Terrific, even for the quasi-cognoscenti

Rating: 10/10 (21 December 2001)

First of all, let me tell you this - I had read these books a *long* time ago, and while I liked the books I was never a die-hard fan of the RINGS saga. I liked the fantasy genre, but was no afficionado of Hobbit lore. So I went in to the films with medium-high expectations, and came out genuinely interested in the characters, with thoughts of reading the next chapter in the series so I don't have to wait for the next film to come out.
Director Peter Jackson - a little-known New Zealand native - has a terrific imagination, and the canvas he paints is spectacular. The way he films the movie - the action sequences, the lighting, the camera work - is all superlative, and his camera dives, plunges into marches armies, scans vast horizons with sweeping moves, and reveals the imaginatively conceived costumery of the villains with deftness and alacrity. The depiction of good and evil is about as pure as it gets - much like STAR WARS - but the characters aren't as straightforward. A courageous warrior named Strider (played well by Viggo Mortensen) was my favorite, but Chris Lee and Sean Bean get to play conflicted characters who struggle with the evil within. All in all, it's an enjoyable, action-packed epic, driven by the beautiful art direction and some solid performances, and guided by Jackson's sure hand.