[Erulasto]

<P>well, finally saw FOTR last night, and i'm not writing a review or making much comment on it before i see it again on monday. suffice to say i enjoyed it very very much, and not since i attended the premiere of Independence Day (with a bunch of US marines in the audience) have i heard an estonian movie audience APPLAUD as the credits roll (we're a very stoic people). that made me quite happy. when did I cry and laugh?<P>i didn't cry, although did get a bit misty-eyed at the end, during Boromir's death, and Sam going after frodo. Gandalf falling into the pit, of course, and Frodo and Arwen at the Ford.<P>things that made me laugh? 'proudfeet!', almost everything Merry and Pippin did, 'nobody tosses a dwarf', Gandalf bumping his head in Bag End, a few other places too.<P>things that made me smile: Lord of the Rings lighting up across the screen; when Arwen showed up and started talking elvish (sindarin i presume, but that needs another viewing or two); 'fool of a took!', actually i was grinning most of the way through the Shire. Oh, and the petrified trolls, very nice touch. (and i remember someone saying that people who hadn't read the books wouldn't know what those were. apparently whoever said that missed Bilbo telling that tale to the hobbit-children at the party)<P>things that made me go wow: the opening battle against Sauron, Sauron sending whole batallions flying into the air, Elrond and Isildur at the Cracks of Doom, the camera flying around Isengard, Gwaihir, the Kings of Argonath, Merry and Pippin attacking the cave troll, the cthulhu-like tentacle thing at the gates of Moria, Arwen calling the waters at the Ford, those horseheads looked extremely good; most of Moria, the Balrog, Gandalf crying out 'you shall not pass!', and last but most certainly not least, whenever Frodo put the ring on... especially at Amon Sul.<P>only thing I wasn't overwhelmed by was Lothlorien... it wasn't bad, but nowhere near as magnificent as Moria. but then again maybe i'm a dwarf at heart <P>all in all, I am so happy right now, and I can't thank PJ enough. did not miss Bombadil one bit, didn't mind the expansion of Arwen's character one bit, i actually see why it was absolutely necessary - as we all know, she'll have to make an appearance in RotK, and if she just pops up, renounces her immortality, and marries Aragorn, the people who haven't read the book won't know what the hell is going on, not to mention how much the story would be hurt dramatically with a totally undeveloped character just popping up like that. can't wait for Two Towers. 11 more months till I see it? noooooooooo!