Exceptional movie, with some questionable changes to the text

Rating: Null/10 (31 December 2002)

I found it to be an extremely well made movie - one which requires, by reason of the sheer breadth of the material, that it be seen more than once. Same with the books, they require more than one reading.
I was surprised by some of the changes Mr. Jackson made to the text. Specifically, Faramir's character in the movie was unlike that in the book; also, leaving out Shelob and the ending of the Twin Towers - perhaps there was a cinematic device to explain the changes, but if so they escaped me.
That being said, Gollum's character was extraordinarily well rendered.
I do not wish to indicate that the movie was not extremely good. It suffers from having as its source a text which is zealously read around the world. The fact of the matter is, there must always be some changes in the transference from script to screen.
Mr. Jackson's movie(s) are truly amazing cinematic masterpieces.