What's stunning about Peter Jackson's film is the way he has married computer-generated special effects with the extravagantly varied landscapes of New Zealand to create a mythical kingdom. I don't think I have seen anything so epic and visionary since the silent films of Fritz Lang--and they were made entirely within the studios and under artificial light. Tolkien-maniacs may dispute the adaptation, but it is beyond question that a huge imaginative translation has been made. You believe in these characters, you yearn to be part of their quest. And when the film ends--with two characters setting off across a sombre lake in a small boat--you want to be told you can come back next week for another three hours.
Will it play like Harry Potter? I don't know. There are passages here with subtitles; it's hard to recall the names of every character; the first hour is leisurely. But The Lord of The Rings is the real thing--a movie sensation. it's made my Christmas already.