One of the best epic films ever made.

Rating: 10/10 (20 December 2001)

Ok, I am not a die-hard J.R.R. Tolkien fan, and I have not read any of the books yet. Just wanted to get that out of the way.
With that said, let me add that this is one of the best movies to hit Hollywood in a while. It has everything: action, drama, comedy, thrills, chills, memorable performances, and great visuals. This is the formula for an unforgettable epic, and I for one cannot wait for the second and third installments.
I could be nitpicky and comment on how the hobbits really didn't look as short as they were supposed to look. I could complain about the lack of certain character expositions. But you know what, while those were things that I noticed about the movie, it didn't bother me one bit. Let's face it folks, the movie is never as good as the book. I know this, for I read many books before they become movies. I chose not to read any of the Lord Of The Rings novels before I saw the movie, for I wanted to experience the film with no pretenses.
This movie is a great example of Hollywood living up to its potential. So many times does Hollywood make crap, especially when it comes to event pictures such as Pearl Harbor and Armageddon. In LOTR (Lord Of The Rings), we get the perfect juxtaposition of great storytelling, with the effective usage of special effects. LOTR uses lots of CG effects to create some of the most breathtaking landscapes, and some of the most harrowing images of evil, ever created in film. LOTR also has many great performances: Elijah Wood (Frodo Baggins) does a fantastic job playing the reluctant, conflicted hobbit who must bring the ring to its destruction. He plays it with such emotion and grace that I found it nearly impossible not to feel for him. Ian McKellen (Gandalf) plays the 7 foot tall wizard with poise and dignity. You never question his character for a minute. Let me just leave it at that. Supporting turns for Sean Astin and Viggo Mortensen (Samwise and Aragorn, respectively) are right on target, and often moving as characters both devoted to Frodo in their own ways. Look for other amazing supporting performances by Hugo Weaving, Christopher Lee, and Ian Holm.
The music matched the various moods of the film, and was not overbearing as other epic soundtracks can be sometimes. The score is merely a storytelling tool, and it is used well in this film. I would rather have a more restrained score in this movie, as many of the images in this movie are soft and muted, utilizing certain earthtones and shades of green. If John Williams scored this film, chances are we would have a loud, striking musical score that would probably eclipse some key elements in the film. Not that John Williams isn't a master at what he does, but this movie is not Star Wars or Superman.
Bottom line, if you want to see an amazing piece of Hollywood magic, if you want to be swept up in an wonderful epic story, or if you just want to see something that is worth the 7 bucks you pay to get in the theater, go see this movie as soon as you can. If you have read the book(s), try not to expect too much of this movie, as this is just a movie, and you may trick yourself into not liking it if you think about it too much. Sit back and enjoy a classic epic film series in the making.
I give it a 10 out of 10.