I came to this film expecting to be bored, but now that I've watched it about 7 or 8 times all the way through, I'm amazed at how fantastic a movie it is. The cast is absolutely perfect...that's the only word for it. The story is totally entrancing, the locations and the sets are jaw-droppingly beautiful and mystical, and the screenplay is practically flawless. There is so much screen presence at work here: decades of great acting experience and faces that could only have played these parts. If the creators of this film can repeat the magic they captured here, then we may have a real milestone on our hands as movie fans. Don't let ANYONE tell you this movie wasted their time; that sounds more like a comment from a person who's lost their heart. "Lord of the Rings" is exquisite.
