Much better than I expected!

Rating: 10/10 (25 December 2001)

I liked the book. Loved the movie. Can't wait for "The Two Towers". Peter Jackson has managed to get me lost in Middle Earth. The storytelling is superb. I'm not much of a fantasy fan; I can't suspend my belief for very long. In fact, I'm much more of a science fiction fan. But this movie has really blown me away. All the elements of great film-making are there: excellent script, direction, acting, sets, costumes, special effects, editing, and music. If this movie doesn't win the Oscar for Best Picture, especially against the competition this past year, it would be a travesty, and I would never again watch the Academy Awards.
If you are a huge Tokien fan, like my wife (we named our daughter Arwen, by the way), I'm sure you've seen the movie and must agree that the movie is excellent among movies, just as the book is among its medium. If you are a nominal fan who enjoyed the book, like me, or haven't even read it yet, be prepared to be taken away into a magical land that you won't want to leave. My favorite movie had been "Star Wars"... until now.