The greatest epic ever?

Rating: 10/10 (29 December 2001)

Within the first minutes we know we are in for something of greatness.
Having followed Peter Jackson's movies from the very first "Bad Taste", a very cheep but funny flick. I've always had an inkling that this man could do great things with cinema. But to move from the very good, but only moderately succesful "The Frighteners" and "Heavenly Creatures", to a 540 million dollar 3 film epic is incredible!
I firmly believe if this movie had been made in the US with American hollywood influences we would only have a shadow of what is becoming an incredibly dark, tense and frightening tale. Even with 3 very full hours of film time, many of the books details had to be lost. But a great surprise is Peter Jackson's team who have re-written the story for the screen. This I believe has succeeded in keeping the spirit of the original, with a few concessions for modern thought. Some, like Liv Tylers Elf adding incredible excitement, and moving the story forward past what may have been a slow book section. Also much of the anguish over the ring,s control of the characters is brought more to the fore, instead of the books long character studies.
Many may complain about the films fight scenes, but I see this as a style of representation. The shock of film cuts and the confusion created add to the tense atmosphere. Also the point of the film is the story, not un-necessary blood and gore which would have led to the film being given an adult rating. Remember most modern films us fist fighting and guns, which can show full violence without as much blood as swords hacking off limbs. Peter Jackson has aimed, like Steven Spielberg does, for a movie that all ages might see and enjoy.
This film and its sequels will, I predict, smash all box office records. It has easily ranked itself as one of the best movies I have ever seen. In time It may even be my number one. 10 out of 10 !!!!