Gobsmacklingly stunning

Rating: 10/10 (20 December 2001)

Simply put, this film will leave you begging for more. It packs an unbelievable punch - the battle scenes are utterly realistic. Its also filled with an eery sense of dread.The sheer evil contained within the Ring reverberates throughout the film - from Bilbo desparately trying to kick his "ring habit" as if it were crack cocaine, to Frodo who is tasked with destroying the ring - even Gandalf can't take the ring due to its corruptable powers.
Peter Jackson's landscape panning is utterly utterly mindbogglingly awesome - no 30 second CGI clips here mate, oh no. You want to see an Orc mine? - well Jackson obliges with a full panning , swooping camera that floats above and then dives deep right down into it. Want to see a massive battle between Orcs and an Elven/Human army - again, the panning camera shot, almost as if taken from an imaginary helicopter comes in. When the scene deserves a "big" shot, by God does Jackson deliver. This alone should convince you to see it on the big screen - dont want for it to come out on VHS or DVD - this film was simply MADE for the big screen.
This film deserves a multitude of Oscars. Not only for the cinematography and special effects , but more importantly for the character performances. Everyone here acts incredibly well - so well, that you really get into the characters and emphathise with the plight of Middle Earth.
This is the best thing I've seen since Star Wars , way back in 1977 when i saw that film as a kid. Awesome awesome awesome.... 1 year for the sequel to come out is too long - i want to see it next week please!