A most excellent adaptation

Rating: 9/10 (6 December 2002)

My rating: 9/10
I'll start off by saying that I've been a Tolkien fan for the last twelve years and have read the books (The Silmarillion as well) several times. When I heard that they were adapting the books into movies I was quite excited, but I also felt a little apprehension as well. I felt extremely disappointed by Star Wars: Episode One, which to me was something of a debacle- clearly mass marketed to and made for little kids- hence the "Home Alone in Space" feel (especially at the end). And was further disappointed by Episode Two.
So, with that in mind I was prepared to be disappointed. Fortunately, however, the creators of the film made an excellent movie. It held very true to the book. It didn't leave much out. It was well filmed with great acting (mostly) and a very good musical score. The f/x I thought were vastly superior to Star Wars I & II, they made Middle Earth look real enough for you to suspend your disbelief (because you know no such place exists), whereas Star Wars I & II did not. I'd recommend this movie to anyone, at least anyone who is alive in their heart, if you aren't willing to lose yourself in the story you won't enjoy it nearly as much as you should, if at all.
That said, I have two quibbles with it as well:
1) The film does not do a very good job at showing the passage of time, either it's vague (when the intro narrative talked about how the rings were forged and when it was taken from Sauron, how it was lost and forgotten in time etc... The Ring was made 4,800 years before the events in the movie!) or it makes events seem like they happen within a short amount of time. **Mild Spoiler** Twenty years passed between Bilbo leaving the Shire and Frodo leaving, but the film makes it look like Frodo leaves was a very short time afterward.
2) Liv Tyler is very beautiful, but she can't act! (watch any of her movies) I understand that the creators of the film wanted to show why Aragorn and Arwen are attached to one another but watching her act and deliver the corny dialogue they added for her is like fingernails on a chalkboard. It was like Titanic- an otherwise excellent film was brought down a peg or three by Leonardo, although I'm sure they sold more tickets because of him. I am also very afraid they took great liberties with her role in the Two Towers- adding substantial parts for her where there are none at all in the book.
All in all it's one of the best movies I've ever seen. I must insist for anyone watching it the first time that they read the book so it is fresh in their minds, doing so will greatly accentuate your enjoyment.