Nearly perfect!

Rating: 9/10 (20 December 2001)

What a great movie! It had nearly everything right on spot, so let us dissect it a bit.
Plot: It goes without saying for those of us who read the books... the story is magnificent. There is a lot left out, but the movie is still put together in such a way, that people who never read the books will not be able to see the holes, and the rest of us can add it in our minds. To all alike, this is one of the best stories ever!
Visuals: If you know a deaf person, you can still tell them to go see this movie. The visuals are breathtaking, truly amazing, and could tell the story without dialog, music and sounds. You do see a real world, Middle Earth, before your eyes, and never question that it exists. Unfortunately, the animated sequences are not all good. There are too many times when low priority animations, really stands out as low priority! I must say however that for the most part, the animations too are of a magnificent quality, leaving you no doubt that what you see is real.
Music and sounds: Sound effects are very good throughout the movie, making you swear to save up for that home entertainment system once the movie is out on DVD. You will cheat your self of an experience watching (listening) to this movie on a regular TV with normal (crappy)speakers. Voices were dead on the spot for most of the characters so the only problem I have is with the music. It was a bit too bombastic at times, and I never really felt it credited the movie as it should have, but since music is a matter of opinion, I shall not say much more... ah.. I just want to say that the music would have suited better at times, had it just been at a lower volume compared to sound and sound effects.
Battle scenes: It is very unfortunate to have such poor battle scenes in such an otherwise great movie. I thought that after Braveheart, all things would be well in battle scenes, but as Gladiator, this movie is a big disappointment. There are good ideas, and a few very nice touches, but mostly the scenes are decidedly crappy. You are never let to believe that they are actually fighting for real (except in the last big encounter). The battles are just a bunch of very short clips (MTV movie style), changing between swords, and close-up of combatants grimacing. I understand that some creatures were purely computer animations, and we can excuse it a bit here, but for most of the movie, it is just a matter of lousy choreography, and actors with no combat skills whatsoever. Please, producers everywhere, pay attention to combat scenes in Braveheart where it looked as if they were actually fighting... that is the way to do it!
Actors: I find that most actors are perfect in their roles. I must say that I was particularly surprised on this, there just seems to be no bad actors in this movie. What a great casting and directing job!
Rating: One of the very best movies I have ever seen, if it wasn't for the lousy combat scenes, it might as well have been THE best movie I have ever seen. When the movie ends, you will feel sorrow because it couldn't go on forever, and you are left in front of the credits, longing for the next movie. Whether you have read the books or not, whether you normally like fantasy or not, this is a movie you should do anything to watch! 10 of 10 stars!
Watch it more than once!