INTENSE!! One ring, One word INTENSE!! (Spoiler if you haven't read the book)

Rating: 10/10 (21 December 2001)

One word rings after seeing this masterpiece, INTENSE!

As one of the original online promoters of bringing LOTR to the Screen, I can only say BRAVO, On Core! Back in 1991 a newsgroup discussed with fear and trepidation the challenge associated with taking Tolkien's almost sacred text and translating it to a medium which has commonly reduced wonderful novels to mediocre movies. However, Peter Jackson has far surpassed almost all of our original expectations.
This movie is literally an experience. Gripping and relentless it transports you to middle-earth's most documented age. Sauron and his nine black riders are realistically done and convey the fear Tolkien described so well. The tension between the races is portrayed without being overdone. The orcs and goblins are a bit scary for children, hence the PG-13 rating.
SPOILER ---Those who compare the Troll in LOTR with the "Troll in the dungeon" from H. Potter are misleading. The LOTR troll is a powerful, vicious beast, taking arrows to the head, sword wounds, a spear, etc ... Potter's troll is knocked unconscious by one tap on the head with his own club.
While I rate this movie a 10 overall, it is not perfect; mostly because we must wait a year to see the second installment. Unlike another highly anticipated film, Star Wars Episode I, I find it difficult to formulate any changes I would make to the film. The acting, action, drama, score, villain, and heroes are close to perfect and elevate Lord of the Rings, the movie, to and epic in the company of Gone with the Wind, Laurence of Arabia, Star Wars and Jurassic Park.
The score wonderfully adds to the film, even if it is very reminiscent of Episode I (Star Wars) in places. The acting is very convincing and in numerous instances very powerful. Sir Ian's wonderful portrayal of Gandalf as a happy and powerful, yet not perfect wizard, fit with how I pictured him. Elijah Wood convinced me he is a noble, yet humble hobbit. I was also impressed by the hobbits size in comparison to the humans (one of the worries of the original news group).
Numerous critics have attacked Jackson's ability to show the positive scenes, I disagree. The sequences with Arwen-Aragorn, Rivendell, and every hobbit scene are all well done.