better than expected

Rating: 9/10 (24 December 2001)

I wanted to see this;but it certainly wasn't a leg-breaking dash to the theatre either. That being said,I really enjoyed it. I've never read the books as I'm more into factual books and not fantasy,so I didn't go in with the 'error hunter' attitude,looking to pick it apart where it diverted from the novel. There's nothing good that I can say that hasn't already been said so I'll say what I didn't like and why I gave it an 8.
Too long. Both myself and my wife got bored periodically because some of it simply didn't hold our attention. I'm sure all the parts were necessary,but more than two and a half hours is pretty hard to endure with any film.
Grendel (the first old wizard you meet) and his battle with the other wizard (apologies,I can't recall his name at the moment) I thought would have had better effects aside from 'force pushes'. Given the awesome effects in the rest of it,I sort of expected to see perhaps lightning bolts and fireballs,etc. Minor complaints though,when you stack up the good vs these. 8/10