Brilliant

Rating: 10/10 (25 January 2002)

I think this film is a masterpiece of film making and here's why. It was as faithful to the original story as it could given the 3-hour time constraint. In fact "faithful" is too weak a word - the film really did justice to Tolkien's world - the Orthanc scenes in particular. As well as excellent technical qualities such as cinematography, special effects, costumes, and such the acting was for the most part excellent. Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, and Elijah Wood provide a strong core cast and the other players also shine, Sean Bean in particular (Orlando Bloom is very convincing as Legolas too). Similarly the pace and tone of the movie, after the initial slow start, keep the audience's attention throughout the long running time. Somehow Peter Jackson has created a film that can render both die-hard Tolkien fans (well this one at least) and people who nothing of his work spellbound and transported to a different world. And that's why this film is a masterpiece.