Amazing! All i expected and more...(warning may contain spoilers)

Rating: 10/10 (20 December 2003)

This has to be one of the greatest films i have ever seen. I loved it. I cried about seven times through it, laughed many more times, and spent the entire film wide eyed and amazed. The acting was fabulous, and in my opinion moving and captured the essence of the characters perfectly (esp Elijah Wood & Sean Astin). I know that a lot of people have been complaining that Orlando Bloom isn't in this film much, nor is John Rhys-Davis. But the film doesn't really need them, not in the way the other two did. The battles are fabulous and have well outshone Helms Deep. Shelob was scary, (at least i think it was for the arachnophobe who dug her nails into my arm when she was on the screen.) As a huge fan of the book (yeah it won the Big Read)i did notice the changes. In my opinion they were not unsatisfactory. For the film version they were perfect. I mean i wouldn't change one word in the book, but parts such as when both Pippen and Merry go to battle felt right and were very pleasing. I can see what people mean when they talk about the ending, with blacking to other scenes, but for my this only prolonged the suspense and happy ending feeling. It didn't ruin the film for me, but maybe that's because i've read the book. The only fault is a small one, and a personal one, I would have liked to have seen the blooming of love between Faramir and Eowyn - it's not a big thing, and doesn't ruin the film, but unless you've read the book it goes from one set of circumstances for them, to another. Overall i found this the greatest film i have seen, maybe even ever. All i can say is that if what Peter Jackson took out is half as good as what he left in, then i cannot wait for the Extended DVD! Go see it, or miss out on a cinematic masterpiece. (PS - I hear that this has missed out on the a big hunk of hype and nominations to Cold Mountain. Oh i do wonder why so very much!)