Pacing is intense throughout, well-balanced between the divided groups of characters. It could easily have been jerky, but the transitions were smooth.

Of course, much is not identical to the book, Helm's Deep (if memory serves correctly--haven't read it in a couple years) and the ending included. But at least as visually stunning as the first one.

The borders of Mordor seemed more sunny than i remember reading about, but no biggy.

And of all things, Gollum steals the show. This is not open for debate.

I love Tolkien's books, but all the first movie's stage-setting was more than i liked in one sitting(though it was clearly part of a phenomenal total work, with beautiful scenery and a fine representation of the text, and i did see it three times in the theater for those reasons). This one outdoes it. Rock on!

Mi *glad to have gotten to see the midnight premiere again, even if i had to pay for it this time (last year was a Christmas gift), but going to bed at 4 a.m. is not good* ke