothing can stop him.

Frodo realises that he must leave the Shire and take the ring with him; he sets off with three Hobbit friends, Sam Gamgee, Merry and Pippin. Heading for Rivendell the home of the Elves, they encounter many dangers on the way, none more frightening than the Black Riders or Ringwraithes.

They escape temporarily and continue to Rivendell meeting on the way Strider, who turns out to be Aragorn a King in disguise (spendidly played by Viggo Mortensen).

Upon reaching Rivendell they meet the Elvin Lord Elrond and his daughter Arwen. A meeting is held and it is decided that the Master Ring must be destroyed by taking it back to where it was made (Mount Doom in Mordor). The now enlarged company set off and their adventures really begin.

The skill with which this film has been produced and acted will undoubtedly win it many accolades and awards. The three foot Hobbits, four to five foot Dwarves, six foot Humans and seven foot Black Riders are filmed all in perfect perspective and without us being able to notice anything untoward, it is very believable.

With the making of this £210 million epic adventure, Jackson and the hundreds of people working with him for the last two years have created what will be one of the most talked about films for years, and deservedly so. I went to see this film with an open mind, I came out after what seemed a quick three hours very impressed.

Even if you do not go to the cinema regularly, get yourself out of that armchair and go and see The Lord of the Rings. I think Peter Jackson has achieved what he set out to do; he has done the book justice.

And finally crooked wizardly hats off to Sir Ian McKellan for his excellent portrayal of Gandolf. A five star performance in a five star film.

l Those who have not yet seen the film can do so at the Regal Cinema in Evesham from January 25.