Excellent flick. Shelob, however, was not quite as realistic as Aragog in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets". Aragog was VERY realistic looking. Even as an arachnaphobe, Shelob didn't quite get to me as much as I expected.

I'm looking forward to next year's release of the extended version DVD, so I can see the scenes they cut. Peter Jackson did not even film any of the "Cleansing of the Shire" scenes, which were the final chapters of the book (before what ends up as the final scenes of the movie). I've heard that he did film the scenes where Aragorn works as a healer in Minas Tirith, which in the books is one of the "tests" he passes to prove his claim to the crown. Those scenes were cut from the theatrical release. Also cut were the scenes revealing the final fate of Saruman (which I hear irritated Christopher Lee).

Once again, absolutely incredible costuming and sets. My son left the theater severely coveting some of the weapons they used, while my wife and daughter fell in love with the gowns and headpieces worn by the Elven women, especially.

Myself, of course, started wondering how hard it would be to carve a great facsimile of the staff carried by Gandalf the White.