I have never been into the fantasy genre. And I'm one of the few people who haven't read ANY J.R.R. Tolkien...but I thought this movie was great fun. It was long, but I never noticed, because I sat riveted the entire time. I thought it would be difficult to get into the different characters or to care about them, but that, too, was a miscalculation. I cared about them immediately, so much so that this unnecessary delay in the release of the next two in the trilogy seems like torture.

My thirteen-year-old daughter said it lasted too long for her. But get this: she was livid at the ending because she desperately wanted to know what was to happen to the characters; and she never fidgeted once, which is amazing considering the length of the film and the distinct possibility that she suffers from ADD (attention deficit disorder for all you non-parents). So, for her to complain that it lasted too long, well, it just doesn't hold water considering her rapt attention to the film.

So, obviously if you love fantasy, or J.R.R., you will definitely see the film. But I'm writing to those of you who don't necessarily like fantasy, or J.R.R., but wondered if they might enjoy this epic film. I say a resounding YES. You will not be disappointed.


Recommended:
Yes

Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older