A thoroughly sympathetic adaptation.

Rating: 10/10 (29 December 2001)

You know they're serious about creating Lord of the Rings when you see Christopher Lee. And you know they've understood what they're doing when you see the elves, who bear exactly the right relationship to ABBA and to hidden menace. The makeup and costumes are perfection. Elrond is subtly annoying, just as he should be. And Mordor is instantly recognisable as the mother of all the other Mordors created by Tolkien's imitators and devotees from Terry Gilliam to Terry Pratchett. Enjoy.