Good movie.........but #1.... I don't think so...

Rating: 8/10 (26 December 2001)

First of all I am not a big fan of the fantasy movie stuff. I like it but I'm not a fanatic by any stretch of the imagination. I have read books like the Illiad and the Odyssey so this movie had some characteristics I was familiar with, but I had never read the Lord of the Rings books. I saw the movie last night, and I was impressed, but I didn't leave the movie theater in awe like so many people here seem to have. You want to rave about the character development?? Come on!! Every movie in history could have had just as much character development if they were to release a three hour movie with no end in sight until the release of the third part of it. THIS IS A NINE HOUR MOVIE!!!!!! NOTHING IS RESOLVED AT THE END OF THE FIRST EPISODE. You can't really compare this to other movies because this isn't like other movies. I mine as well read the book now to find out what happens, or I'll have to watch the first one again to refresh my mind before the second one comes out! Far too long......but I guess that was the only way to do it. Special effects were great, acting good, although I thought Sam and Frodo were going to start making out in some scenes. I think this movie can only be enjoyed by a certain type of person. That is what limits this movie. Movies like the Shawshank Redemption, which is in the top 5 movies here, appeal to a much larger audience which is why Shawhank is so superior.