Simply put, a masterpiece across the board

Rating: 10/10 (6 February 2002)

Upon my first theatrical viewing (I'm at five now, with at least one more to come), I might have scored the film slightly lower, but a revelatory second viewing convinced me that to rate this film at less than a perfect "10" would be pointless caviling with one of the most impactful cinematic experiences I've had in many, many years.
It's easy to find fault with virtually any aspect of any film ("Legolas looked fake jumping off the Cave Troll!"), but such opinions are, as they say [paraphrased], like certain orifices of the body--everybody's got one. I, for one, prefer to wallow shamelessly in my intoxicating newfound love for what Peter Jackson and Co. hath wrought, and "objectivity" be damned. (It has nothing to do with the appreciation of art anyway.)
Of course, if you think stories about wizards, goblins, and desperate quests, however profoundly conceived and carefully executed, are really stupid, then by all means stay away from this tale in all forms. But then...what are you doing on the Internet?
If, as I suspect, you're in the opposite camp, then my advice is this--see the movie ten times, buy/read the books, collect all four mugs, get the soundtrack, and generally speaking, do whatever else you can think of to reward this risky, epic endeavor. And don't forget the DVDs this fall.
If there's justice in the world, Peter Jackson and his collaborators will be showered in gold statues come March. If there's no justice in the world...well, just thank Illuvatar that we may still find solace in the refuge of art, as practiced by great artists like Peter Jackson and J.R.R. Tolkien.