Rotk: the ultimate film experience - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

Never before have I thouroughly enjoyed my theater going experience. From the very first note of the score in the dark theater, I was drawn in to the film that I had waited so long for. It does not over-shadow the first two films by any means--but it does tower among them. Human words can not express the beauty and awe with which this film captures every observer. I must say that I did not have dry eyes after about the first five minutes into the film. This was not forced, the utter emotion that this film puts forth calls for complete surrender. The music is executed with sheer artistry and the themes established in the first two films are beautifuly present and expanded to include the final chapter of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The filming was so beautifuly done--every artistically composed shot is like a work of a painter. The acting is at it best, better than the first two films. The characters have grown so much as actors and as their characters that they portraid. The closing credits are beautifuly done with pictures as if drawn by Frodo on his amazing journey...with an underscore of the amazing "Into the West", the newest of the three theme songs from the films. If you have not cried uncontrolably by this point, this song will push you to that limit. This film captures your soul, heart, and mind and leaves you with only the best of aftertastes...only wishing for so much more. I could have sat in the theater for several more hours just to watch it a second time in the same day. Unlike Star Wars and The Matrix, this story (already so much more of a story by content and quality alone) fulfills every dream, wish, fantasy, and imagination of what this story could be. I can't wait to see it again, but nothing will be like the utter amazement that I experienced watching it for the first time. If any of these films deserves Best Picture, it is definately this one. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is, on every account, the best film of this year--and in my mind, the best film ever made and the best story ever told.

The final fim sucked - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

I can't believe the ending! The whole point to the entire story is how it changed the Hobbits. Ane they leave out the final scene where the hobbits come back to the Shire and have to fight their way in. The entire trilogy is a waste. It was supposed to show how war comes with a price. That nobody is excluded from its effects. And how the hobbits have to return to a Shire that is riddled with corruption and oppression. THEY totally leave it out. What the Hell was Peter Jackson thinking?! I loved the movie until the end. How terribly sad. They have totally missed the point to the entire story. In the words of Johnny Rotten "ever get the feeling you've been cheated?" Yes,..........F!

Waaaayy too short - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

This movie is cinema paradise and watching it back to back with FOTR:EE and TTT:EE is the only way to go. The only complaint is that about an hour and a half more was needed to tell this story properly. Too bad New Line got scared of the 4.5 hour cut that PJ had of this and made him slice all to heck. Nonetheless, this was the most awesome film of the last 15-20 years if not the greatest since moving pictures were invented.

Spectacular, entertaining, actionful! - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

This movie has it all, entertaining,a real good feel good movie for the holidays.A Love of brotherhood and a dash of humor.The only thing I did not like about the movie is now it is over. leaves u wanting more episodes. Ties everything up nice. No loose ends...Great acting and powerfull story line!

Best of trilogy and why it's better than some say - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

Okay, noting already what it seems the huge majority of people here writing and reading these reviews already know, that this is probably the best movie of The Lord of the Rings trilogy and that the trilogy itself is obvious on of the top ten best films ever made, if not the best in my opinion, we can address a couple other issues, sorry long sentence. Some of the peoples complaints about this movie are poorly thought through. For instance, the scouring of the shire is missing in The Return of the King. I guess that sucks, it's a great way to wrap up the books. But for the movie, it's not really necessary, it's not necessary for plot or story resolution, and in fact it would have really been a jolt to the smooth flow of the movie to have a new conflict brought upon the scene so late in the film. Rethink this grievance people, it's a great way to close out the book, but probably not so suited for a cinematic presentation. People have issues with the number of endings, perhaps the last monologue was unnecessary, but it wasn't out of place, that was probably the way Tolkien would have liked it ended, and it suited the tale wonderfully. We open the trilogy being shown the simple life and ways of the hobbits and consistently throughout the movie it is repeated that this is of huge worth, that power and fame and fortune are not the most important things in life, but rather "peace, and good tilled earth," and quiet lifestyles, let it end this way as well, with a final word on the primary theme of the movie, of simple goodness that's worth fighting for. And realistically, can you blame Peter Jackson for holding on like that? It's the work of a lifetime, his masterpiece, almost certainly not to be exceeded, even by him, it deserves to be well rounded out and given a full conclusion, not a rushed farewell after flashy battles, go watch a Star Wars or Matrix movie if you want that, and when your done you'll be reminded why The Lord of the Rings is so much better, because it takes time and care in it's sculpting as a film. Finally, for those who have complaints about missing pieces, like the houses of healing, Eowyn/Faramir, the fealty swearing of Meriadoc and other things among those, be patient my friends, for we know more is yet to come and I am certain a great treasure of film awaits to fill in more gaps in plot, story and action, just as each of the previous two extended DVD versions have added material precisely were additionally screen time was needed to fully tell the tale in all it's Tolkienesque glory. Long live The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Lords of the West!

Wow! - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

I just got out of an all day event -- we watched all three films at the same theater. Fourteen hours later, and I can say that it feels complete. ROTK was one of the best movies I have ever seen, period. If you are a diehard fan of the books, you'll probably enjoy it more because they hit alot of the high notes from the text. The battles scenes are like nothing you've ever seen before, the performances are great (Oscar nod for Sam hopefully...at least), and the direction, editing, etc. was first rate. He's to hoping that Peter Jackson and his film gets recognized come Oscar time.

Should garner an oscar for best picture - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

Seldom does a film come along that generates such Enthusiasm and Passion. The Trilogy is Epic and Return Of The King, all other movies considered including the reviews for the upcoming Cold Mountain, is the Best Movie hands down in 2003. The Rings Trilogy is the culmination of history in film making and Return of The King is the best of the three. It Deserves Nothing Less than Oscar for 'Best Picture'. This third segment of one long master piece tale offers a grand continuance into the fantasy that bore all fantasies. This final film of the trilogy magnifies what we already tasted in the previous two films. Unbelievable detail and respect for the choreography, the art that breathes breadth of quality. Phenomenal acting that breathes depth of character to such a complex tale. And cgi effects as never experienced that blend seamlessly to create a screened fantasy world that Tolkien would have never believed possible. Please Newline give us a wonderful gift and iron out the legality of allowing Peter Jackson to bring us the Hobbit. A part of us sighed to the last words spoken by Frodo. We did not want it to end. But I must say, "brilliant ending". The Grandest of Tales was over and Life Went On.

