I try to stay away from fan films. Really I do. Weekend demi-amateurs with a camcorder, a pair of crudely sculpted Spock ears, and a K-Mart (or S-Mart) light saber should not be encouraged. It is the lowest of the low.

And yet— (there’’s always an “and yet), ”—fan films and the Internet are so gruesomely intertwined that to reject one is to reject the other, at least with regard to video. Only porn stands prouder as the flag-bearer of streaming distribution. It hurts all the more because of those very occasional gems that force fools like me back into the muck searching for another Troops or Pink Five.  As this site claims to represent the best in online shorts, we need to dip into the slime, and what do you know? I found a jewel, pre-shined and all.

The Hunt for Gollum needs to be watched twice, because a first viewing will be interrupted by your own exclamations of, “’This can’’t be a fan film’” and, ‘“There’’s no way this was done for under £3,000’.”  It is an amazing piece of work: sweeping vistas, ancient forests, goblin’s hordes, and all put together by unpaid fans.

The story, with an adjustment or two, comes from an appendix to the Lord of the Rings that I can’’t recall reading. Gandalf fears that Gollum may be captured by the dark forces of Mordor and reveal the location of the One Ring, and sends the ranger Strider to find the warped creature and keep him away from their enemies. Does that mean nothing to you?  Do you need to be told who Gandalf and Strider and Gollum are?  Or who Peter Jackson is?  If so, this film isn’’t for you. It makes no attempt to appeal to a wider audience. It doesn’’t need to. Only Lord of the Rings fanatics, that is, fans of the humongous epic cinematic trilogy, need apply.

While it doesn’’t stand on its own, as a previously unfilmed chapter in Peter Jackson’’s vision it works incredibly well.  Director Chris Bouchard has Jackson’’s style down pat, and uses enough wide shots of mountains and marches though wildernesses set to music just this side of Wagner to lead anyone to believe that The Hunt for Gollum is really a secret proof of concept piece that Jackson shot to prove to New Line that he could pull off the larger project.

Adrian Webster makes a convincing Aragorn, though the poor man is stepping into the slick, testosterone oozing shoes of Viggo Mortensen. “Convincing” is the best that could have been managed.  Patrick O’Connor is a level up as Gandalf, and for my money fits the literary wizard better than Ian McKellen, and I am fond of McKellen’’s work.

Is The Hunt for Gollum non-stop entertainment and excitement?  No; it is laced with self-importance and drags for much of its length. But that’’s exactly the same thing I’’ve said of Jackson’’s mega-film. If you found its tone on the money and were comfortable with its leisurely pace, than you will be happy with every moment of this work.

The Hunt for Gollum is that rarest of fan films. It matches its progenitor without feeling unnecessary or embarrassing. It brings action, depth of character, and effects worthy of its parent. If you’’ve left Middle Earth behind, there’s nothing here to bring you back, but if you are twitching for the big screen adaptation of The Hobbit, here is your fix.