Not bad, but lacks something...

Rating: 8/10 (5 January 2003)

This film, while enjoyable in it's own right, does not beat The Fellowship of Ring.
Having not read The Lord of the Rings, I wouldn't know what bits where added in, taken out or any of that stuff. So, in other words, I'm just reviewing it as just pure escapism and not comparing it to the book.
THE FOLLOWING MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!
The film is good on a number of levels including - The outstanding Gollum, who (hurray!) is NOT Jar Jar Binks. - The epic battle scenes, that at times, truly intense.
But (and this is a big but) it lacks that something we call heart. This is because Gandalf disappears for long streches and he was the one who gave the last film heart. As an action movie, this scores on all levels for those who can wait until the battle scene.
I'd give this film a 8 out of 10