Good, BUT I have read the books...

Rating: 9/10 (30 December 2001)

I'll keep it short as many people have said the same things that I would say.
Good movie. There, that's short.
I would like to emphasize the point that if you have not read the book(s) then some parts don't make sense, particularly the counsel at Rivendell. There are plenty pieces missed out but that is to be expected. It's not like they can recreate the 13 hour BBC radio series on the silver screen afer all.
I think the biggest upset for me was the relationships between the Hobbits. Sam would die for Frodo as soon as blink and Pippin and Merry would be pretty close behind. I don't think this love comes over very well except for when Sam nearly drowns. Also, I agree with other users in saying that the Nazgul were made to seem rather "normal", not scary enough.
Good fight scenes, I thought. Lots of fighting too but then there is lots of fighting in the books.
It's difficult to see what could be cut to allow more in the way of character development. Perhaps if the film was 15 minutes longer we could get a better idea as to where the Fellowship came from and what brough them together. Maybe that's in the Limited Directors Platinum Edition"? :-)
Will go and see it again shortly, this time I forgot my proper glasses and had to use my shades. :-)