One of the year's best . . .SPOILERS

Rating: 9/10 (17 January 2003)

Considering how I saw the Fellowship of the Rings, fifteen million times (actually 9 times in theatres, millions of times on DVD), I had very high expectations when I went to see TTT. I have to say that it blew me away but like all wonderful things, it has some flaws. Thus, I put it on the same scale as FOTR, a very high rating of a 9.
First, FOTR benefited because it was new, no one knew what to expect, and it was ingeniously adapted to incorporate the book very well. There were no major changes except the obvious cut of Tom Bombadil, and I think Peter Jackson made Frodo a much more likable character. All the characters were somewhat new or unknown (in the mainstream) actors. It was just a giant surprise and the world was VERY impressed.
TTT is a continuation of FOTR so there isn't much more surprise anymore. List of the good and bad:
GOOD: 1. Helm's Deep: simply awesome graphics, well put together and just amazing!!!!!! 2. Acting: everyone, even Elijah Wood, was very good. I give kudos to Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn, he was wonderful. Ian McKellen had a lesser part but he was good in the parts he was in. 3. As a movie, it flowed, had great music, and overall, it is a beautiful picture. 4. Okay, admit it, Orlando Bloom is simply beautiful!!! 5. Very good adaptation of the book.
BAD: 1. The love scenes between Viggo Mortensen and Liv Tyler were ludicrous. It was ALMOST as bad as the love scenes in the Attack of the Clones (which was one of the year's worst movies). They just looked so awkward that it was PAINFUL to watch. 2. Faramir. Why change a very good character, who was supposed to be the opposite of Boromir? WHY??????? I was so disheartened by that character change. 3. Drags at points. Drags when there is no action and there is talking. Sometimes it doesn't, but most times, such as scenes in the Rohan castle, it really dragged on and on and on . . . 4. Fake deaths. Why pretend Aragorn died when we know he is the future king and must be in the sequel????????
I've seen this movie twice so far. The first time blew me away, the second I saw at Washington DC's Uptown theatre. Apparently, Orlando BLoom was there at the first premiere of FOTR. I was so excited and spent the whole movie waiting for his scenes. I'm sorry! He is just so hot. So anyway, TTT will go down as one of the best movies, but like everything, it has its flaws. =) Legolas: "You're late." Smiles. "You look terrible."