The BEST Fantasy film ever made

Rating: 10/10 (24 December 2001)

Much of what I wanted to say has already been said by the commentators here or by film critics, but I had to put in my two cents on this wonderful cinematic masterpiece. It is so rare for a film-from-a-popular-book to be this good, this rich, this masterful, but it is. I am an avid reader of both the Harry Potter series and LOTR, and although they are vastly different many comparisons have been made due to the proximity of the release of their movie versions. And as much as I love Harry Potter (the books), I must say that LOTR the film far, far surpasses the quality and depth of the HP the film. I credit it mostly to the superb director P. Jackson, who has that esteemed ability to inspire fear (e.g. that little hide-and-seek the monster plays with Frodo around a pillar in Moria that had me at the edge of my seat, and that terrifying moment when Bilbo's face is transformed into that of a monster--Gollum's--at the sight of his old ring, man, that's some great stuff that Columbus will never be able to do with a million Home Alone's on his sleeve), and yet also inject humor and big, warm-hearted humanity into his characters and settings.
So, if you have not seen the film, and even if you've never been a fan of LOTR the book, please do yourself a favor and watch this film!