violent, excruciating beauty- why this film will win Best Picture

Rating: 10/10 (27 December 2001)

As I begin to read more and more of the reviews and opinions people seem to be forming about this film, I cannot help but think how anyone who detracts from this masterpiece (which, sorry to say y'all- it very much IS), is missing a crucial point- that LoTR, despite its length, merges so effectively and so beautifully every aspect of film and overcomes so much that could of screwed the film-makers up, that one simply must stand in awe because of the sheer obstacles one knows must have been lept over, and are lept over, with such grace and wonder.
Who knows what gives some films that sense of I HAVE TO SEE THAT AGAIN and others that sense of "geeze, that sucked." This film just has it...it has everything...Elijah Wood, whom we've seen mature and come of age into an incredible and formidable acting power, McClellan, Holm, and Blanchett, all Academy-Award Nominees who bring an indelible European flare to their characters, fight scenes with that blend of passion and violence that give movie-goers adrenaline rushes, and some of the most unique and fascinating cinematography that I've seen in quite a while. One may really loose oneself in this film, in the realm of Middle-Earth.
As for the ending, I like it- at first it seemed too abrupt, too episodic- but it grows on you; I like the fact that it ends so abruptly, because it just reminds me that there're two more coming...and I'm not a die-hard Tolkein fan. I just like epic, gorgeous film-making, which this most certainly is.