MAGICAL and FABULOUS. A great film!!

Rating: 10/10 (8 March 2002)

I just want to add my voice to the chorus of praise for this great film. It is clearly the best movie of the year, and if "A Beautiful Mind" wins the Oscar it will be due to internal Hollywood politics - how Miramax's "Shakespeare in Love" beat out the superior "Saving Private Ryan".
In all aspects of movie-making, "Lord of the Rings" stands out: direction, special effects, sets, acting, and even the script. Parts of the Tolkien classic have been very nicely compressed, or expanded - such as the fight with the cave troll (barely in the book). As for FX, it doesn't get better than the jaw-dropping fight against ther Balrog on the bridge at Khazad-Dum.
There was no performance that was not at least good, and the dialogue between Ian McKellan and Christopher Lee I thought especially effective. Cate Blanchett was luminous as Galadriel.
The musical score deserves special note. It added extremely well to the drama and mood of the film, along with taking us into a magical realm.
The entire film was magical. And I can't wait for the sequels!