Well, I saw it...... and loved it. Were a few flaws, but overall, I'll be seing it about 6 more times I think 
First the bad :
-Sound was washed out in a few spots, voices mufled, and background sounds missing.
-IMAX version seemed washed out visually as well. I noticed several areas of "dust" and other visual artifacts. Also, many many of the scenes seemed less intense/bright than others. Like faded photographs.
-Cinematic scenes seemed jerky. Transitions wern't smooth.
I've read other reviews, and these seem to be a flaw in the IMAX version of the film. Its a pity, as you would think the larger screen size would allow for a more paneramic feeling.
Now the Good:
-Casting : Was perfect, IMHO.
Frodo was Frodo. You could seen the feeling behind everything. Elijah Wood did a fantastic job. I could feel the inner termoil watching him. I can't describe it well enough. He did Good.
John Rhys-Davies as a Dwarf? All I can say is WOW! If you didn't tell me it was him, I wouldn't have known. He was a Dwarf. Perfectlly!
Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn: Some say in the books he was already waiting for his time. I think the movie actully added some depth to him. He's fighting his destiny, afraid he will make the same mistakes as his ancestor, all the time knowing he must lead. You could see inside his mind as he finds the strenght to become the great king he must be. Viggo fits great! As Bunny said, he's a much better fit then either of the animated versions.
Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Christopher Lee as Saruman : PERFECT! thats all I can say. The interaction of these 2 first as friends, then the fight scene was what I imagined a Wizards fight should be. The animated versions didn't really showcase the true powers of the Wizards, and these 2 just fit so well, its scary.
Ian Holm as Bilbo - PERFECT! I really hope when they do the Hobbit, they get him back. He -IS- Bilbo. The anguish on his face when he realizes when he has condemed his Nephew to speaks volumes.
Pippin and Merry - Never really could figureout the gender in the books or the animated. Much more depth to these 2 than I thought, and Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan work so well together. You think they are simple buffoons, yet they also have a sense of nobility, and both actors brought that out perfectly.
Sean Astin as Sam : Took a little time finding the feel, but did great. The emotion he brought out at the end of the movie was very moving. He and Elijah gelled quite nicely, and I have a good feeling for the next 2 movies.
Sean Bean as Boromir - The Judas figure of the 1st part, he finds redemption at the end. The fight scene says it all....the inner fire, the desire to right the wrong, the intestinal fortitude, he pulled it off perfectly. Its hard not to be moved by his death.
Orlando Bloom as Legolas - He -was- an elf. That says it all. Noble and wise. He's got the look, and damn, I wish I was an Elf. Again, another Perfect pick.
The rest of the cast also pulled off their parts well. This films a definate when its out on video.
See it, thats all I can say. Keep in mind, its a 3 hr film, and some scenes were compressed or omited for the sake of not being an 8 hr film. Some minor changes for the sake of streamlining were done, but nothing IMO major. The visuals are breathtaking, giving you a true sence of the scale of the journey. Simply put -Its very good.
First the bad :
-Sound was washed out in a few spots, voices mufled, and background sounds missing.
-IMAX version seemed washed out visually as well. I noticed several areas of "dust" and other visual artifacts. Also, many many of the scenes seemed less intense/bright than others. Like faded photographs.
-Cinematic scenes seemed jerky. Transitions wern't smooth.
I've read other reviews, and these seem to be a flaw in the IMAX version of the film. Its a pity, as you would think the larger screen size would allow for a more paneramic feeling.
Now the Good:
-Casting : Was perfect, IMHO.
Frodo was Frodo. You could seen the feeling behind everything. Elijah Wood did a fantastic job. I could feel the inner termoil watching him. I can't describe it well enough. He did Good.
John Rhys-Davies as a Dwarf? All I can say is WOW! If you didn't tell me it was him, I wouldn't have known. He was a Dwarf. Perfectlly!
Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn: Some say in the books he was already waiting for his time. I think the movie actully added some depth to him. He's fighting his destiny, afraid he will make the same mistakes as his ancestor, all the time knowing he must lead. You could see inside his mind as he finds the strenght to become the great king he must be. Viggo fits great! As Bunny said, he's a much better fit then either of the animated versions.
Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Christopher Lee as Saruman : PERFECT! thats all I can say. The interaction of these 2 first as friends, then the fight scene was what I imagined a Wizards fight should be. The animated versions didn't really showcase the true powers of the Wizards, and these 2 just fit so well, its scary.
Ian Holm as Bilbo - PERFECT! I really hope when they do the Hobbit, they get him back. He -IS- Bilbo. The anguish on his face when he realizes when he has condemed his Nephew to speaks volumes.
Pippin and Merry - Never really could figureout the gender in the books or the animated. Much more depth to these 2 than I thought, and Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan work so well together. You think they are simple buffoons, yet they also have a sense of nobility, and both actors brought that out perfectly.
Sean Astin as Sam : Took a little time finding the feel, but did great. The emotion he brought out at the end of the movie was very moving. He and Elijah gelled quite nicely, and I have a good feeling for the next 2 movies.
Sean Bean as Boromir - The Judas figure of the 1st part, he finds redemption at the end. The fight scene says it all....the inner fire, the desire to right the wrong, the intestinal fortitude, he pulled it off perfectly. Its hard not to be moved by his death.
Orlando Bloom as Legolas - He -was- an elf. That says it all. Noble and wise. He's got the look, and damn, I wish I was an Elf. Again, another Perfect pick.
The rest of the cast also pulled off their parts well. This films a definate when its out on video.
See it, thats all I can say. Keep in mind, its a 3 hr film, and some scenes were compressed or omited for the sake of not being an 8 hr film. Some minor changes for the sake of streamlining were done, but nothing IMO major. The visuals are breathtaking, giving you a true sence of the scale of the journey. Simply put -Its very good.
