almost a masterpiece in fantasy film

Rating: 9/10 (15 January 2002)

from the opening scene i was gripped by the brilliently re-created middle earth that Jackson as done so well, it ws enchanting. the acting for a 'blockbuster' film was superb, Ian Mckellen as Gandalf was superb, it was one of the best performances i have seen by any actor or actress in recent years i really believed he was a wizard (yes you can call me sad) almost as good as guy pearce in memento, and ellen burstyn in Requiem for a dream not bad for a big budget film, where pearl harbour is an example of the most awful acting imaginable. there is just about ehough mix of jaw dropping action and great dialogue and scenery that the 3 hour running time flys by. the only reason this film did not get 10 out of 10 was the ending, i know it is a trilogy and the end is probably how it ended in the novel but in filmic terms it just is not satisfying enough. where as other great trilogies such as Star Wars each film as its own resolution, there simply is none. there is not even a real cliffhanger that makes you say 'cant wait'. so in all 9/10 almost a fantasy masterpiece