Wonderful adaptation -- I hope many more will now read the books...

Rating: 10/10 (25 December 2001)

** Warning: spoilers + quotes included. **

There's no way i could offer an `unbiased' opinion myself because so much of my youth is wrapped up in the books, but i'm glad to see that most people who weren't LotR fans already are really appreciating and
getting a feeling for this first installment.
i will say briefly that i thought it was wonderfully well-done on the whole, the sense of history and legend comes across well (especially at the Council of Elrond). there are indeed divergences from the book version -- but how could there *not* be, to make a powerful and moving film version? (and the scene close to the end with Sam trying to follow Frodo was a real tear-jerker for me). films and books are extremely different media. my sense is that Master Tolkien would've been pleased at this movie, and happy that it captured the essence of the struggle between good and evil he was trying to get across.
my real hope is that many more people are brought into the overarching wonder, adventure, magic of the LotR world, as well as the subtle social and environmental commentary embedded throughout the series (by reading the books).
In this vein, here are some of my favorite quotes:
**** FotR Quotes ****
Ch.2: The Shadow of the Past--
1. Gandalf- ".. Always after a defeat and a respite, the Shadow takes another shape and grows again."
Frodo: "I wish it need not have happened in my time"
Gandalf: "So do I, and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us..."
2. Frodo: ".. What a pity that Bilbo did not stab that vile creature [Gollum], when he had a chance!"
Gandalf: "Pity? it was Pity that stayed his hand. Pity, and Mercy: not to strike without need. And he has been well rewarded, Frodo. Be sure that he took so little hurt from the evil, and escaped in the end, because he began his ownership of the Ring so. With Pity."

3. Frodo: "..He [Gollum] deserves death."
Gandalf: "Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. I have not much hope that Gollum can be cured before he dies, but there is a chance of it..."