Why it is the best movie of 2003 - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

What an achievement for Peter Jackson, "The Return of the King" easily meets expectations and finishes one of the greatest works of cinema of all time. The movie is outstanding in every respect, the battle scenes dwarf those in "The Two Towers" and the emotional individual moments surpass those in "The Fellowship of the Ring". This is definitely the best of the three and an amazing movie. I was so excited as I sat in the theater waiting to view the conclusion of this epic. The 3 hours and 20 minutes flew by, even though there were several false endings that made me prepare to leave my seat. I can't remember the last time I had so much fun viewing a film. Even the credits were interesting! Now, let me tell you what you already know. Everyone in the film shows complete dedication and does a wonderful job. I especially enjoyed Aragorn's transformation from the independent Stryder to the inspiring leader of all Middle Earth. The bond between Frodo and Sam grows ever stronger...and more heartbreaking. The cinematography and score is exactly what you have come to expect from the previous two films. In other words, pure beauty and magnificance. The battle scenes seem ten times as large as Helms Deep but never lose their individual focus. It was truly an honor to behold such a beautiful ending to this deeply loved and revered epic. As to awards, I would not be at all surprised if Peter Jackson leaves with two little gold statues for picture and director, he certainly earned them. This is difficult for me to say because I adored "Mystic River" and several months ago thought that no other picture would rise to that status before the year was over...I think I was wrong.

A fantastic ending to an incredible fantasy epic - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

If you didn't like the first, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, or the second, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, then stop right now. You won't like this film, either. If you loved this film and not the others, I fail to understand your attraction. To me, this is the last amazing 3 hours to the beginning six hours of one very long movie. This time it's not just the visuals, folks. There's acting! Fine performances by all, including Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, and all other returning characters. Now, if you've read the books, you would still probably be surprised at the climax of this film, even if you do know what will happen. Peter Jackson has such an incredible view and imagination. Brilliant and breathtaking, indeed! If you watched The Two Towers, you'll know what's going on. I don't want to give anything away, especially since those who are reading this may not have had the chance to see the second (Tip: See it). I would not skip the second and go straight for the third, it ruins the film for me. So, did The Matrix Revolutions and Scary Movie 3 let you down? Well, this film won't. It surpasses its predecessors in terms of acting, storyline, and visuals. The first two installments of the trilogy have been dismissed at the Academy Awards, and hopefully this one will and should end the neglect toward fantasy movies.

D - for dumb humor - Wedding Crashers Reviews

I am simply let down everytime I get talked into going to an american made comedy. Who's rating these comedy movies... post pubescent boys and girls? I guess if you think bare breasted women, stupid cliches' and just plain dumb writing is funny... more power to you. I'll stick to the foreign comedies, until Hollywood can produce something more funny than this type of garbage.

D - for dumb humor - Wedding Crashers Reviews

I am simply let down everytime I get talked into going to an american made comedy. Who's rating these comedy movies... post pubescent boys and girls? I guess if you think bare breasted women, stupid cliches' and just plain dumb writing is funny... more power to you. I'll stick to the foreign comedies, until Hollywood can produce something more funny than this type of garbage.

D - for dumb humor - Wedding Crashers Reviews

I am simply let down everytime I get talked into going to an american made comedy. Who's rating these comedy movies... post pubescent boys and girls? I guess if you think bare breasted women, stupid cliches' and just plain dumb writing is funny... more power to you. I'll stick to the foreign comedies, until Hollywood can produce something more funny than this type of garbage.

Only for real tolkein fans - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

All those that have never had the time or desire to read the books should just continue on the same path that you have been on. You will not understand the spirit of the post, or know about scenes which were deleted that should not have been. Basically, you are just moviegowers who are enthralled by explosions and CGI I cant believe that Jackson removed certain aspects and jerked around with scenes that strayed away completly from the book. WHile some things he did were excellent, things that he changed/ommited were reprehensible. First off, how can you have Frodo struggle with Gollum after he gets the ring. The way gollum gets the ring is the way frodo is finally able to get rid of the evil hold it has on him, and gollum falling off emphasises his role and ultimate exhonoration. Also, How can you delete the scene when Grond breaks through the gate, and the Witch King comes through as the FIRST ENEMY to enter GONDOR. And unless you pay close attention you will miss what Gandalf says about no living man can kill the witch king. You hear Eowyn say it when she kills him.. BUt what happened to her lines, those were very powerful, "Begone foul dwimmerlake, etc. and the response.by the witch king....Adding to that, how can you have Merry stab him, and you see the glow/spark of his westernese sword going in, and him grabbing his arm afterwards from injury, be able to ride to the black gates. Overall filler scenes could have been reduced and more important things could have been added. Why didn't we see Theoden hail Eomer as the new king of the Mark, instead we get Flashbacks to Arwen on her bed. And I think another disgusting thing is how Gandalf was portrayed as the person who makes Aragorn King, and how he involves himself where he is not supposed. IT seemed to me, that Jacksons final portrayal makes him look like the person behind the throne. Are we supposed to believe that the people just accepted ARagorn as king, with no proof, just his "dunedain ring". No healing, (the hands of the king are the hands of a healer, what about his people giving him the name ellesar. or elf stone..lets not go into how Elrond names the sword, and the tension between the two of them. IF elrond had Estel in hiding for so many years, why does he feel this way. And what a crock, Arwen dying because she gave up her eldar longevity. She was supposed to give it up, and in turn gives her space on the ship to Frodo.

