Words can not do this film justice.

Rating: 10/10 (27 January 2004)

It has been a long time since I was this gripped by a series of films, or even an individual film. The cinematography was outstanding as was the acting, special effects and most importantly the Direction. I grew up with the Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings books. Although the book of LOTR was very long, and at some times heavy going, it was still a book that was hard to put down. The depth of the story and characters was immense. It was a credit to Tolkien's pursuit of detail.
When the first film was being released, I wanted to see if it could come close to gripping me the way the books had. I was not disappointed. Although parts of the story had been changed or removed, I appreciated that this was necessary to make the film flow and be marketable for the cinema.
I was immediately captivated by the first film and by the characters. It refreshed my passion for the story. I enjoyed it so much that I was willing to wait for the special edition to be released before buying the DVD. I was glad to see that some key scenes had been added (such as the giving of the gifts). I could not wait for the second film.
This gripped me the same way. The battle sequences were bigger and the special effects were improved. Again I waited for the special edition DVD to be released. It was like torture waiting, but the wait was worth while. It explained more about the history with Faramir and his father and brother, and also the trees and Ents.
I have now watched the third film and was even more blown away. The battle sequences were incredible (as has been discussed by many reviewers) and the lighting of the beacons was very moving. I will not say more about the film as words can't do it justice. It has to be seen to be fully appreciated. If any film deserves to sweep the boards at the Oscars, this is it. As for the length, I can still watch films like Ben Hur which also swept the boards in its day and not be bored or tired. Quality film making is never boring. Peter Jackson, the cast, crew and New Line have my thanks for their contributions in bringing these incredible films to a world wide audience. They are all stars in my opinion. They have pleased almost all of us die hard Tolkien fans and also created new fans (e.g. my parents - who have never read Fantasy Fiction books).
I hope they go on to make the Hobbit, as all I have to look forward to now is the next release of the special edition. The 3 films will take pride of place in my video collection.