I just spent the entire day watching all three Lord of the Rings movies, the first two extended editions on DVD, and the third in theater (approx. 12 straight hours). And after some reflection I've come up with a simple 3-word sentence that most aptly describes them.

Best. Series. Ever.

Better than Matrix, better than your beloved Star Wars, and yes even better than Godfather. Return of the King is the best of the three, easy, and Two Towers was by favorite movie of the last 5 years. Peter Jackson's interpretation of Tolkien's vision is better than anyone could have possibly expected. If ROTK doesn't win the best picture Oscar, it'd be borderline blasphemy. Jackson should win too, he managed to convert what is most likely the most read, complicated, story ever written into a theatrical masterpiece nearly universally loved. Basically, what I'm just trying to say is, "Damn, that thing was good"