Very entertaining, but less than the original

Rating: 9/10 (29 December 2002)

Let it be fairly said that this is a highly entertaining movie, with a wonderful storyline, good acting, and great special effects. Nonetheless, it did not bowl me over the way The Fellowship of the Ring did, and I suppose it's simply that the standard of the first movie was so high, wildly exceeding expectations, that it was hard for this movie to have the same impact. And somehow Frodo became less sympathetic in this movie, probably a reflection of the ring's growing power over him. Still, the battle scenes were wonderful, and I happily paid my money to see it. I don't think I'll buy the video, though, which says something about the difference from Fellowship, which I got as soon as it was available.