Early buzz and critical reviews have been very strong

Paul Dergarabedian, Exhibitor Relations

In New Zealand, where the film was made, 20,000 people joined a street party for the premi�re in Wellington.

In London, film fans gave their approval to Jackson's filmed version.

John, from London, said: "The movie was great and I really want to see to the other two as soon as possible.

"The best bit for me was the swordfighting underground with the dwarfs."

A young couple who had booked their tickets more than a month ago had made a two-hour journey to come and see the movie. But both thought their efforts had been worth it.

"I've read the book loads of times and the film lived up to my all my expectations, even though I was sceptical before seeeing it," said one.

Hobbits, Tolkien says, are related to humans

"In fact, I don't know how they managed to make the film so good. My favourite character was Sam. Overall, it was wicked."

Sir Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Liv Tyler and Elijah Wood are among the stars of the film version of JRR Tolkien's epic novel in three parts.

The film has been adapted - also in three parts - by New Zealand director Peter Jackson, and made at a reported cost of �207m.

The other two films have already been made and are scheduled for release over the coming two Christmases.

Like The Fellowship of the Ring, they bear the titles of Tolkien's books - The Two Towers and The Return of the King.

Buzz

US box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian is confident of a strong start for the movie.

"The core audience for this film reads, and they are probably following the reviews very closely.

"The good news is that the early buzz and critical reviews have been very strong, so that's a good sign for the weekend," he said.

"It will certainly be one of the biggest advance ticket sales of the season, probably second to Harry Potter," said Russ Leatherman, the founder and spokesman of US telephone service Moviefone.

Director Jackson was given a rapturous reception by fans at the New Zealand premi�re.

Reshoot

For the film's opening week the New Zealand capital has renamed itself Middle-earth, after Tolkien's fictional land.

Earlier this year, some of the actors had to return to New Zealand to reshoot the film's opening sequence.

Jackson: Spent 15 months directing the three films

All the dialogue for Fellowship had to be re-recorded, because the studio in which it was recorded was found to have been insufficiently soundproofed.

The film at one time had a lengthy prologue - but it now opens in the same way as the book, with the joint birthday party of hobbits Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, who are 111 and 33 years old respectively.

Imagination

Tolkien's epic tale tells of Frodo's quest to destroy an evil ring.

He is aided on his mission by elves, humans, wizards and other creatures, and hindered by goblins - generally known as orcs - dark sorcerors and a host of terrifying beasts that sprang from Tolkien's fertile imagination.

Tolkien's The Hobbit, published in 1937, was a prequel to The Lord of the Rings - though nobody but Tolkien himself knew so at the time.