Strong on scenery, mood and effects, weak on hobbits.

Rating: 8/10 (13 January 2002)

I've read about as many viewer comments on this film as possible, and for the sake of me cannot declare it as "the" greatest movie ever, but perhaps I might have had I been born after 1995. It is, rather, a very good movie. The acting is excellent, the cinematography superb, the sets and effects which set moods are very effective. Disappointing is the fact that the hobbits in this movie are not the true center of the story, as they should be and as they certainly were in the books. Unfortunately, the hobbits in this movie are portrayed mostly as hapless and almost unbearably vulnerable little pawns in the grand scheme of others. The wizards, humans, and elves in this movie come across as the strong and important elements, which is quite unfair to the spirit of Tolkein's hobbits. And, something must be said of the special effects make-up for some of the creatures -- we've seen similar such make-up as far back as "The Lost Boys", and even for the past few years on T.V.'s "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (please do not confuse my comparison of make-up with any type of praise for the T.V. show!) -- I mean, check out the giant Orc foreheads, noses, and eyes!
So, definitely a movie that should be seen and enjoyed, but I didn't see "greatness" in the film itself.