Peter Jackson should thank George Lucas

Rating: 10/10 (31 December 2001)

I have to thank Lucas for preping me to see LOTR. I was so excited to see Episode I after waiting 20 years that I didn't really appreciate the movie. Episode I is really a good film, it just didn't satisfy 20 years of anticipation.
Hence my expectations for LOTR were much lower than had Episode I been as good as the original Star Wars. As a result I was blown away by the excitement and intensity of LOTR. IT WAS TERRIFIC!! 22 years have passed since I first read FOTR (in fourth grade) and I thought the movie fulfilled and surpassed my expectations. It is difficult to think of anything I would change in the film: maybe the party standing still while the Balrog approached and Frodo being the last hobbit over the falling bridge in the mines; nothing significant.
This film reaches into your soul and scares you then touches you with nobility, humility, and awe. I was moved to think of September 11th and to consider that even though the threat creates fear, we need to take up our ring and/or stand with those who carry the burden despite any fear. The willingness to put aside differences because of a common cause and remembering that we are really all on the same side. The petty differences we focused on six months ago I hope will never seem as important. Finally, my original comments were not meant to be an attack on Lucas. The Star Wars movies were incredible, they literally changed film making and I can't expect ever step up to the plate to be a grand slam home run. Episode I was still a double or a triple even though fans wanted a home run (especially after Titanic).
LOTR:FOTR was a home run and maybe a grand slam, depending on TT and ROTK.