The difficult middle bit.

Rating: 10/10 (7 January 2003)

It sounds to me as if some people are disappointed that they haven't just witnessed their own personal epiphany on celluloid (or digitally projected where available). If you are one of these people, I feel sorry for you. You are missing a truly wonderful experience and probably one of the best cinematic adaptations from source material there is around. Don't worry, those treasured images conjured from reading the books will still be there after you've seen the film. Maybe they'll even be improved. Plus, you can always read the books again afterwards.
This film is the equal of the magnificent 'The Fellowship of the Ring'. The themes are different of course and the feeling is possible even more traditionally Epic. You get swept along with the whole experience, you feel the devastation of Rohan, the assault on Helm's Deep, the possibility of the extinction of men.
The portrayal of the effect of the Ring is magnificent. Frodo's pain and fall into its grip are clear across the screen as Frodo's dependence on Sam to keep him going grows. Gollum/Smeagol is the best use of a CGI character I've yet seen on film, praise which should not detract from the Ents, Fell Beasts and Wargs. The assault of Helm's Deep in stunning mostly because of the clarity of editing and narrative at what could be a very confusing moment. At all points it is clear what is going on and how desperate the situation is becoming.
The only slight criticism I have (and it's only tiny and not enough to stop me giving the film a 10), is that it feels as though there's something missing. You'll know what I mean if you've seen the extend Fellowship DVD. The extra footage in that seems to round out that film and complete it. I already can't wait for the extended DVD of the Two Towers.
So, you must see this even if you think that Elves and Dwarves are a little bit silly. Peter Jackson has made a stunning film out of what could have been the hardest book of the three adapt. Possibly the best epic film series there has yet been made.