This astounding movie accomplishes what no other fantasy film has been able to do: transport viewers to an entirely different reality, immerse them in it, and maroon them there for nearly three hours.

...an intelligence and artistry as a movie, independent of blind fidelity to the page.

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

Emotional range and character depth ultimately take us beyond genre limitations, and it deserves to play as wide as a certain Mr. Potter.