An Amazingly Great Film

Rating: 10/10 (25 December 2001)

Event movies attract a lot of people and some of them are not fans of the genre. If you do not like fantasy or scifi stay at home. This film will not change your mind. Wait for the video like I do for the rare chick-flick. Loved "Terms of Endearment" so you know that I don't just dig SciFi. I like films that move me and this one did.
I also notice alot of negative reviews on this site. You would think everyone hated it from the reviews on this site. I understand this though because "Dancer In The Dark" enraged me for days and I gave it a negative review because all the others were so fawning over that demonic-woman-hating mess.
If you have read the books, LOTRs is Amazing. I saw it twice in twelve hours. In the first viewing I thought it was a classic and in the second viewing I was sure of it. I will be seeing it a third time and Lord only knows how many times on DVD. In a year full of terrible SciFi it was a Godsend.
This movie made me laugh and moved me to tears. The Oscars are going to love this film. My only problem is I am ready for the other two films NOW. They will be out Christmas 2002 and 2003 for those who do not know.
When I saw Star Wars at the age of 9 I did not understand the plot or symbology of that film but it sent me on a life long quest for mythology archetypes and history. I thought that I would never again experience a scene that moved me the way the confrontation between Obiwan and Darth Vader did battling it out in the Death Star. LOTR matched that intensity of feeling in the Bridge and Balrog scene. I can only imagine what it would have been like if I were 9.
To those who complain about the special effects, TV commercials today have amazing flashy effects thanks to computers. Effects are not an issue any more, what they need is a connection and emotion. This movie achieved that for me. I remember when I was younger all I wanted was flash and sizzle and feelings were corny, trust me, you outgrow that. As you get older you crave emotional substance and this movie has it in spades. It may not be on the level of "Terms of Endearment" or "Platoon" but for Fantasy it is unprecedented and that is why so many people love this film.

So, Yes, this movie is worthy of its ranking in the top 250 and I am sure that as more people see this film its ranking will fall but it will always be in the top 250 and one of the best movie experiences of my life.
Can't wait to see the Ents and the Battle of Isengard and I know that Gollum will put JarJar to shame.
Peace