Fun Movie with Flaws

Rating: 7/10 (17 December 2003)

This was a fun movie with a lot of cool stuff though I feel it was not as strong as the first two LOTR Films. This film used slow motion to death as it seemed every other scene had a drawn out slow mo sequence. I found the lighting quite bad in many shots which is too bad. While much of the CG was great, I also found that a lot of the CG wasn't very realistic looking which takes away from my personal enjoyment of a film. Legolas on the Elephant was a cool scene, but really, didn't look at all realistic. The use of total CG in one shot, no CG in the next, and then a bit of both prohibits this film from having a standard and consistant look to it. At times it looks like a national geographic film and then it will resemble a comic book. I am a fan of the more realistic looking shots than the alternative. People who disagree with me will probably understand in about six years when CG is much better and harder to detect. The best thing about this movie was that it was completely different from the first two, offering new settings, creatures, costumes, and general atmosphere. Although the trilogy works as one large story, I feel these films also stand well each on there own as seperate films similar to the way the original Star Wars films did. I feel the film could have ended with the boat leaving the harbore and that that whole scene looked very fake and could have been done much nicer. Over all, could have been a little better, but you definately are entertained and get more than your money's worth when you go to see this film. 7/10