The greatest movie adaption of all time?

Rating: 10/10 (1 April 2002)

Well, according to AMPAS, no. But then, we all knew that LOTR:TFOTR would lose out at the Oscars when it came to the major awards. The awards it did receive were more than justified; the visual effects were stunning (was I the only one with my jaw dropping? I think not!); the music score, one of my favourites from last year, was full blooded and dark, much like the story itself - Howard Shore did himself proud.
Although the film had to remove some story elements despite it's 3 and a half hour duration, if you had not read the LOTR trilogy, you would immediately grasp what the story was about from the opening montage. It set the scene perfectly.
For me, the star of the movie was Elijah Wood as Frodo, with Viggo Mortensen running a very close second as Aragorn. The acting all round was top notch, and Ian McKellen was another favourite as Gandalf. He gave the old wizard a twinkle to the eye that offset the intensity of his character well.
This film has been called a 'fantasy epic' and it deserves that accolade, and more. For anyone who is not into sword and sorcery, or swashbuckling, I highly recommend this introduction into the world of Tolkein. It may be long, but it sure doesn't feel like it. The movie runs at quite a pace, even during it's quieter moments.
This movie is a must-see. I've seen it twice, and hope to catch it again here in England before it disappears entirely. 10/10.