Not what I was hoping for...

Rating: Null/10 (19 December 2003)

Well, I started out the day by watching the extended version of LOTR:FOTR, then a bathroom break, then the extended version of LOTR:TTT. Upon comleting that I went to the theatre to catch this film, and I was dissapointed. Maybe having already watched 7 hours of LOTR footage burned me out, maybe LOTR:TTT made me expect too much, or maybe since this was my favorite book of the trilogy and the one I remember most, it was the one that let me down the most by the differences.
Regardless of the reason, I'd say I was dissapointed in both the story (changes) and the F/X of this film. WARNING, a few spoilers. I was very upset to see differences in the spider fight, the time lapse, the failure to really explain Faramir's father (and the Palantir sp?), the final killing of Sarumon, the Scouring, and even the very last conversation: too much tear jerking, not enough of where Sam fits into the story with having been a ring bearer. The film was by no means bad, but not as good as what I was expecting, since I loved each of the first two. Also, I was dissapointed in how the ring was actually destroyed. The way it was done in the book was perfect, and this just took some of it away. I had heard that the Scouring wasn't even filmed, but maybe part of it will be shown in the EE since the EntWash was only in the EE of TTT.
As for F/X, I saw many errors, which was upsetting because of how good TTT was. It just seemed that a lot of the F/X was thrown in hurriedly. Even fires looked noticably CG when they didn't have to. Some scenes were done well, and others just looked very obvious. Maybe this will get cleaned up in the EE of this movie as well.
Again, I enjoyed it, and will definitely see it again, but most definitely not my favorite of the trilogy:(