I love it! Peter Jackson did an incredible job adapting the book to film. Peter, Fran and Phillipa wrote a marvelous screenplay, which certainly should have won the Oscar. They condensed the plot without leaving out any essentials, and yet kept me riveted as they presented lots of background and exposition. (Of course, I'm a little odd because I love background and exposition. I love discovering a new imaginative world. Thus, I prefer the first Harry Potter book over all the rest; I loved Dune, but couldn't make it through the next book; the first Star Wars movie remains my favourite.)

The casting, overall, is inspired, and the acting excellent. I would especially like to highlight Sean Bean's performance as Boromir. He was letter perfect. The complexity, the inner struggle, the valour: all magnificent. And the death scene! It's especially moving knowing Sean fought to keep it as written. In my opinion, Sean Bean should have gotten an Oscar for best supporting actor.

The dwarf-tossing line in Moria was an anachronistic wink at the audience. It's the only time Peter succumbed to this temptation, and it really jars, even if it did make me laugh the first time.

Merry and Pippin look older than Frodo. They should at least look the same age, if not younger.

Gandalf is very huggy and paternal with the hobbits. It just doesn't feel very Tolkieny to me.

Aragorn is struggling to accept himself as a king of men, which is very modern and angsty. In the book, he is struggling to become king. He has doubts that he can succeed, but not that he should try. I prefer the book.

Arwen is awful. I don't mind the changes to her character (but, "We want Glorfindel! We want Glorfindel!") Rather, I can't stand Liv Tyler. Yuck!