Ok now, to get off with a bang, TTT is evern better than its predecessor. Unbelievable, but true. Immediately during break we told eachother so, and let me explain you why.
First things first: it�s very good Peter Jackson isn�t wasting time by explaining things that happend in FOTR. The movie starts like a rollercoaster ride and basically never slows down. Even the (beautiful) calmer moments are so intriguing and impressive they leave as much impact behind as the great battle scenes.
Again, all actors act at their very best, the old and the new, and a compliment to the fab Miranda Otto especially, who is as perfect as Eowyn (sorry for not bothering with the accent aigu here: but yes I know) as Liv Tyler is as Arwen.. The ones that stand out, however, are for my part Elijah Wood, Sean Astin and Andy Serkis who acted for the computer generated Gollum(Oscar! Please! Oscar over here!!). The fight they have with themselves under the influence of the Ring is harder, more perilous and sickening than the battle for Helm�s Deep. And believe you me, that is one battle!
Where in FOTR Merry and Pippin were the comedians, the things they now encounter are so horrible, even Pip gets a go at being serious. It works out well, though, and their adventures in Fangorn forest are just as interesting as their adventures with fireworks and carrots.
Gimli�s the one fun geezer now (sorry again), and he�s great at it, as well! Also Legolas has come down from his aloft space a bit, and having a more humane feel, he even cracks a smile while growing up amongst people thousands of years younger than he. The developing friendship between the Elf and the Dwarf is wondefully brought alive by the actors, Orlando Bloom and John Rhys-Davies.
I don�t think we need to speak about Aragorn extensively: he�s still great, and it�s fantastic they show he can be hurt as well. Same time, he�s starting to act like a king(about time, too!)
Anyway, there�s so much more! Why don�t you go see for yourself, like, once or twice???