Not being a big fan of fantasy or Tolkien, it is not an understatement to say I was a little underwhelmed by the first in the trilogy (if you don’t believe me, read my review). So I was a little worried at how the second film would turn out. Especially when my friend, Phillipa Boyens (who went on to win an Academy Award for the third film, but that’s another story), asked me to be her date to the premiere in Wellington. Gulp. What if I didn’t like this one? I then discovered, after all the red carpet hoopla, that I would be sitting next to Richard Taylor and Peter Jackson would be sitting two seats along next to the producer. Double gulp. I was worried as I get very physical and vocal when I don’t enjoy a film. Well, thank god the film totally rocked. Not only because they were FINALLY running and not walking to save the world. And not only because Gollum is easily the best CGI character ever committed to film (I kept hitting Richard Taylor’s leg when the effects were especially good, so after 20 minutes he really hated me). Mainly the whole film has a sense of peril and doom that was totally missing from the first film, and with the incredible battle of Helm’s Deep at the end, you had a huge climax that would seem hard to beat (but the third film easily did). The performances also are uniformly good, especially the deepening of the Frodo and Sam storyline (and isn’t Sean Astin a little whiner: “I thought Peter was my friend, boo hooo”), Ian McKellen just rocks as Gandalf and all the new characters fit in very well. Sometimes, New Zealand actors can seem second rate against famous stars, but Karl Urban, John Leigh, Robyn Malcolm, Bruce Hopkins and all the rest do a really good job and made me very proud, especially as I know most of them.

Overall, one of the best films I saw that year, and you have no idea what a relief it was. The after party was also great, and the things I saw and heard, but that is another story, and not for your ears little hobbit.