No Best Picture of the Year

Rating: 6/10 (24 June 2005)

After finishing watching the whole series of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I am at a loss as to why this film won the Best Picture Academy Award. Make no mistake it is a good movie. The effects are spectacular and the story is great. But it got to the point to where I was saying, "Get on with it!" I was just plain tired looking at Frodo's morose little face. All the other characters are truly heroic; Frodo just brings it down. Sam, Frodo's companion, is far more driven and determined. Frodo's characterization really has much to be desired.
I found myself feeling like the Elaine character on Seinfeld as she watches The English Patient and screams, "Die already!" The intended dramatic tension as Frodo approaches Mount Doom fails and could have been cut down a bit. There was enough build up from the first two movies and from the first three-quarters of the third.
All that said, I would recommend this movie to anyone, especially those who enjoy Fantasy films and stories. I will likely buy this series, but I do not consider it on the same level as the Academy does.