for a small film...

...it took a lot of effort and it shows. Still, it seems that they put most of the effort into copying the "look" of a very expensive film while small films are usually best at story and character. There's no story to speak of here and the characters don't get to do much except look worried. Forty minutes is enough time to give the characters some room to stretch out. The actor who played Gandalf really caught Ian McKellan's style without seeming like an imitation and the actor who played Aragorn did a good job but he was too young. Maybe director Bouchard will find the counterparts to Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens to complement his considerable gifts in the visual department.