Flawed, but still the film of the year.

Rating: 10/10 (24 December 2002)

A bit of this might be considered a **SPOILER** - so avoid it if you haven't seen it yet, or you don't want even the tiniest clue as to what might be in the 3rd film!
Is kevinm-4 serious? So Aragorn points with his left arm, not his right - oh, no! And what, please, is the difference between a yell and a bellow? I think kevinm-4 is winding up the geekier contributors and I treat his remarks accordingly. This is another great film, visually, technically and in the breadth of its vision. I don't like some of the plot deviations, either, but I do take the point about having to balance the various plot strands. But I still think Arwen's departure for the Grey Havens is an unnecessary twist - although if you know the story, the reasons for it, filmically, are apparent - and I think Faramir's brave speech in the cave, rejecting the Ring, would have come over well, made a great, stirring moment and contrasted well with his brother. That apart - go and see it, suspend disbelief, and immerse yourself for 3 hours in Middle-Earth. Revel in a truly great cinema experience that has no swearing, unnecessary and irrelevant nudity, or sickening cynicism and depravity (apart from the orcs, and they're not human, so that's all right). Roll on the Return of the King! And, of course, the box set of all three, with director's cut, the "making of LOTR", etc!
9.95 out of 10, Mr Jackson!