Very well done

Rating: 9/10 (5 January 2002)

The casting for this movie was well done, and the acting was good. Though some of the early emotional scenes were a trifle overdone, it seemed the actors fell into the story more as time went on.
I was a little disappointed in a few of the pieces that were left out. I didn't feel like there was enough there to provide ground for the bonding of Gimli and Legolas later on, and I was surprised that Bill Ferny and Sam's relationship with the horse were left out, leaving the audience (I imagine) wondering at Aragorn's comforting of Sam when they had to let it go.

The other thing that bothered me was leaving out the blindfolding of the party (particularly Gimli) in Lothlorien, and the lack of covering any of the gifts given other than Frodo's. Most especially Gimli's gift, as the time there and the exchange that occurred where a large part of Gimli's character development.
Regardless, the movie was very enjoyable. But I warn you, if you have small children that you are interested in taking, the PG-13 rating is well deserved. Some of the scenes may be more than a small child can handle.