Extremely faithful adaptation with stunning visuals

Rating: Null/10 (18 December 2001)

What this movie boils down to is: Did you or would you like the book or not. The movie is as close as humanly possible to the book. Certainly, there are some things cut that weren't in the book, and some minor alterations, but nothing that would trash or confuse the story. In fact, I feel that this movie would be best for a person who hasn't read the books, because unlike many book adaptations, with FotR you can watch the movie and not feel like you're missing a lot of things. It's a cohesive whole, and works solidly well as a fantasy movie even if you haven't read the books.
For those who have read the books, the main interest is, instead of the plot, the visual realization of said plot. In this, as well, Peter Jackson has done a very good job. The mines of Moria, Saruman's tower, Rivendell and other locales all have a sense of grandeur to them, and are detailed enough to look as if they were real. CGI and makeup do a good job with creatures, but what really shines in this movie's visual implementations is architecture. From Shire to Lothlorien, these aren't stock sets pulled out of storage, but distinctive places crafted with a detailed eye to bring Middle-Earth to life. And it works.
My main complaint, aside from the fact that I wish I hadn't read the books, is that slower and less chaotic camerawork would have been in my opinion better in battle scenes that can get hard to follow.