Starring : Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Austin, Liv Tyler, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Ian Holm, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Cate Blanchett, Sean Bean, John Rhys-Davies and thousands of Orcs
Director: Peter Jackson

What can I say? Having been a fan of the books since I was ten, and also being a fan of the 1978 Ralph Bakshi's cartoon version, which I found to be a brave attempt at something which was unfilmable then, all I can say is WOW! in capital letters.

For the opening recap of the history of Middle Earth and the story of the ring, right the way through the fall of Gandalf and the tragic end of Boromir, Peter Jackson has made Middle Earth exactly how you would hope to find it.

The film is three hours, just under, and although it seems like a bum numbing of the most painful kind is in order, the film is no such thing. The film never drags, Jackson has included most of the important points of the books and changed a few minor details to suit the film, and with the action slightly pushed up a little, the film is nothing more than an epic.

The film carries the veiwer along with Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) as he attempts to destroy the one ring and defeat the evil, and unseen, Sauron. The landscapes of New Zealand have never looked better and nothing has ever looked more like Middle Earth.

Add to all this the spot on casting, not one name springs to mind and every one of the main cast seems fit the part like a glove. Special mention though to Viggo Mortensen, who is outstanding as Aragon and also to the always brilliant Ian McKellen as Gandalf the grey, who's scenes with genre favourite Christopher Lee are electric.

The only fault that I can find with this instant classic is that we have to wait until next Christmas until the second part arrives! How could Mr Jackson be so mean?