Love you baby! fantastic movie! - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

What a disturbing but enlightening beginning to this wonderful movie, and the last 15 minutes or so of it drained my eyes almost completely dry. "Return of the King" is a power-packed movie filled with inspiring emotion, great storytelling, ingenious direction, incredible visuals and events, excellent dialogue, action, and music, and wonderfully-portrayed, passionate characters! Every major and minor character (good and bad) is interesting and a joy to watch. We love Aragorn, Legolas, Gandalf, Eowyn, Theoden, Faramir...all of them, and the myriad of different types of orcs and other beings (good and bad) are a special and very surprising treat. Frodo and Sam are especially interesting to watch in action, and the ethereal & physical chemistry between them is beautiful & spiritual. Eowyn! You go girl! Gandalf and Pippin were so good together... And Denethor! Whoa, that last scene with him...! Peter Jackson! We love you, and everybody else who enjoys the "The Lord of the Rings". It's kind of sad that it's all over! Next December won't be the same...

Weakest of the 3 - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

The stunning beginning and flawless effects will not restrain me from stating that it's the weakest of the 3. I felt an odd segmentation within the movie, as it did not flow smoothly like the previous 2. The acting wasn't quite up to par. Frodo's frequent encounter with conflict exposed his inability to act. The threat he faced were colossal, yet, he was unable to convey true fear. Also, Aragorn's feeble speech in recruiting the undead lacked conviction and strenth. The special effects were beautiful. Gollum, Toad, Mammoths, the fighting scenes were executed with complete authenticity, where I was never pulled back to reality, thinking that a particular scene appeared unreal. The sheer number of soldiers in the battle scenes were phenomenal and overwhelming. The sentimental drama that oozed all throughout the movie was a bit out of control. I thought for sure that hobbit were going to get fresh in some scenes. And if you're into patriotism, forget Black Hawk down, this is the movie for you. In numerous moments of complete desperation and brink of complete annhilation of aragorn's army, zillions of indestructable soldiers appears out of nowhere to obliterate everything that stands in their way. Lastly, you are about to witness the longest ending in movie history. Initially, I feared that the ending may not give me a sense of closure and end abruptly. You definitely won't have to worry about that. I'm assuming that there will be an extended version of this movie. I hope there aren't addition footages of the ending.

Fans of the book: beware! - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

Although the first two movies followed the book quite well, the third feels like as betrayal. Integral parts of the plot were left out. Many things that I loved in the book were never even mentioned in the movie. Instead of focusing on the journey of the four hobbits, like the book did, the movie focused on Arwen and Aragorn. In the book, Arwen is barely mentioned, but in the movie she is seen for over thirty minutes! In order to include her, my favorite scenes were cut! I never got to see Gandalf breaking the staff of Sarumon, or Faramir and Eowyn fall in love, or the scouring of the Shire. I never got to see Merry and Pippen become Sherriffs or Frodo become Mayor. We never saw the Sackville-Bagginses or Sharky or Wormtounge or any of the others. The movie glazed right over all of it. What was mentioned in passing in the book recieves full screen time but the essential parts of the story are forgotten completely. I guess a movie has to be a love story to get good reviews. The Lord of the Rings is an epic adventure, not a love story. It is a betrayal to true fans of the book to change it.

Tolkien was forgotten! - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

I absolutely loved the LOTR movies...until now. Someone please remind me, just exactly who created this whole Middle Earth thing and wrote an epic adventure intended to give Britain a mythological history of it's own...Tolkien did you say? Hmmm, funny; after what I saw tonight I'd swear some guy named "Dick" Jackson did. What a major let down! I was so hyped up getting ready to go see the movie. I was so nervous that in my little town the theater would sell out before I could get my opening day ticket. In the end, however, all those butterflies in my gut prior to the opening credits didn't make me want to throw up half as much as Jackson's interpretation! He left out almost all of the most crucial intricate events and details that made this a great epic which so many people can identify with. What happened to Aragorn fulfilling the prophecy that the King would return with healing hands? What happened to Eowyn getting over Aragorn and falling in love with Faramir? What happened to Sam putting on the Ring (for goodness sakes what happened to Sam putting on the Ring!)? Where were the other rangers? When the heck did Aragorn use the palantir to reveal himself and then match wills with Sauron? Where was the Hobbits' glorious return to the Shire and the clearing of the remaining Orcs? What happened to the SACKVILLE BAGGINS? As big a character as Sauruman was I can't believe they left his role in the Shire out in this one! Even in the end, where was the revealing of the identity of the Third Elven ring (Gandalf's ring)? I could go on and on, but it just makes me the madder. This movie was all Jackson, and had absolutely nothing to do with Tolkien. In the closing credits when it said based on the book..., I literally laughed as it panned by out of disgust. It wouldn't be so bad if Jackson hadn't started out saying we wanna keep these films as close to the book as possible. Tolkien was a genious and this is his work and we want to keep it that way, etc, etc, etc. But after seeing all the "Director's Privilage" implemented in this edition of the films, I really feel cheated from the value of the story. If you just care about the entertainment value and not the real story, then you will be more than pleased. However, if you are a true fan, you can't help but be heart broken.

