A visual and emotional masterpiece!

Rating: 10/10 (14 December 2001)

Last night, my sister and I attended the New York Benefit Screening of The Fellowship... If only there were words to justly describe the experience! Being avid LotR fans, we naturally had a page-long list of gripes regarding absent scenes or character modifications. Yet, our hearts were racing, our skin tingling, and our eyes flooded with joy and sorrow as we saw Middle Earth, its people and history living and breathing before us. Perfection this movie is not, but spectacular and truly moving it most certainly is. It is flawed, even as we human beings are flawed; and yet we may love one another unconditionally in spite of the imperfections. So it is. Gorgeous cinematography, stunning SFX, brilliant acting, and the often subtle touch of masterful direction combine to make this perhaps the most cherished movie-going experience of my life. All my gratitude to Mr. Jackson, his crew and cast, and all the other Tolkien fans out there who made this dream come true. Huzzah!