3 stars: 2 for Gollum 1 for Eiowyn (almost subtracted points for what they did to Faramir).

Rating: 3/10 (22 December 2002)

The best thing about this movie is Gollum. Gollum has always been my favorite character in the books, and they did an amazing job with him. The movie itself is bla. I don't mind that it doesn't stand on its own as a movie (it is a series and the director shouldn't have to waste time reviewing), so I thought it was good to just jump into it. But it never quite jumps. It kind of skips, and then you have this feeling that it is about to fall. It adds things that aren't necessary (Arwen and Galadriel), and subtracts things that are important (Deagle). It expands the battle of Helm's Deep into this huge thing, what Peter Jackson doesn't realize is that Battles are so boring. Wow more Orcs attacking! The only time when battles are interesting is when you feel for BOTH sides, and I'm sorry you can't feel for the orcs (now this is not Peter Jackson's fault but it is his fault to think that what the story needs is more battles). Also I can't believe he actually put a bomb in it.
The battles are my main problem but also he destroyed Faramir's character, making him just like Boromir, and I must admit to being in love with Faramir in the book so I was just a little upset about that.
Where the movie really shot itself in the leg though is the ending (don't worry I won't tell you what happens). The end of the book is one of the most suspenceful moments in the book, I actually started The Return of the King at Book II to find out what happened to Frodo and Sam. Well the end of the movie is completely different from the book just ending the movie on a low note.
Eiowyn was cool and just how I imagined her though, so I'm happy about that.
So you all probably hate me now for giving it a 3 star rating, but you guys are entitled to like it if you want (just not more than the original Star Wars Trilogy which I think is heavily based on Tolkien and actually is a better transfering of the books onto film).