A Very Excellent Movie

Rating: 10/10 (3 January 2005)

Warning, the following DOES CONTAIN spoilers for the Extended Edition Let's start with the obvious. This is one of the best fantasy stories, EVER. J.R.R. Tolkien was an absolute genius in creating this world, and while the films leave out some and add some, the same story still prevails and it is excellent.
Next, to the movie itself. First the bad.... Die-hard fans will find quite a few things to complain about, in terms of remaining canon to the books. Things like Gandalf meeting the Witchking at the top of MT, not at the gates, Aragorn just now getting Anduril, etc.... There are things to complain about. And continuity does become an issue in the later parts of the movie. Gandalf's staff is destroyed by the Witchking during the Battle for Minas Tirith, yet it magically comes back for the rest of the film. And the people are very fast at dismounting and sending their horses off, because in one shot they are mounted, and in the next, they aren't. Also, I think Legolas climbing up and killing the Mumakil was a little over the top.... but now that is all out of the way, let's talk about all that is good... and believe me, THERE IS A LOT.
I don't believe there has ever been a movie with such high production values. In the Special Effects, CG, and blue-screen department, very few shots are not completely convincing. Things just look top notch. And let us not forget the quality miniatures. You would think that the wide-shots of Minas Tirith and the Black Gate are CG, but you would be wrong. They are all done with miniatures, and let me say they look GREAT. And the concept art by Alan and John is just amazing. Looking at those sets makes me feel like Middle Earth is alive, not just some fantasy land.
Now to sound. The sound crew has just packed layers upon layers of sound to make one very convincing sound scheme. Arrows are no longer a simple swoosh, but a sound for every release, shaft movement, arrow-head movement, tail movement, arrowhead impact, shaft impact, falls, misfires, the whole ten yards. Everything is just amazing. And then there is Howard Shore's score, which is arguably one of the best in the history of movies. The music for when Frodo and Sam are climbing Mount Doom is just UNBELIEVABLE. It is almost like the music is enough to convey what the screen shows. The Gondor theme, one that has been hinted at constantly, now gets to play in all of its glory. Oh and did I mention Into the West? Perhaps one of the best vocal piece in cinema history. There is so much good here I can't say it all! Now a fancy looking movie does not guarantee success. Only a top-notch story and delivery can. And guess what... it does it. While Peter Jackson does fall back to his low level horror roots on some things (like in Shelob's lair when the camera is twisting behind Frodo as he runs), the camera is used effectively. And then there is the story. Like I said, I would not stutter when I say that Tolkien's work is the best literature of the 20th century, and while Peter Jackson did not give you the same ride Tolkien did, he still gives you one heluva good show. Everything about it is good. Sure I would have liked to see more book reference in it (like the many other forces that defended Minas Tirith) but he did expound on some things like Gormothag or whatever the Orc captain is.
People say it does not deserve the 11 Oscars it won, yet I think it won every single award it did fair and square. By far the best movie of 2003 and a treat for almost anyone.