An exceptional film that went on just a touch too long

Rating: 8/10 (24 January 2004)

It seems churlish to find fault with such a visually superb film and engrossing film, but there was at least half-an-hour at the end which could really have ended up on the cutting room floor without anyone noticing. But now I feel bad for criticising the last part of what will go down as one of the finest film trilogies to be made in my lifetime.