A work of Genius All-round.

Rating: 10/10 (21 December 2003)

This was always my favourite part of the Tolkien Trilogy, and it turned out to be director Peter Jacksons favourite too. Watching all three films together will show the viewer how Peter Jackson (et al) have grown and the techniques they have employed have all gotten so much better, to culminate in this fantasy masterpiece.
I always thought (from reading the books) that Samwise Gamgee was the "real hero" of the quest to destroy the One Ring, and actor Sean Astin turned in a stirling performance to match my expectations.
Whilst some themes from the book are lost, it doesn't (in my humble opinion) mar the film in any way, with the slight reservation over the loss of the "Houses of Healing", as it lessens Éowyn's victory on the fields of the Pelannor. Overall though this is a small gripe.
Don't listen to people who say that this is all about fighting and ancient war craft, it is a sure sign that if someone tells you this, that they didn't understand everything that goes on.
Put simply this is a work of cinematic genius, a modern classic that will set the benchmark for all films that follow. If Peter Jackson does not get Best Director for this film, and the film doesn't get the Best Film Oscar, then I shall never watch the Oscars or see them as a fair judge of what is good in cinema.
My only gripe (and it's directed at IMDB) is that their voting system doesn't allow you to vote 12/10 for this movie, because not only is it worthy of that sort of vote, but it deserves it too.