I went to the 12:01 AM opening day screening. Didn't get home until 4:30 AM. No, I'm not that big an LOTR freak - daughter's visiting and it was her idea.

It was (go to an online thesaurus, find as many synonyms for "stupendous" as possible, and insert here->)_______________.

The visuals are incredible. The orcs are uglier than ever. The Nazgul are much more menacing than in Two Towers. Minas Tirith is so stunningly realistic that you'd swear they actually built the place. The dead are cool too.   

The pacing is superb. Frodo and Sam's journey through Mordor to Mt. Doom is not tedious as it is in the book. The post-ring-destruction denouement is also gratefully shortened.

Minor complaints: Saruman's fate is left in limbo. Faramir & Eowyn's romance is only hinted at.

Bruce