Far surpassing my highest expectations

Rating: 10/10 (17 December 2003)

My history with Tolkien's great work goes far back into my childhood when I read raptly and wished I was Frodo carrying the Ring to Mt. Doom, or Aragorn leading the ghastly forces onto Pellennor Fields. Even in that time of imagination I wished that a movie was made that would do the classic epic justice. When i found out (about 1998?) that my wishes were indeed going to come true, I waited with baited breath following every move Jackson and the whole production made. Each opening midnight showing found me there wholly engrossed in the tale. Each film surpassed the previous one; delivering a more delightful, more mesmerizing, more awe-evoking experience than the year before. Well, the end has come, and what an end it was. Just like Theoden in Helm's Deep. But 10 times bigger. 10 times better. 10 times more sweaty palms, lower jaw drops, and "...(stunned silence)...". Jackson got Tolkien's vision for Middle-Earth just right for film. My recommendation is to see the movie ASAP. Then, make time to read the books before the Special Edition ROTK comes out. Then take off work/school, get some rest, some Dorito's and dnL and watch all three Special Edition DVDs back to back and you could possibly come close to what I'm experiencing right now. Tolkien rules. Jackson is Prime Minister. The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy is the best darn Manifesto ever made. Hands Down. Period. End of Transmission.........