Don't believe the hype! This film is not for mainstream audiences.

Rating: Null/10 (11 March 2002)

If you are not a fan of the books or you are not into the whole Dungeons and Dragons fantasy-type genre, then stay away from this movie. While it may be technically stunning, LORD OF THE RINGS is also an overlong and maudlin chore to sit through.
Don't succumb to the impression that LORD OF THE RINGS will be similar to STAR WARS. Yes, both films are cornball fantasies. But that is where the parallels end. STAR WARS had fun characters and an entertaining, high-stakes storyline. LORD OF THE RINGS has no character development. Characters come and go with no adequate introduction or indication of significance. The plot is minimal - it's basically a road trip. The protagonist and his cohorts travel from one location to another, all the while being pursued by monsters that get progressively larger. A number of scenes could have been cut entirely, but assumedly exist because of their presence in the book. And while it IS set in a fantasy world, there are still numerous inconsistencies (the biggest one - the entire `plot' is weighted by the fact that if this magical ring gets into the wrong hands, it will destroy mankind. And yet, during the prologue, when the ultimate bad guy has possession of the ring, it doesn't prevent him from being killed. Apparently the ring gives you super powers...but only some of the time.)
The filmmakers did as best they could under the circumstances. They had to stay faithful to the book so as not to raise the ire of fans. As such, they produced a 3-hour epic (that's right - 3 hours!) aimed squarely at the Tolkien enthusiasts. Judging from the reviews on this site, they seem to enjoy it. You will not.