Phenomenal!

Rating: 10/10 (4 January 2002)

This is without doubt one of the best films I have ever seen, and has inspired me to buy the books so I can find out what happens next!
Practically everything about the film is perfect - it's a bottom-numbing 3 hours or so, but it literally flies by. As a cinema fidgeter I was concerned that boredom and discomfort would set in, but I was gripped from the word go.
The casting and locations are amazing - the hobbits are exactly as you imagine them to be, and the difference is sizes of the characters comes across very well.
Elijah Wood stands out for his performance as the young Frodo, who finds the weight of the world on his shoulders. He uses his amazingly expressive eyes to convey his feelings, so that the audience are with him from the outset. The other hobbits are also excellent, especially the "comedy double act" of Merry and Pippin.
Nothing jars - everything is perfect. Peter Jackson really deserves recognition for his vision, and I hope he gets it.
I can't wait for the next installment this Christmas!