The word "awesome" is used too often, but this film deserves it

Rating: 10/10 (23 December 2003)

This film deserves every rave review it has received. For sheer spectacle, emotion, humour, and good old plain scale this film has the lot. Peter Jackson has done Tolkien's memory proud and we are all glad of it.
This movie could have been just a number of spectacular set pieces, defined by the size of it's battle scenes and pyrotechnics. Instead, we have (occasionally silly) dialogue delivered with warmth and passion, genuine laughter, and real tears. Each character is developed much more than in the previous instalments. What a joy to see a strong female role in Eowyn of Rohan. Miranda Otto, Karl Urban and David Wenham have all achieved stardom through the trilogy and deservedly so. For me though, Sean Astin's Sam and Andy Serkis' Gollum are the highlights. Strength, bravery and loyalty in the first performance, manipulation, weakness, corruption and sheer physicality in the second. If these actors do not get at least one award apiece there will be no justice.