The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

"In spite of its stunning special effects and beautiful art direction, the film draws its power mainly from the essence, humanity and skill of its lead actors."

"Unlike so many big budget productions, the first movie instalment of JRR Tolkien's Middle Earth trilogy doesn't condescend to a teenage audience, but creates a sophisticated universe..."

"Putting formula blockbusters to shame, Fellowship is impeccably cast and constructed with both care and passion."

"Mr. Jackson and his collaborators have created a film epic that lives and breathes..."

"After sitting through the first three hours, I would have happily sat through another five."

"An excellent film and a ripping yarn of a movie."

"Spectacular scenery, stupefying effects and epic scope... a dream come true."

"Made with intelligence, imagination, passion and skill, propulsively paced and shot through with an aged-in-oak sense of wonder."

"Jackson's flights of fantasy bow before Tokien and are quite unlike anything you are likely to ever see on film."

"The Fellowship of the Ring resembles from certain angles nothing so much as a 178-minute electric mandolin solo."

"It would be an insult to say the picture merely lives up to its hype; it crashes the meaning of hype, exposing it as the graven image it is."

"So well-made and well-cast that one can have no reservations about the rest of Jackson's monumental creation."

"A joyfully conceived work of cinema."

"Funny, scary and, totally involving..."

"Peter Jackson, the New Zealand director who masterminded this film (and two more to follow, in a $300 million undertaking), has made a work for, and of, our times. It will be embraced, I suspect, by many Tolkien fans and take on aspects of a cult."

"The sheer scope and star quotient of the film, accompanied by positive reviews, could place the film as a dark horse contender in several categories."

"Jackson deserves to revel in his success. He’s made a three-hour film that leaves you wanting more."