nearly flawless

Rating: 10/10 (14 June 2005)

minor spoilers
I'm a ring nut, let's just make that clear.
This film, even more so than the other two, from a critical standpoint is a true masterpiece; an uncanny achievement in film-making.
The music, the costumes, the art direction and sets, the acting, the passion... all come together in a brilliant package that does the great novel justice.
Of course it's not totally perfect... some might complain about the spirit army being "ghoulish" or what have you. My only two critical quips would be the absence of Saruman (and having seen the added scene in the extended cut, truly a shame it was cut) and how exactly Denethor died... he should have stayed in the pyre if you ask me, not jump off a half mile cliff.
Minor.
The acting: superb. True camaraderie shines through each of the performing artists which makes their performances all the more believable. The effects make a movie of this scale so believable you're not sure when you're looking at a effects shot or not. It's practically seamless. From and entertainment as well as artistic standpoint, this movie is NOT to be missed. Just watch the first two parts, first.