Looking to criticize

Rating: 10/10 (27 January 2004)

I've seen the movie 3 times so far in the theaters and am aching for another. After being awed for the first few times, I came to the conclusion that there isn't much to be said in a negative sense. The acting was wonderful, the action was superb, needless to say that the battle scenes are considered the best I've ever seen in a motion picture. I guess the only criticism I have (which will probably be answered in the extended edition) is that perhaps Gandalf could have used his wizardry skills (aka magic) a bit more specially during the assault on Gondor where they would have lost the battle if Aragourn did not show up with the phantom soldiers. I didn't see him use a spell once... except for the Eagles that came and took care of the Mordor Wyvern looking monsters. I'm not asking for too much, just a little display of power like he did in The Fellowship of the Rings against the Balrog or in The Two Towers where he withdrew the power of Saruman from King Theodon in the Great Hall. The final criticism is that the movie should have ended ~20 minutes prior to it's actual ending. It should have ended with Aragourn and the entire kingdom kneeling before the Hobbits.

Absolutely wonderful piece of cinematography. BRAVO!