great second act - not for everyone though...

Rating: Null/10 (19 December 2002)

i just saw the film today and thought i would add my two cents.
no doubt it is a great movie and i give it 9/10. as from the first movie, it has tremendous scenery, action and suspense, and the movie never seems over-long. in fact i wish it kept going!
only negatives i found were that the new characters in this film weren't as interesting or "fleshed out" like in the first film. the pace is so hurried there's hardly time for further character development as FOTR. very dark atmosphere permeates the movie, to be expected under the circumstances. characters such as gandalf "the white" are more warrior-leader like compared to his previous incarnation. the movie keeps shifting amongst the three seperate fellowship groups now split, and a couple of dream sequences/flashbacks. this makes for a messier flow to the movie than FOTR. also, there's no beginning or end really. even the first movie had an appropriate "ending" that set up the sequel, this one is more like sudden stop shortly after the already famous final battle scene. but these issues aren't a major knock as far as i'm concerned, though i can understand how others may find them to be. its obviously a continuation from the first book and should be looked at as such, not simply on its own merits. no one should see this movie without seeing the FOTR first or it won't make sense.
also, if you can't get into fantasy and let your mind go, then you won't be into this either, save for the cinematography which everyone in the world simply must to commend, regardless of taste. Gollum was also terrific! quite a character and so well done.
i did not read the books, and any of the criticism i did see was largely from comparing the books to the movies and some differences that existed. i think that may interfere a bit when one has other ideas what should be shown here or left out there. a guy like me comes in with an open mind to what comes and gets blown away by the incredible events on screen. i can hardly wait til the extended DVD version comes out like it did for FOTR, i believe that forum can provide more scenes to add extra substance and character to a largely action-packed movie.
no doubt this trilogy should be rated as one of THE cinematic achievements, and i can hardly wait til the final one comes next year, and then complete my DVD collection of the series!