Was that really 3 1/2 Hours?

Rating: 10/10 (19 December 2003)

Director Peter Jackson has created a masterpiece! A little over three years ago I was telling myself that I really hope that this trilogy would be done right. It has far exceeded my expectations. I had almost as much fun watching this as the many many times I read this trilogy. Were there portions that deviated from the book? Sure, but they were understandable. I was so wrapped up in this final chapter that I couldn't believe when the final credits were run that it was actually a 3 1/2 hour film.

****SPOILER WARNING******
I thought that the film was able to accomplish how horrible these orc creatures were when they used the decapitated men of Gondor's heads as their catapult weapon of choice. The only problems I had was with the lack of Palantir reference with Denethor (made him just look like a madman without explanation) and Frodo telling Sam to go home and believing Gollum instead. I really wish that they left this just like the book and went into the tunnel towards Shelob together. Otherwise, Eowyn's scene with Merry killing the Witch-King is exactly how I pictured in the book along with so much else. Very close to perfection!