This is epic filmmaking at it's best...

Rating: 10/10 (20 December 2003)

*Some minor spoilers*
The emotion of this film is just overwhelming at times. Stunningly beautiful, so moving, so inspiring. So many powerful moments: the determination of Legolas and Gimli to follow Aragorn to the end, the strength and courage of Aragorn himself, the loyalty of Sam, the love of a father for his daughter, the look on Faramir's face when he is rejected by his father.we become so in touch with these characters that we take every step with them, feel every blade, experience every loss. I wanted to take up arms in every battle, even the ones where defeat was imminent. I'm one of those people who's always saying "it's just a movie.", but this film got to me. This is moving, touching, epic filmmaking. When you see the leader that Aragorn is, the king he will be, and then you look at the leaders we have today, it's enough to break your heart. The willingness of Aragorn and co. to make the ultimate sacrifice for Frodo and, really, for mankind, was heart-wrenchingly beautiful. These are some of the most profoundly heroic characters that have ever been brought to life. You can't help but feel the emptiness when the fellowship ends; our lives have been changed along with theirs. And that's what good filmmaking does; it changes you, if only for a few brief moments. And as for all the critics.People, this movie is BASED on the book. It is not a word-for-word, scene-for-scene translation. I don't think you appreciate how painstaking a task it must have been to transfer a work like LOTR to the big screen. And until you can do a better job or know someone who can, don't criticize!!! The point of this movie was not to follow LOTR, masterpiece that it was, word for word. It's a different experience entirely than reading the book and Jackson's goal was to transfer the battle of good vs evil, the emotion of the journey, and the spirit of men (and elves, and dwarves.), which he did impeccably.

Best line-Gimli to Legolas: That still only counts as one!

Best moments: Pippin's song, Aragorn's speech, Sam carrying Frodo up Mount Doom, Legolas and the Oliphant (now THAT is skill). Somebody here actually described Legolas' stunt as "unrealistic".people, come on. This movie makes us believe in heroes, in goodness, in the true meanings of friendship, love and honour. This is by far the best movie of the year, possibly of all time. But don't expect those stiffs at the Academy to realize that. These are the same people that gave an oscar to American Beauty, for crying out loud. The moving performances of Viggo Mortensen (the only man I have ever seen actually look good with facial hair) and Sean Astin--and all the actors, really--epitomize powerful acting. This trilogy has no equal in modern-day filmmaking, because it combined a spectacular story with spectacular filmmaking, and gave a face and a heart to every beautiful hero in Tolkien's book.