Magnificent

Rating: 10/10 (30 December 2001)

I have not read the Lord of the Rings and I did not know what to expect. What I saw was by far the best film of 2001, and it deserves at least a nomination for Best Picture Oscar.
Most adventure films recently have been very, very disappointing. Witness the recent "Dungeons & Dragons" movie or "The Phantom Menace". It seems that they have become bland and predictable. Even "Saving Private Ryan" and "Gladiator" were lacking in some ways. This one is very much like an old-fashioned 1950's Hollywood epic done with modern film techniques and special effects.
This movie is right up there with Raiders of the Lost Ark and Empire Strikes Back--a true, modern classic.