Rating: 10/10 (21 December 2003)

This movies was visually and emotionally stimulating. A fitting end to a great adventure. As a reader of the books, I will reserve my final remarks for the extended edition, but even so, will still afford it a 10/10. Aside from a few minor 'holes' that will probably be filled in later, here are my favorite moments:
* Seeing Serkis FINALLY getting SOME non-virtual airtime....really liked seeing Serkis himself onscreen. (still can't watch all of the tranformation though...ewww.) * one word: FIGWIT * Arwen's vision. Beautifully done * Pippin's "Steward of Gondor" evoked my first tears of the movie...and I will probably cry every time I watch it as well. * Shelob was done very well * Paths of the dead, though WAY too short, was cool * Lighting of the beacons was surprisingly moving. Who would have thought the lighting of some fires could evoke THAT kind of emotion. Beautiful cinematography, too. Kept wondering if it was real or CGI. * EVERYTHING Eowen/Merry - from "My Lady!" to "I am no man!" YES, YES, YES! These were among my favorite moments of the entire movie. Every primal warcry touches my heart...again...BEAUTIFUL * Crawling, hand over hand up Mt. Doom. Can't believe that Tolkien's words could be so adeptly brought to life. Can't believe I'm saying this (as Sam has really gotten on my nerves before this) but Astin kicks some serious tail here. * Legolas/Oliphaunt/Gimli - so WHAT it wasn't in the book...it was cool! And so WHAT that Gimli is different from the book and is funny here...this movie needs levity SOMEWHERE...and Gimli never had much to do in the books anyway. * Hobbit Homage at the court of Gondor - This gets my vote for the most emotional point in the trilogy. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. Go Hobbits! * Grayhavens - for a 11+ hour movie, a 10-15 minute ending is appropriate. If you don't like it...turn it off. I loved it, it was beautiful and very appropriate. Could have used 10 MORE minutes in my opinion.
Peter Jackson and company...here's to you! I never thought it could be done. Shows what I know. Best movie of all time.