An amazing movie!

Rating: 10/10 (4 January 2002)

A few months ago someone asked me what my favorite movie was, and I couldn't come up with an answer. There are many that I like, but none that really stands out among them. Now I realize I was waiting for a movie like this one to come along. And if the next two are anything like it, I'd better leave some more room at the top!
I went into this movie expecting to enjoy it, but not expecting to fall in love with it. I read the books some 10 years ago, on my second attempt--the first time, I gave up halfway through the Two Towers because I was so bored. I went into the theater only barely remembering the story (I remembered the black riders and the journey through mordor), so I got the full experience of the movie, having no clear idea of what would happen next. I thought my husband would like the movie better than I would, since I'm usually underwhelmed by action films and I dislike violence.
Boy, was I wrong. I was completely blown away by the movie. I sat spellbound in my seat for three hours and despite considerable discomfort, refused to budge for a bathroom break because I didn't want to miss a single moment.
(SPOILERS)
This movie entertained in every possible way. I fell in love with most of the characters, especially the hobbits, Gandalf and Aragorn. I loved the Shire. I felt the terror of their flight from the Nazgul, all the way from the Shire to Rivendell. I was dazzled by the whole Moria sequence, and while action scenes usually don't do much for me, this time they did because I CARED. My heart was in my throat every time they were in danger (which was most of the time!). And, most acutely, I felt their sadness after Moria and particularly Frodo's sadness for the remainder of the movie.
One thing that really impressed me was the REALISM of the movie. The characters are often dirty, sweating and/or bedraggled. They don't always look attractive. The realism throughout is part of what swept me up and brought me into another world for 3 hours.
I was moved by the heroism of many of the characters: Aragorn, putting his life on the line over and over again to protect Frodo; Gandalf, at the bridge at kazud-dum; Merry and Pippin, drawing off the orcs to let Frodo get to the boats; Sam, for his steadfast loyalty in the face of any and all danger; Boromir, in his final redemption; Legolas, for his sheer prowess in battle (he was a joy to watch). Gimli seemed to get short-changed in this film; perhaps his time will come in the next one. But mostly I was moved by Frodo. So terrified in the first half of the movie and so sad in the second half, he nonetheless carries on with his against-all-odds quest, taking the road he knows to be right when there are many easier (but false) roads that could be taken. His moment comes when he gets in that boat and pushes off.
There were a few scenes I didn't care for, or that I thought should have been done differently, but they are minor quibbles and I won't go into them. This movie works on every level. I have never loved a movie so much as this one.
And as for those books I barely managed to struggle through ten years ago? After the movie, I ripped through them all in less than five days, hanging on every word. I wanted to know exactly what happened, and I couldn't bear to wait two years to find out. The movie made me care about the characters, and that makes all the difference in the world.
10/10, and then some. Bring on Two Towers! How will I ever manage to wait a whole year?