There are no words to sum this up...

Rating: 10/10 (19 December 2003)

What a film this was. There are so many good things in this that it is impossible to list them all in this review but let me start by saying that I don't understand how anyone could have walked out the cinema and not have felt more than a little conflicted emotionally. I cried at numerous points in the movie and at the end I just sat in the cinema and realised 'this is it - that's it over now'. I've grown to love the characters even more than I did when I read the books now and it was hard saying goodbye especially in a film of the calibre. It had everything, battles, romance, drama, angst - it was a true film in every sense of the word.
The revelations in this movie though were Sean Astin and Billy Boyd - I will be disappointed if one of them doesn't get an oscar nod (although I doubt they will due to the oscars tending to shy away from movies like this). Both of these actors brought that little bit extra that just shone in a film full of marvelous performances. I defy anyone to watch the scene where Sam finds Frodo in Shelbob's lair and not feel a bit choked up, or to watch the scene where Pippin has to say goodbye to Merry and not have to remind themselves that they can't cry yet because there;s still three hours of movie left. The scene with Faramir, Denethor & Pippin also deserves a mention for being one of the most eery scenes I've witnessed when Denethor tells Faramir he wished he had died and then the song as the battle wages on in the background. Breathtaking but upsetting.
This is an amazing movie - I didn't even notice the length and would have happily say for longer if necessary. Go watch it and you will not be disappointed as this is a masterpiece.