One of the year's best

Rating: Null/10 (6 February 2003)

No doubt about it, this is among the year's best movies. Peter Jackson's direction is superb. The performances are outstanding. The battle scenes are magnificent. And the New Zealand scenery is simply gorgeous (as good as in any movie I've ever seen).
Not having read the novels by J.R.R. Tolken, except The Hobbit, I cannot say how faithful the movie is to them. But it seems shorter than its three hours. It NEVER drags.
Having three of Jackson's early movies (Bad Taste, Dead Alive, and Meet the Feebles), I can attest that The Lord of the Rings is a significant departure for him. Not only is it his first big-time production, but it is the first serious movie Jackson has made. The others are pure camp. And be forewarned: the earlier Jackson movies are definitely NOT for kids. But for adults, they are great fun.
That leads to my final point. The only thing missing from LOTR is Peter Jackson's twisted sense of humor. Perhaps the subject matter does not lend itself to it. But the film could use a bit of comic relief.