This is how you end a trilogy(take a hint matrix) - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

This is the most satisfying cinematic experience of my life The direction was awesome the acting a little over the top sometimes but on the whole awesome The battle at minas tirith was awe inspiring kept as true to the book as a 3 hour movie would allow it to be, though i would have liked to see the cleaning of the shire. i have mixed emotions since i have nothing to look forward to now

A masterpiece, even with the changes from the book - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

If you were to ask me, I would probably say I am more of a Tolkien 'purist' than an obsessive movie fan, but that's only if I couldn't be both, which I definitly am. And I think that's the best combination, because I can love the Lord of the Rings movies, but still see why the books outshine them. Return of the King was nothing short of awesome. And with it being the best ((in my opinion)) book in the trilogy, how could it not be? Even with some changes from the book, there are very few flaws I am able to find with this magnificent closing of an epic movie trilogy. Of course I was disappointed when Christopher Lee did not appear in the movie, as that man is amazing, and has inspired me to read the trilogy every year, but I know that he'll be there in the Extended Edition, which of course I'm getting. The other major change was the fact that the hobbits never really went back to save the Shire. They just went back... and all was good. I had heard about this before the movie was release, and was somewhat worried, but I found that it really didn't bother me much at all, I was too intertwined with what was happening to give it much a care. There were a few other minor changes, both additions and subtractions, but I feel they were all made to benefit the movie, whether it be to save time ((after all, 3 hours and 20 minutes is quite a long time, especially at the midnight show)), or to add a bit of artistic detail, such as the lighting of the beacons all throughout the land from Gondor to Rohan, a sequence of shots that was spectacular. I am truly amazed by how amazing of a job Peter Jackson and all the hundreds of people who worked to create these masterpieces did. They have brought the best fantasy book in the world to life on the big screen, and while it will never replace the feeling of opening to the first page of 'The Fellowship of the Ring' and entering Tolkien's fantastic land of Middle-earth, it comes pretty damn close.

Poor, poor, pruists.. - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

I look upon the "purists" that disliked the films with the pity that Bilbo has for Gollum. You poor, poor creatures. I understand that when you were growing up you felt that the novels where yours, your own, your preciousss. No one else understood them like you did. Yes they all picked on you and drove you from the village (bare with the metaphor a little bit longer) but you always had your preciousss. Then along comes this bare footed director and he STEALS your precious, not to destroy but to share with the world. You resent him for this. You want your precious for yourself. Then the director makes CHANGES to the novels, the thief. He makes the story one of the most popular and successful story to EVER come to film and deep down you are amazed but... Now you find yourself in a position you have never been in before. People actually want to here what YOU have to say. They know you know the precious well and want your input. What do you do? You try to impress with your knowledge of what this thief did to your precious. You believe people will think you are so COOL because you are negative toward something that most enjoy. Guess what... You are not. You are a sad and bitter lot. Your negativity towards this incredible work of film has cost you dearly. It saddens my heart to think that your hate toward the thief is ruining your chance to enjoy this incredible adaptation. So sad. You say you cannot live with these changes but remember Aragorn started life as a wooden shoe wearing hobbit named Trotter and Treebeard was originally the evil force that delayed Gandalf from arriving at Bree.

"return of the king": review of book to film - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

"Return of the King" is a triumphant conclusion to a remarkable film series. It should silence all of the lazy critics who did not like the previous films because they were too long or too complicated or had too many characters--the third film is a masterful epic that makes the effort and attention required for the previous films well worth it. There are moments in "The Return of the King" that make your heart soar, scenes of astounding visual imagination that bring Tolkien to life better than I could ever have pictured in my own mind. Frodo, Sam, and Gollum atop Mount Doom, the fall of the Witch-King, and the battle outside the Black Gate deserve special mention. The third film also lives up to the standard of excellent opening scenes set by the first and second films. "Fellowship" gave us the exciting prologue, "Towers" gave us Glamdring against the Balrog, and now "The Return of the King" gives us the tale of Smeagol and Deagol. As thrilled as I was with the wonderful opening scene, a sad pall haunted my mind as I watched the rest of the film. The book is filled with so many wonderful scenes and supporting characters, yet I knew some of them would have to be sacrificed in the screen adaptation. Edits for length and coherence are essential in any film adaptation of a novel, and "Return of the King" already clocks in at nearly three-and-a-half hours. How much more possibly could have been squeezed in? Despite this realization, I found myself anticipating upcoming beloved parts of the book and dreading what would be cut. Now that I know what treasured book elements are gone, I think I will need to see the movie a second time before I can really enjoy it. The screenplay is remarkably faithful to the main thrust of Tolkien's novel. Adapting a book to film always requires story edits: some are minor changes for length/clarity, while others are major changes in plot and theme. What I enjoyed most about "Fellowship of the Ring" was that it had many minor length/clarity changes (sorry, Tom Bombadil) yet few major plot/theme changes. "The Tower Towers" had fewer little length/clarity changes but it did suffer from a couple serious (and quite debatable) plot/theme changes (notably the character of Faramir). "Return of the King" has no plot/theme changes from the book, only minor length/clarity changes. Most of these alterations are reasonable and quite predictable: did anyone expect to see Prince Imrahil, Beregond and his son Bergil, or Frodo and Sam's extended trek through Gorgoroth? There are a few surprising absences in the screenplay, though. I was surprised not to see the Mouth of Sauron--but perhaps cutting out the Mouth of Sauron is the logical conclusion of Jackson's interpretation of Mordor as representing "mindless violence" (and, thus, his screenplay has no need for the parleys and surrender terms that are so atmospheric in Tolkien's text). Also, since the filmmakers went to so much trouble in "The Two Towers" to establish Eowyn, Eomer, Theoden, and Faramir as major characters with emotional meaning, it is surprising how short shrift their personal storylines are given in the third film. Jackson worked hard to amplify the Eowyn-Aragorn love story in the second film, yet the "Houses of the Healing" resolution to it is missing. Eomer is little more than a battlefield walk-on, and Theoden is forgotten after Pelennor Field. I can only assume that some of these cuts will be restored in the Extended DVD version destined to join my collection next year, and I suspect this will please fans of the books immensely. What is most impressive about "Return of the King" is how beautifully it ties the film trilogy together. It proves Jackson's genius as a visionary director as well as his wisdom in shooting all three films at once. Had the "Ring" trilogy been shot and released at a slower pace, the subsequent films would have likely lost energy, focus, or passion (consider the declining fortunes of the "Star Wars" franchise as an example of how too much time between films can weaken the coherence of the whole). Peter Jackson included "The Lord of the Rings:" in each film title, and now it is abundantly clear that his movie trilogy can and should be considered as a singular whole--just like Tolkien himself viewed his trilogy as one single story. There is a consistency of beauty that runs through his three films, as well as a deep reverence for his source material that is often absent from big-screen treatments of books. Perhaps nothing better reflects this loving attention to detail than one "new" scene added to the story--Arwen's tender glimpse of the coming Fourth Age of Middle-earth. No, it is not a part of the "Return of the King" novel storyline, but it will bring a knowing smile to the face of even the most ardent book purist. Jackson's crew brough tremendous love to their work, and this passion infuses every scene and performance in the film. All of these actors, even if their roles have faded into the background at the end, show a passion for what they are doing. Of the film trilogy's many strong suits, casting deserves to be rated near the top. Ultimately, it is the director who should be credited with eliciting such passionate performances and creating such an evocative atmosphere. The previous films were both nominated for Academy Awards, and though they deserved the nominations there were arguably better stand-alone films that actually won. "Return of the King" deserves to be recognized not merely as a stand-alone film but as the capstone of the entire amazing trilogy.

