Fantastic, though ending is a bit long!

Rating: 8/10 (17 December 2003)

This was a fantastic film!!! Epic scenes, fantastic cinematography, and great acting. There were a few drawbacks, but overall I thought the movie was awesome. I wished I could have seen more of Legolas, but alas I may have to wait for the extended edition DVD. Throw in a few too many slow-motion shots of the actors, and a super drawn out ending, and that's about it for my gripes. Sean Austin gets my nod for a fantastic portrayal of Sam in this film. He has a passion for his character that only Viggo can come close to. Overall an 8. The weight of this film is just AWESOME. Epic scenes and visual storytelling, but a bit too dragged out in the end. I just felt it was lacking something...not sure what, but I think I'll see what I was missing when the extended edition DVD comes out. :) Peter Jackson for best director, or I'll never watch the Oscars again.