[HCIsland]

First post here about the film, though I have seen it twice now.<P>I wonder if others found this, but I had the same experience with Towers that, despite my best efforts, I spend the whole movie anticipating how they will handle and upcoming sequence that I don't end up just letting the film do it's magic. I had the opportunity to see it again the next night by volunteering as a chaperone for a birthday party my two sons were invited to. Man, that worked well. <P>Both times I left the film shell-shocked and I completely agree with others that I have never been to a 3 hour and 20 minute film that felt rushed. It was incredible. I know there are aspects that were removed that we all would have rather seen in the film - Saruman, Denethor and the palantir, Gandalf and the Witch-king, Faramir and Eowyn - but I just can't imagine how more could be stuffed into this movie without it being completely overburdened.<P>I expected scenes like Frodo and Sam on the side of Mount Doom and Grey Havens, but the shot that got tears rolling down my checks was when everyone bowed before the hobbits. Damn you PJ, you caught me of guard with that one. <P>It's been a while since I've been here last - I ducked out when the spoilers started coming in a little too fast and furious for me. It's good to be back.<P>H.C.