Good but slightly too long

Rating: 5/10 (9 December 2001)

This tale, based on the popular book series, is a real accomplishment from a technical standpoint but might seem somewhat tedious to non fans of the book. Tech achievements are all excellent and the cast, both young and old, aquit themselves very well. While the film does have some outstanding sequences that keep your attention, at 2 1/2 hours the film does run a good half hour too long and often bogs down in some less than captivating sequences that slow the story down. Fans have told me that these will pay off in the sequels, but as a vieweing experience on its own, the film is just a tad too long. GRADE: B