"Star Wars" for the Pepsi Generation

Rating: 8/10 (25 December 2003)

Considering that sword and sorcerer movies ain't my usual cup o' tea...gotta hand it to Peter Jackson and the extraordinary effects crew for "King" and the first 2 of the "Ring" series. The third installment was a little long on the battle scenes for my taste but the sound, CGI and animation (in particular, Andy Serkis' Gollum) was just terrific. Sure, the acting is a bit overwrought, but hey...it is what it is...(this ain't "Hamlet")...and Ian McKellan could read the phone book and still rock the joint, anyway.

Newbie Peter Jackson is pretty much a lock to win the Oscar for direction...the trilogy was a monumental effort and he's earned the accolade. The tech awards are a no-brainer...this is the state of the art in the year of our "Lord" 2003.
And ya gotta figure that Billy Crystal is gonna come out dressed as either Gollum or a hobbit on the February Oscar telecast.