An epic worthy of the label

Rating: 10/10 (20 December 2001)

A magnificent piece of film that works on all levels: dramatically, thematically, visually, musically, the works. It blows Harry Potter into the middle of next week.
Even if only one a visual level, LOTR works because of the utter verisimilitude that its New Zealand locations and scrupulous attention to detail help sustain. Unlike Harry Potter, there is hardly a whiff of the studio set in the entire film, and the special effects, though indispensible to the film, are carried off by and large understatedly. Yes, Virginia, it is possible for special effects to be a means, not an end in itself.
But what really makes the movie succeed is the complete immersion of the actors in their roles. There is none of the smirking, postmodern irony that afflicts actors in the typical post-Star Wars clones, the suggestion to the audience that we all know that this is just a special-effects-driven, rollicking good time, not meant to be taken seriously. These actors clearly believe in their roles, in the values of the book, and in each other, and the payoff for the audience is complete emotional absorption into the drama of their adventure.
The audience anticipation for the next two installments--which are already in the can--is going to be excruciating. I wouldn't be surprised if a mob stormed the vaults to get them released early.
This is one movie that can't be overhyped--though, as you can see, I'm trying.