Truely Excellent Overall - but I missed some familiar friends from the book

Rating: 10/10 (29 December 2003)

I need to go again so I can see more of the movie - my first viewing was not enough to see everything.
I must admit to being slightly disappointed by a couple of things: - I felt that the Palantir were not done well at all - no explanation and context seemed wrong - much I guess due to the cutting of Saruman's scenes. As an avid reader of the books, I missed the Mouth of Sauron, the mustering of the allies before Pelennor Fields, Sauruman's downfall and ultimate end during the Scouring of the Shire.
My other issue is one that I guess cannot be overcome in movie adaptions of books, and that is the loss of almost all of Tolkein's rich historical fabric of Middle Earth. To even attempt it would have required a voice over which I don't think would have worked.
These minor nitpicks aside, so many things were excellent: - The aerial tracking shot of Gandalf and Pippin riding up through the 7 rings of Minas Tirith, The Witch King preparing for war, and his downfall at the hands of "Dernhelm" Grond the Ride of the Rhorrim Shelob Gollum Samwise Gamgee - Sean Astin acting his socks off compared to any previous work Aragorn and all the "men" bowing to the four hobbits
Overall, I think Peter Jackson and fellowship have crafted a truely excellent movie, and a fitting end to the Trilogy. I haven't made up my mind whether it is the best of the three yet. I still favour FOTR if only for the reason that it was the first and it so clearly proved that it was possible to make Middle Earth real on film and keep the spirit of the books.