Peter Jacksons first instalment in this series reminds me of Star Wars - A New Hope. Grand, astonishing, and a masterpiece. Perfectly cast (who would have thought Sean Connery was offered the Gandalf role first!)..and sets the tone and feel for the series in a way that is original and magical..like the books. The only minor floor is that with age some of the pacing suffers but the overall result is still fantastic.
