Lacked a central plot.

Rating: 8/10 (14 August 2002)

Pardon my lack of prejudice as I've not read the books. Where's the story? This reminds me of The Empire Strikes Back. It ends with no resolution. It's beautiful, sure, but for all the chapters, it has no compelling, self-contained plot of its own. The fellowship? Seemed to be formed late and suspended in convenience for some future arc. Bilbo's independence? Perhaps, but it too was forged in the fires of setup. Aragorn and Boromir? Rather subjugated. Many things begun, none of great power completed. I want to see the payoff for Arwen's pledge; that'll be something; there is one, right? It's beautiful, sure, but some scenes rather overdid the ethereality that didn't need it, though those that needed it did it very well. On anticipation that the trilogy will play in three wonderous acts, I've given it an 8, but I'd like to have seen this part have a quality that stands it on its own.