An epic film

Rating: Null/10 (19 December 2002)

Please beware of minor spoilers in this review!
I very much enjoyed this film, and on numerous levels: Does it have Humor? Yes. Romance? Yes. Action? Oh, yes. Deep truths to ponder? Yes, if you're willing to do so. I am a college professor, so perhaps that is why the last way in which I enjoyed the film means the most to me.
Two themes that struck home to me were: 1) the concept of death's very clear reality (e.g., how THE love affair might end in death someday: pictured by the movie so well in the scene where we see a body slowly "morph" into a sarcophagus), and 2) the counter play regarding what is worth living for (e.g., the shire? What if it's not there anymore? Then--the cause of good?). Powerful themes. The movie is made, I presume, primarily for entertainment; still, such concepts as the very nature of life and death permeate the movie and add a deeper layer, and a deeper value.
The environmental theme was probably more important to write about half-a-century ago, I think. It has now become clear to most people that we must balance technological advances with our duty to preserve the resources God has given to us. Still, I like trees: I feel sad when they are chopped down, even with good reason--but the idea of doing so doesn't freeze me with fear. Everything in balance: People can actually be -too- environmentalist!
Even though I'm a thinker, however, the movie's action really grabbed me--WOW is it good. The word epic means, "Surpassing the usual or ordinary, particularly in scope or size", and thus it aptly describes this amazing movie. My rating for this film is 10/10. I'm very picky about movies, but this film easily takes a place as one of my favorite movies ever. I highly recommend it.