Best movie I've seen this year and for awhile

Rating: 10/10 (10 January 2002)

2001 was a horrible year for movies. It brought forth movie like Fast and the Furious, Tomb Raider, Freddy Got Fingered, Final Fantasy, Kiss of The Dragon, Not Another Teen Movie, and Pearl Harbor. These movie made me stay away from my local theater, and forced me to revisit old classics like Godfather and The Shawshank Redemption as a reminder of how good movies can be. Sure there were some gems like Memento and Monsters Inc., yet over all, it was a depressing year for movies. Then came Lord of the Rings.
This movie came as a surprised to me. I was hesitant at first to like it, because of the hype surrounding the movie and mostly because of my own high expectations. I read the books and enjoyed them immensely, yet I expected the movie to be mediocre at it's best. Lord of The Rings not only surprised me, it reminded me of why I go to the movies in the first place. The characters were not bland or dull because the actors put their hearts into their roles. I find myself cheering for them, feeling their pain, their follies, and their triumphs. I find myself immersed in this world created by Peter Jackson, and not wanting to go back to this dreary and ignorant world created by reality. The story was epic and imposing, involving and intriguing. But more importantly, I enjoyed the movie and found myself seeing it again.
This movie didn't hide behind shoddy story, obnoxious characters, or hype. It weaved a tale of individuals opposing a terrible force that threatened their homes, their loved ones and their way of life. I feel sorry for those who can't enjoy this movie. I pity those who don't have enough imagination to appreciate a movie as grand and fantastic as this. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is the best movie this year because it was not some typical Hollywood special effects extravaganza, but because it had heart. It is a thing missing in most of this year's movies. I give it a 11 out of 10.