Thank you. - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

In 1977, I was transported into a world of awe and wonder through the groundbreaking movie magic of George Lucas' Star Wars. Subsequently, I grew up with characters who meant something to me, and followed the story of hope, struggle, and the triumph of good over evil- throughout the trilogy. I never thought a movie could-or would- be better at telling this classic tale, and in my 33 years, I've yet to see anything that came close to "affecting" me as a movie goer. Two things you should know up front: I've never read Tolkein's books, and I have only recently seen Fellowship and Two Towers as Dvd rentals in late November of 2003. I merely dismissed all the hype over the movies as "trendy". I'm an idiot. After being severely let down by the Matrix trilogy- and the last 2 Star Wars movies- I finally feel some form of vindication. Return of the King is everything you could hope for in a movie and more! I've just returned from the theater, and I have been home for less than 30 minutes...and I can't wait to catch the matinee showing tomorrow! I really don't feel it's my place to go into the technical details over why I loved this movie- and the entire trilogy: I'm still only a "newbie" or an "outsider" to this story. Read the other reviews- most will echo the sentiment or spirit of mine. All I can add is my thanks to Peter Jackson for having the vision of telling a fantastic tale with absolutley the best visuals I've ever seen on film. This is what the experience of going to the movies SHOULD be. My only regret is that I never got to see the first two movies on the big screen to enjoy their majestic spleandor and magic. My sincerest "Thanks" to Peter Jackson- and the entire cast-for making a movie(s) that put these tired, old bones back into the body of a 7 yr old child for 3 fantastic hours of awe and wonder.

The biggest and the best - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

I have to admit, i 'm pretty tired. i just got home from the midnight show of "Return of the King". this movie is the biggest movie i have ever seen. "Last Samurai" and "Master& Commander" are good epics, but none compare to "King". The trilogy fits together perfectly. it has all been about tension and release. so far, it has all been tension (breaking of the Fellowship, Helm's deep, Gollum's obsession, Frodo's fall into madness) and then...i won't ruin it...but for those of you who have read the books, you know what i mean by release. the great thing about "Lord of the Rings" is the ambition. filmed all at once, years of pre-production and post-production, a vision so complete that i'm not sure any other movie will satisfy me for a while. this movie has beautiful photography, amazing visuals, extremely suspenseful events, and more. this movie has everything a movie goer can want: action( a lot of it, too), convincing drama (Gollum is insanely convincing), and all of the resolution that anybody would ever want! "Return of the King" is the longest of the trilogy at around 3 1/2 hours and every minute of it is pure movie magic. SEE THIS MOVIE!!! you can't afford not to.

Return of the king and frodo!!!!! - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

Story goes from where it last left off with Frodo trying to get the ring into Mt Doom and Gondor under attack. Visuals and special effects are wonderful. The best battle (at Pelennor Fields) seen since Saving Private Ryan. Lots of resolutions back to back. The same quality leaving the trilogy as was entering it. A awesome masterpiece. If you miss this one you better be stuck on a island.

Once in lifetime - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

A film arrives that shows you how to capture the imagination and the beauty of what cinema is about. Peter Jackson has released the greatest trilogy ever seen on the big screen, every other trilogy in history can just sit back in awe and watch. The film is without doubt the icing on the cake. The emotions and feelings throughout this film is just wonderful. If any person at anytime during this, doesn't feel like someone has lifted them up and whisked them off to Middle Earth - CHECK THEIR PULSE. The CGI is out of this world and makes every single use of CGI in any film ever, just worthless. The acting is pure brilliance on every level and the scenary is just making you want to visit New Zealand, to see how a country can be so pure and innocent with its surroundings. Jackson does not deserve an Oscar, he deserves a freaking Knighthood for this. George Lucas has had his time and it now shows. Star Wars is but a little event that happened in history, not worthy of any mention. This film is the greatest fantasy film ever and even surpasses its predecessors in quality. Peter Jackson, if you are ever visiting my town then I will buy you a drink for making this and come to think of it, most of the population of the world would. A film not to be missed at all and possibly the greatest in history. An all round triumph which makes any film that is soon to be released, not worthy. Peter Jackson, I owe you one. You have created greatness and this Christmas, the world will enjoy it as one.

