Different - and one of the best I've ever seen

Rating: 9/10 (19 December 2001)

(This review contains some spoilers)
When I took my seat at my local cinema at midnight, I thought I was quite prepared for what to come. For little less than a year now, I've been part of the Internet-LOTR hype, downloading every image, preview, trailer and interview I could possibly find. (Naturally, I've also read the books a couple of times). However, the real experience turned out to be something quite different. Visually stunning beyond belief, and in ways that I couldn't possibly imagine, and have never seen before. And the acting... This is one of the few movies I've seen where the actors really _were_ their characters, not just playing them. Initially, when I saw the first pictures of the actors on the web, I must admit that the only one I had some doubts about was Elijah Wood as Frodo, (he was a little younger than I imagined Frodo to be, and perhaps too "cute") but oh... now, after seeing the movie, I realize how wrong I was. Now I really understand why he even is named "The Chosen One". He is the perfect Frodo; and the spirit of his character is the true spirit of the Frodo we know from the books. Wood really makes you care about him, he just feels so genuine, through and through. When Frodo is standing on the shore of Anduin, making the final decision to head for Mordor alone, and the tears are running down his face... For me, I think that was the most moving scene of the entire film.
The only thing that I found slightly disappointing was that evidently, a lot of scenes had to be cut down to make the three-hour limit. I would gladly spend another 30 minutes in my chair, (or more!) to stay a little longer in Rivendell and Lothlorien, to see more of the wanderings of the Fellowship and hear more campfire-conversations. It also felt like Merry's and Pippin's screen-time was a little limited, which removed a little depth from their characters. I have no doubts, however, that this will change with the second and third film. And I _really_ do hope that we'll see at least some of these missing scenes on the DVD, as soon as it comes out.
Oh, yes, this movie was really worth waiting for. It is absolutely one of the best I've ever seen - and I'm already counting the days... no, the hours, until Dec 18 of 2002, when I finally will take my seat in the theatre again, to see The Two Towers...