[af_vet_rr]

It's not a shallow movie because it's about the Great Questions. What is honor? What is courage? Are we innately good, or innately bad, or a bit of both? How much free will do we have, and can we exert our own efforts to redeem ourselves from evil? Is there really an evil force operating in the world, and if so, how can ordinary people of good will do battle against it without being corrupted? Should we live for ourselves, or for history? How do we keep faith?

All very important thoughts and questions.

I would throw in "what is friendship and loyalty" as well. The movies captured those two themes/questions and did a good job. Gandalf basically giving his life to save the rest in the mines, the trio setting out to rescue Merry and Pippin, without really giving a thought to the fact that they would be vastly outnumbered and might even die. Sam staying loyal to Frodo even when he sees the ring turning Frodo into a monster (at the risk of his own life). I won't get into the RotK for those who haven't read it.

I would say the LotR trilogy would be the ultimate "buddy" movie. There are a lot of movies that revolve around friendships/companions and loyalty, but none can come close to LotR.

[Capriole]

Sam staying loyal to Frodo even when he sees the ring turning Frodo into a monster

Gee, did you really think Frodo turns into a monster? He's a little short-tempered with suffering, certainly, but he's really metamorphosing into a type of Christ (as many of the characters in the story do, sacrificing in one way or another for the greater good).