Whether it's a science fiction, action or fantasy film, there always exists a danger of overwhelming the story with visual effects. So, when writer-director Peter Jackson adapted the first book in J.R.R. Tolkien's time-honored literary classic "The Lord of the Rings," he very well knew that the characters would have to drive "The Fellowship of the Ring" if Middle Earth were to continue spinning for audiences around the world.

Enter the experience of Sir Ian McKellen, a master thespian with a career in the arts so distinguished that it earned him a British Knighthood by 1990.

And while he's no stranger to film (although he most recently earned praise for "Gods and Monsters" and "X-Men," his career extends back to 1968), McKellen's heart to this day remains anchored in the theater. Not surprisingly, he brings that sense of theatrical intimacy to the big screen with his portrayal of wizard Gandalf the Grey in "The Fellowship of the Ring," almost as if you were in the same room with him.

But as pivotal as his portrayal is in the film, far be it for the charismatic veteran to credit himself for a job well done: In a reserved and humbled tone, McKellen said in a recent @ The Movies interview that the emotional power of film comes from the cinematic storytelling prowess of Jackson.

"There's a pattern in the movie where he cuts from shots of these great landscapes, armies on the move and a world in change, to the very real experiences of people and creatures with whom we can identify," McKellen told me by phone from New York, where he's starring opposite Helen Mirren in the Broadway production of "Dance of Death." "I think Peter reflects that emotion with his close-ups of the characters, since you are constantly seeing eyes and faces."

Gandalf's mission, for those unfamiliar with the Tolkien icon, is to guide the Hobbit, Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), in his quest to destroy an ancient ring of power before it falls into the hands of evil and enslaves the world.

As the best-selling fictional novels of the 20th century, "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy portrays a classic confrontation of good vs. evil. Its enduring theme is no doubt testament to the staying power of the book (first published in 1954), and perhaps that's why the debut of the film version in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks makes the story all the more relevant.

"You get involved in the story because it's a reflection of what our own lives can be like in extreme situations," McKellen explained. "We relate to it because it's the ordinary people in the end, like the Hobbits, that become the heroes, rather than commanders and leaders like Gandalf, who directs operations."

McKellen said what aids our ability to identify with the film version of "The Fellowship of the Ring" is Jackson's uncanny knack for casting. In addition to Wood, the players include Cate Blanchett, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Ian Holm and Christopher Lee.

"It's not often that you see a movie with so many characters in the fore that are all very well played," McKellen praised. "And that includes the entire casting process, whether it's the people who are making the armor, the people designing and painting the sets or those involved in the digitization of the visual effects."

It's no mistake that McKellen gives "cast" credit to people that would normally be considered as "crew." That's because it was the real "wizards" from the visual effects team, who among many other things, enabled Gandalf to tower in stature over the Hobbits.

"Like most people who have seen it, I didn't really notice the magic -- I just accepted that the hobbits were smaller than the other creatures," McKellen recalled. He was so engrossed, in fact, that even Gandalf took on a life of his own.

"I actually stopped thinking it was me and instead saw Gandalf," McKellen said. "That level of believability should be credited to Peter's translation of the book to the film -- when I was watching it, I got just as lost in it as anybody else. That's very unusual when you don't see yourself in a film."

McKellen is well aware that there are legions of fans who may scrutinize the translation of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy to film. It's a battle he's faced before, as he co-wrote the screen adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Richard III" in 1995.

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"The idea of taking a written work and translating it into a film is as old as film itself," McKellen explained. In fact, he pointed out, "Richard III" was first adapted as a silent film in 1908.

"I think it's difficult for people who are unsophisticated when it comes to the problems of making a film to realize that you just don't stick camera in front of a page and start photographing it," he said. "You have to translate it."

As for "The Lord of the Rings," he assured that even the most faithful of fans could rest easy: The imagery and mythology of Tolkien is saddled firmly with Jackson.

"The translation is absolutely faithful to Tolkien's intentions and his considerable descriptive and narrative powers," McKellen said. "With Peter, you get a very strong sense of the story and individual characters -- but the difference is that he has painted on screen the pictures of the words imagined by his readings.

"There's no greater enthusiast of Tolkien's books than Peter Jackson, but in the end it is his translation, and many people will be fond of his vision," McKellen concluded. "Many who have already seen the film say he is faithful, but in a cinematic way."