Great review of what's missing and what's there... - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

for most of us who has been waiting for 2 years for this movie, this is what i think best to sum my experience of LOTR 3 - the return of the king. the first movie, fellowship of the ring opens up very beautifully and deep leaving us wanting to watch the second one really really bad. the second one, two towers by itself is a better movie than the first one, which is a total eye candy and unexpectadly blow all the audiences away with all the spec. effects of the helm's deep battle and the liveliness of Gollum, we all can see that frodo's journey is burdening and in the end, Gandalf said "the battle at helm's deep is over and the battle of the middle earth has just begin" with this quote, all the viewers are expecting ENORMOUSLY high on the third installment, which is also UNFAIRLY high for this movie. after all the stories, battles, orcses and amazing CGI on the second movie, WE ALL are going to think that PETER JACKSON have pushed the LIMITS on the second movie beyond our imagination, and on the third movie, we're all asking, what is HE going to offer, is it going to be better than LOTR 2? many said yes and that's why, expectation is running as high as the sky.. what lacked from RETURN of the KING is that JUDGING by the TITLE, we knew that this is going to be a happy ending, so it better worth our time to watch this compared to the highly successful two towers, many of us are expecting SUPER DUPER FINAL BATTLE with KICKIN storyline and a BLASTING conclusion. while this movie might meet the criteria for our expectation, it leaves some of us with puzzling question and a bit of dissapointment, like even thou i understood all of it, there is still something missing from it. - maybe it's the puzzling and ambiguity relationships between the characters (no, i'm not talking about SAM and FRODO-->they did a good job on their harduous relationship); but how about those of rohan and gondor? and the people of those two? where's the in depth exploration of aragorn, arwen, elrond, faramir, denethor, and all the 'depth' of their connections, relationships? - how about saruman? he is completely gone out of nowhere? just like that upon defeated by the ents on two towers? that is so unlike the book - the direction is so good but for the ending, it's where it starts to fall apart: the crying and hugging goes on and on and on and on....... there are better stuff in the book that PETER JACKSON can put in the movie besides useless infos in the end --> now that' not a great way to satisfy the audience isnt' it? i notices some audiences sighing and complaining about the seems like neverending ENDING... - how about altering the scene where Denethor tried to burn Faramir? that is so not the book and how about their relationship on how denethor hates faramir so much? it's so cloudy, puzzling and we can't see clues what's going on.. die hard tolkien fans can be frustrated with these alterations and missing so many important scenes - battle is great, but WHY didn't WE SWEAT LIKE THE SECOND movie? perhaps LOTR 2 gave us the sense of hopelessness while on the third one we all know that there is hope involved and help kept coming - Don't u all think that for such a great BATTLE involving about 10 times as many orcses compared to two towers is awfully short and not so detailed compared to the second one? True that tis' is a larger scale city and battle, but it's all happening so fast, BOOM, the war just started, unlike the second one when we gasped and waited that the orcses are marching towards helm's deep and the battle scene is beautifully crafted and arranged? seems missing on the third one.... - i still would say this movie is an A with stunning direction, beautiful digital CGI of MINAS TIRITH, the city of the kings. actings are as real as it could be; or how bout those elephants, gollum and the spider, it looked so real and nice; you can even see Gollum sweat on couple of scenes to show the degree of realism. the action, slashing, axing, piercing, jumping, running, falling is all still there and defintely an eye candy; but with all of it, this is still a great movie to watch after all this time that we've been waiting for... MY LAST POINT IS THAT by standalone movie, this is an A++++, but as the final trilogy and conclusion of the movie, it somehow left the audience with some questions, a tiny bit of dissapointment, and exhausting process of watching yet at the same time enjoying it... thank you for reading my exhausting review, but i do hope that you can judge my review fairly based on what i said and try to look it in a different perspective...

The real review - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

I have have skimmed past about 600 reviews and I was disappointed to see only one review that even attempted to explain the inadequacies from the movie as compared to the book. Most of the reviews were saying that if you haven't read the books then don't see the movie because you won't like it, well thats a load of crap. Anyone who has read the books well more than likely be very disappointed. Well heres a real review. As a movie, the Lord of the rings trilogy including the ROTK was awesome. Besides the violence which I don't mind since its all war, its very refreshing to see a movie without a ton of sex, profanity, and mindless junk. So as a movie it was superb. I have read the books and I while I liked a few scenes that were true to the book there were at least 4 major parts that were messed up along with many many smaller things. I would be here all night if I was to try and explain them all but I will try to remember as much as I can. First off, at the very beginning of the movie Gandalf was supposed to confront Saruman in his tower were he shows how Sarumans power is gone by breaking his staff. Pippin then gets the seeing orb because Wormtongue through it at Gandalf or Saruman(Apparently he didnt know what he hated more). This important scene was cut out completely, very dissappointing. I know how hard making a book into a movie can be so I don't whine over small inadequacies like a lot of people do but there are some things that you just don't leave out. The movie could have at least attempted to explain how they had to retake the shire because Saruman and a bunch of orcs were throughout the land. The ending, or endings were ridiculous with a bunch of sappy junk aside from the book that wasted a lot of time they could of used to put in some important things like the scene I mentioned at the begginning. They completely deleted one of the best scenes from the book when Aragorn, Gandalf and the armies are in front of the gates of Morder and the Mouth of Sauron comes out and confronts them. That would have been an incredible scene for the movie but I guess they didn't have time for that because they need 10 more minutes of Frodo and Sam staring at eachother. I know that two friends can become very close but that got pretty ridiculous. One of my biggest complaints with the all of the movies and mostly ROTK is how they have Gandalf do practically nothing. The book is full of Gandalf using his powers yet all he does in ROTK is fight with his sword/staff, talk to people, ride on an eagle, and he scares away the nazguls by the light on his staff. I am glad that they at least had him scaring the Nazguls off but thats basically all he did with his magic. The last thing I will get into(since this is a long review) is concerning Frodo and Sam. I knew that the movie would be different at there seen with Shelob, but I thought it was written badly. Frodo never ever would have told Sam to go home and then left him there, Gollum's lies about the food and lies to Frodo about Sam wanting the ring were completely made up. They all should have gone in together like they did in the book but I will give the movie credit for keeping the basic plot of that scene with Sam stabbing the spider and then Sam thinking Frodo was dead etc etc. The other thing with Sam and Frodo I did not like is that when they were getting close to destroying the ring Sam had a great opportunity to kill Gollum, he then has mercy on Golum and lets him live. Obviously had he not done that then they never would have completed their mission. In conclusion I never said how much I loved many of the fight scenes especially how awesome legolas was in killing the Oliphant thing and how Aragorn sprinted straight into the army that was great. overall I did like the movie and I can say that because lets be honest people, despite the inadequacies with the book, Tolkien didn't write it to be a movie, it was a masterpiece as a book its impossible to get the same thing in a movie because not everything can be explained. Ok Im done, God Bless.

