Outstanding

Rating: 10/10 (9 January 2002)

The spirit of the trilogy is captured more excellently than I had hoped. The Ring Wraiths are truly terrifying, as are the Orcs. True to the book, Orcs are easily killed, but always numerous.
The better-known actors, Liv Tyler, Christopher Lee, Cate Blanchet, are used in less prominent roles to make their characters more memorable, while the acting of the main characters is first-rate.
The balance between action, suspense, and dialogue is full of care and steady. The visual look is breath-taking and true to the imagination of the books. Go see this film, but be sure to read the books first!