Mumakil!

Rating: Null/10 (29 December 2003)

The effects completely took it over. The mumakil were especially well rendered, as was Grond and its attendant trolls. Worth seeing just for the Gondor battle scenes.
As for the acting, story, plot, etc., I realize LotR is sacred and everything, but why was I on the verge of giggling half the time? Frodo's perpetually faux-anxious facial expression? Gimli's embarrassing quips? The way the story always seemed to join Aragorn exactly three days after he last shaved? The dowdy matron horribly miscast as Eowyn? (Quite believable as simpering love-puppy and snuggly maternal Hobbit-protector, but apt to have a bladder accident if required to roar "DEATH!" at her enemies as she charges into battle.) The grindingly tedious build-up to Faramir's almost-immolation, all for nothing?
But despite all of this, you can't just wait for this movie to come out on DVD. You have to go see it in a theater, the bigger the screen the better. What are you waiting for?