Amazing! Awesome! Exactly as I pictured it would be...**SPOILERS**

Rating: 10/10 (23 December 2001)

Going into this movie, having read the LOTR twice a long time ago, and the FOTR again just recently, and having seen the trailers, I was expecting the movie to be visually stunning, but was worried how Peter Jackson and crew could turn the epic novel (even just the first part of the trilogy) into a movie of only three hours. Well I needn't have worried. I was absolutely blown away.
I felt like everything I was watching was real, like I was right there watching it all unfold. The scenery was spectacular, the acting was intense and believable and the pacing of the events (with the going back and forth between the hobbits travels to Rivendell and Gandalf's capture and escape from Isengard and Saruman's creation of the Uruk-hai army) kept the story moving without getting too slow. The special effects were awesome and every scene was just as I had pictured it when reading the books - this in particular was very pleasing when watching the movie. The Shire, Bree, Rivendell, Isengard, Mordor, the Mines of Moria, the Bridge at Khazad-Dum, Lothlorien were just as I pictured they would be...
(Spoiler) It is also understandable that minor events such as the Barrow-wights and Tom Bombadil had to be cut out in order to fit the movie into just three hours. I can even forgive alterations in events such as Arwen rescuing Frodo at the ford, and the development of a romantic interest between Arwen and Aragorn. Even the somewhat goofy fight between Gandalf and Saruman was not too distracting. The trick that Peter Jackson was able to achieve was to keep the events moving along, thus not allowing these minor quibbles to become to annoying or distracting.
I give this movie the highest rating possible - it's the best Fantasy movie I have ever seen - and probably the best movie period. (I'm sure die hard Star Wars fans would disagree - I liked Star Wars, but I wouldn't rate any of the Star Wars movies anywhere near the LOTR - FOTR as far as Sci-Fi/Fantasy goes).
(Spoiler) Best Scene - Galadriel's reaction to her temptation of the Ring by Frodo. Don't take the kids - they'll have nightmares after seeing it....