If you see only one more movie in your lifetime... - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

...it's got to be this one. Three words describe the experience succinctly -- OH... MY... GOD!!! The only real knock one can have on the film is the lengthy ending -- or endingS, I should say. While I did find it interesting, it disrupted (ever so slightly) an otherwise perfect film. As always the acting was superb, and elicited tears at moments in the film. Probably the most powerful presence in any one scene (and perhaps the entire film) was Aowen, masterfully portrayed by Miranda Otto. Talk about putting the boot to the rear of evilness! Kudos also to Sean Astin -- he gets the Best Supporting role in this picture. Direction... There aren't enough superlatives to do justice. Peter Jackson is simply amazing. Enough said... Visuals... Again, what can one say? Breathtaking scenery, battle choreography, editing, CG effects. The most amazing film I've ever seen. More than once I caught myself slack-jawed as I watched. Bottom line: This one has to be considered VERY seriously for the Best Picture Oscar. It would be a crowning achievement for the crown jewel of the LOTR trilogy. Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Effects, Best Visual Editing. There weren't any singularly strong performances for an acting award, but neither were there any poor ones.

The perfect ending of a perfect trilogy! - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

Peter Jackson, you're a freakin' genius! Once again, you did not disappoint & delivered this fantastic movie! :-) I saw the movie at a midnight screening and i was completely blown away! The specials effects are better (Shelob is really scary, the big battles are impressive & the Nazgul are simply the coolest). The acting in the first 2 movies was already outstanding, but it was even better in ROTK. Especially Elijah Wood & Sean Austin. Very impressive! Gollum (Andy Serkis) is also once again brilliant, and the opening scene with Smeagol & Deagol is great! I'm really happy with how Peter Jackson dealt with the story, i had no idea how much he would change but i have to say i'm pretty happy with what he did. He didn't change too much about the crucial scenes, which is great. To me, there's only one flaw in this movie (well, in the trilogy) and that's the casting of Liv Tyler as Arwen. Luckily there's Mirando Otto to make me forget about Liv. She's the perfect Eowyn and she kicks some major a** in this movie ;-) I could go on forever about 'Return Of The King', but there's only one more thing i gotta say: Damn Academy, give Peter Jackson his oscar this time!!!

Take it for what it is, then go read the books. - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

How do you take a story of this magnitude, make it into a series of movies, and not dissapoint some people? You cannot, impossible. Be thankful that Peter Jackson took the initiative and the risk of making these movies in the first place. IF you had read the books, then you would realize that the entire story is to immense to possibly put onto film, especially the limit to which people are willing to sit in a movie theatre. Had Mr. Jackson done so, you would have 3-10 hour movies that quite possibly would bore fans out of the theatre, minus the hardcore. What Mr.Jackson has provided for us is thus, A beautifully made trilogy that is fluid in respects to its cinematic limitations. A rendition of a masterfully written story that many of us fans believed would never come to fruition. Personally I loved the movies, they were beautiful and sound. They may not have held up to my own imagination after reading the books so long ago, but movies seldom do, that is why books are most often the better, and comparing a movie to my own imagination is unfair at best.

Great movie for those who haven't read the books - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

Things that needed to be in this movie: 1 The crowning of Eomer as king of Rohan 2 Halabrid and the rest of the Dunedain that brave the paths of the dead with Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli 3 Merry staying behind in the houses of the healing with Eowyn and Faramir 4 Merry and Pippin being taller at the end from drinking Ent draughts 5 The scouring of the Shire where the hobbits go back to find the Shire almost in ruins and overtaken by Sauraman, and show what badass hobbits they've become 6 Sam putting on the ring to hide from orcs after taking it off of frodo

Dumbfounded - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

Well, I just 'returned' from seeing this movie and I have to admit that I am at a loss as to what to do next. Of course, I called my brother and my roommate right away to share my news. Once the obligatory gloating phonecalls were finished however, I found myself dumbfounded. Dazed and confused as it were. In plain English, I must say that the reason I cannot decide what to do next is because I am still in shock. Not the kind of shock that would result from an ill-placed bullet to the groin from your nemesis. Nor the type of shock resulting from seeing your wife run off with the local preacher while whistling your wedding song. Nay, my friends, the shock I am in is the kind that can only come from having just witnessed the greatest movie event of all time. Perhaps I could better describe this movie by saying that my DVD collection just barely escaped a toss from my second-story window. Now, my collection is not some old, jaded, dust-gathering stack of polymer. Instead, I have the best of the best. They are well-worn and well-watched movies. I am throwing them out. All of them. They are not worthy of any more discussion. They are not worthy of another glimpse. They are but garbage when compared with what I can only describe as the Middle-Earth juggernaut of accomplishment and excellence. Future endeavors will be ever-reminded of what movies can be: that is, what movies should be. Please, friends. Stop reading my review. Stop wasting your time. Stop stop stop. Just drive to the theater now and join the phenomenon that is about to engulf your community and swell you with a feeling that everyone but you has just seen the movie that will change the way we look at movie-making forever. Well friends, I am off. I have finally decided what to do next. Leave my woman. Quit my job. Abondon my apartment and begin living in the theater so I don't waste another moment of my life on this Middle-Earth.

