I gave it a 10 because 9.0 just doesn't do it justice...

Rating: 10/10 (21 December 2001)

...but the movie definitely has flaws, and 9.5 wasn't an option.
However, I'll hold off on that for a minute. If you appreciate the fact that movies - and any other visual medium - are, by definition, VISUAL, then you MUST go see Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings. It is, without a doubt, one of the most beautifully filmed movies in cinematic history. That fact alone is worth the price of admission. However, thanks to the eternally enlightening 'script' provided by the Professor J.R.R. Tolkien, this film succeeds far beyond the single dimension of sight.
There's no need to go into the story line or plot details, as virtually all here will know such things (or can easily read them by those more qualified to present that sort of stuff then I). The acting is superb - for a fantasy genre film. Ian McKellan *is* Gandalf, and should be at least nominated for a supporting actor award (or even a best actor nomination). Sean Bean, Liv Tyler, Elijah Woods, Viggo Mortenson, Ian Holm and Christopher Lee are all dynamic and perfectly cast. The sets are astounding, the special effects mind boggling, and Howard Shore's score will leave you humming the main theme as you walk out the theater.
There are problems. The editing is choppy - given the daunting task of taking 450 pages of highly expositional text and turning it into a coherent 3 (!) hour film. Because of Peter Jackson's style, the 'dark' definitely 'outshines' the 'light' in this film (its PG-13 rating is generous, in my opinion). Some scenes should have been clean lifted entirely, but look like they were added to please the Tolkien Faithful, to the detriment of the movie.
But those are minor quibbles. This movie is without a doubt one that should be on your 'to do' list before 2001 expires. I personally have placed it on my top 10 list of all time favorite films (which, coincidentally, are all 'epic genre' type films).