An instant classic... but what happened in Lothlorien?

Rating: 9/10 (21 December 2001)

Great screenplay, acting, location, scenery, costumes, props, action, effects... What can I say... 9/10. Excellent!
This is simply the best adaptation of epic novel to movie I've ever seen. Those who haven't read the books or seen the movie, stop here... possible SPOILERS AHEAD.
For you Tolkien nuts out there... My only real criticism was the enchanted wood. In the movie, the two chapters in Moria are given excellent treatment, while the three chapters in Lothlorien are butchered unmercifully. Perhaps it was the result of last-minute editing, but the portrayal of Galadriel as a cold, distant sorceress made me angry. Cate Blanchett is capable of so much warmth but we never see her smile, much less laugh! Celeborn may as well have been a mannequin.
The journey from the edge of the wood to the elf-city, Galadrim, took days. In the movie, the characters turn around and they are magically there. Missing is a shot establishing the distance travelled - 10 seconds, tops. There is no blindfolding of the travelers to build the relationship between Gimli the dwarf and Legolas the Elf. Also, the bestowing of gifts, which is important in many ways later on, was cut almost completely.
I am a Tolkien nut, having read all the books through several times. IMHO, Arwen's chase to the ford was overlong and showing the ring being cut from Sauron's hand THREE TIMES was a bit much. These should have been trimmed to give us precious more minutes in Lothlorien. I sincerely hope this was only sloppy editing for time and that we'll see justice done in a Director's cut DVD. Lothlorien cost this movie one star... Otherwise, I would have given it 10/10. A stunning achievement.