Epic beyond belief

Rating: 10/10 (31 January 2002)

There's no other way to describe this film than utterly epic. It grabs you with a tense opening sequence and doesn't let go until nearly 3 hours later at the end, leaving you only wanting more. I honestly could not think of a better way to spend 3 hours of my life. The characters are all developed wonderfully, the acting is top-notch, the special effects leave you in awe, and yet don't distract you from the story. I read the trilogy many years prior to seeing the film, and only until after seeing it did I re-read the books. The film follows the story almost perfectly with a few minor ommisions that, if included, would only prolong the film unnecessarily. I have seen it twice now, and am planning on seeing it a third time, before it's gone from theaters.