Enjoyable adaption of Tolken's classic tale .

Rating: 8/10 (30 March 2008)

Yes it is very long (so is the book) and involved, and the movie did not follow the book as much as i'd wished. Its definitely not the sort of film to watch after a hard days work or you'll be snoring before the ring leaves the shire. This is what i call a Sunday afternoon movie where you can really sit/lay back and get into the story and characters. I thought Frodo's Character was not handled too well in all the movies. The early parts where he's in the shire having fun with his buddies is closest to the Frodo of the books. He undergoes a massive psychological change as soon as he learns about the ring which comes across as way too dramatic. I thought Sam's Character was handled really well in all the movies. The characters of Merry & Pipin were not portrayed well at all in TFOTR but towards the end of TTT i thought they were getting the balance right with their clowning around and seriousness. They just came across as irresponsible idiots in the first half of the movie trilogy. Gandalf was portrayed very well. Aragorn wasn't bad but in the book he is far more sophisticated and noble than he is in the film. Overall, i like the movie version, i can adapt my mind to it and enjoy the SFX, action and scenery. 8/10