Great adventure - but not a masterpiece

Rating: 7/10 (27 December 2001)

I went into the cinema expecting an adventure. And adventure was what I got! I have never seen EVIL as evil as in LOTR. And good is really, really good. That is how it should be when we are dealing with adventures.

Good things: The monsters are spectacular - especially the Balroc (WOUV), the special effects awesome, the fighting scenes are quite good - although I must admit I always have troubles believing this "one good guy kills bad guys by the hundreds". But then again - it is an adventure, and I guess this is just how it should be. Like Legolas being able to fire arrows throughout the entire movie :-) I also have to mention the scenery - it was breathtaking. I am absolutely positive that New Zealand is one of the worlds most beautiful places.
Bad things: The ending - it just leaves you hanging there. It is just a big, big letdown. The acting is not convincing - especially Elijah Wood as Frodo never comes through the screen (to me anyway). The romance between Aragorn and Arwen Undomiel is just annoying and seems totally separated from the rest of the movie - I mean - where did it come from. Words like "I choose a mortal life to be with you" needs a little more explanation than 2 minutes of sudden romance.
I am not surprised that LOTR has climbed to the top of the IMDB top-250 movies. After all this movie is the kind of movie that really has a broad appeal. But is it a masterpiece and does it deserve to be ranked above classics like Casablanca, One Flew.., The Godfather, Schindlers List and Shawshank??? HELL NO! It is a good and very recommendable movie, that's it. But a true classic!?!? No. This movie is just an adventure and it does good at this, but if you want the number 1 movie to be more than just "the fight between good and evil" - if you want a disturbing movie with top notch acting, then LOTR is not it. And I am sure, that when the casual LOTR fans see the movie, then the movie will start a decline down the list.
Rating: 7 of 10.