An instant classic. An all-time great.

Rating: 10/10 (22 December 2001)

I can't imagine how this could have been better, except if it could have been long enough to include the whole book. Of course, that's completely impractical.
I loved almost all the changes from the book and understood why they were necessary. The prologue is admirably understandable for the uninitiated and grandly cinematic in itself. Howard Shore's score is terrific. The acting, however, is the best special effect. It makes the movie surprising moving for everyone.
Certainly and instantly one of the best movies of all time. A masterpiece.