Not impressed...

Rating: Null/10 (11 January 2002)

It's been hailed as the 'first epic of the millienium', and also 'the greatest fantasy film ever made'. Needless to say having finished the first part of the book (which the film is based on) literally 30 seconds before I stepped out the door to go see the film I had pretty high expectations. Almost everyone I know who had been to see it has said "brilliant", and that included those who had read the book... so I was really looking forward to seeing it, but...
I wasn't really impressed... and I soooo much wanted to be. It IS a stunning film, with some good believable character acting, and some amazing locations. The cinematography is excellent. But nothing much happens - it's just an introduction for the other films, and I don't think it works at all as a film in it's own right.
The whole problem was the film was too rushed. It *did* manage to fit in all the important bits to tell the story by juggling a few things and rewriting here and there, but it was all thrown in your face too fast and you never had any time to stop and take a look around.
Saying this tho I have every faith that when the next two parts are released and the film is viewed as a whole it will work a lot better. But until that time I must judge it on it's own merits - and those only get it 5 out of 10 on my scale.