Fantastic - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

I spent most of the movie thinking, "I can't believe I'm seeing this unfold." The effects were flawless - at no time did I notice special effects- simply orcs, trolls, and Gollum - wow. Of all of the visuals, the one I had least confidence in WETA's ability to make believable was the army of the dead. Not that I doubt WETA, mind you, they have earned a certain amount of faith from the fans, rather I did not see how the army of the dead could be visualized in a believable manner at all; again WETA and Peter Jackson, to my delight, gave form to my imagination and created a visual that was believable and stunning at the same time. The characters grow beautifully, Aragorn transforms from the Ranger from the North into King Ellesar before our eyes. All of the Hobbits are wonderfully portrayed. Billy Boyd's Pippin truly develops in this movie. Ian McKellan IS Gandalf, no one else could ever play this role now that Sir Ian has transformed the character from an idea in a book to a living, breathing being. My only complaint about the film is that at 3 and a half hours, it seemed rushed. There was no peril on Sam and Frodo's journey across Mordor, they seemed to simply transport themselves from Cirith Ungal to the crack of Mt. Doom. Unlike the previous two films, I felt that I could tell where scenes had been edited out. I firmly believe that the Extended Edition will raise the story grade from an A- to an A+. Thank you Peter Jackson, the goal of any artist is to create something larger than himself, and achieve imortality through your craft, you have done that... and given us all the wonderful gift of your imagination. Taken as a whole, this trilogy is clearly the greatest trilogy ever filmed.

An actor's review of the lord of the rings! - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

It is now official. New Line Cinema took the absolute best gamble in the history of film when they chose to take on The Lord of the Rings project. I saw the film at a 12:05 showing last night, and I am still blown away by what I saw. Let's take the film piece by piece here: Elijah Wood: A fantastic, actually better than I thought it would be performance. The looks in his eyes when he thinks that hope is all lost makes you feel his pain. Sean Astin: The absolute, no doubt about it, best performance in the film. Sean definately deserves a Best Supporting Actor nomination, at the least. He was simply remarkable. Viggo Mortensen: Not as flashy a part as I thought it would be, but still another strong performance by Viggo nonetheless. Great job. Ian McKellen: What can I say? The man is one of the greatest actors working today! Another fantastic performance, right behind Astin, in my opinion. Other notable performances: Miranda Otto as Eowyn. The strongest female character, with perhaps one of the strongest scenes in the movie "I am no man." Bernard Hill as Theoden. He has never really gotten the credit he deserves for playing this very difficult part. Wonderfully done. Orlando Bloom and John-Rhys Davies. Neither of them are in this film as much as they are in the first two, but they take great advantage of what time they do have on screen. John Noble as Denethor completely shakes your heart, and makes you wonder what this crazy man is gonna do next. Completely convincing, well done. I think that's enough acting. Let's just say that, basically, I don't believe there to be ONE bad performance in the entire ensemble of characters. Directing. Peter Jackson has absolutely done it. Considering that we're talking about a man who's biggest film to date was "The Frighteners", I have never been more impressed by a director's love, care, and devotion to a story. If Peter Jackson does not win the Academy Award for Director, they should just retire the award. He deserves every single award and accolade he receives. And I honestly hope that he DOES decide to do The Hobbit after King Kong. No one else would be able to do it better. The screenplay was very well done. Don't forget, even if you're only considering the ONE final book, that's still over 300 pages to adapt into a 3-hour movie (ok, a little longer). Yes, there were scenes from the book that we all would've like to see, but THAT'S WHAT EXTENDED VERSION DVD'S ARE FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So everyone please stop complaining about it!! All in all, this is one of the most fantastic films ever made. The trilogy will forever be known as the BEST TRILOGY in the history of film, in the opinions and thoughts of millions around the world. Well done Peter Jackson, the cast, crew, producers, and everyone who gave their all to make this, and all three films. Bravo!!!! Sad to see that it's over. Predicted Academy Award Nominations: 13 Best Picture Best Director (Peter Jackson) Best Supporting Actor (Sean Astin) Best Adapted Screenplay Best Cinematography Best Film Editing Best Art Direction Best Costume Design (possible, but we'll see) Best Sound Best Sound Editing Best Visual Effects Best Makeup (unless they stupidly take them out again) Best Original Song "Into the West"

Hail to the king baby. - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

The splendor of our time has arrived. Not since the reign of the Star Wars original Trilogy has there been such a passionate embrace of a trilogy of movies such as what we have seen over the last 3 years when it comes to Lord Of The Rings. In some ways this passion has really just begun. However the story of our heroes Frodo, Sam, Arragon and the others does indeed come to a close with "Return Of The King". The legacy of these movies will however forever have an impact on our culture as one of the greatest movie achievements of our time. It is for the 21st Century what Star Wars was for the 20th Century. You know the story. There is ring of power created by the evil Sauron to control Middle Earth. Sauron defeated as we saw in the first movie "Fellowship of The Ring". The ring is found again and there is a quest to destroy this ring or the world of Middle Earth will seek to exist. Hence our heroes of hope and picking up where we left off with them Frodo, Sam and thier guide Gollum (Smeagol) continue on their dangerous journey to the cracks of Mt Doom to destroy the ring. Will they make it? Will Arragon accept his path and become the King that he was destined to be and lead his people against the forces of Sauron that threaten all of Middle Earth? Well you have to see "Return of The King" yourself to find that one out. This is not so much a review as much as it is praise to Peter Jackson for bringing this marvel of an epic story by J.R.R. Tolkien of good vs. evil to the screen. In these times we live in this is a refreshing reminder that no matter how bad things can get one must always have hope that in the hearts of men there lays truth and within that truth lays good. The epic saga of The Lord of The Rings really does capture this theme very well and in the final chapter there is no question that your emotions are going to be aroused unlike they have with any other movie. Expect the unexpected. Remember it is ok to cry, to laugh to cheer. These are all qualities that each of us shares. This is what this was meant for. It will have you talking. It will inspire you. It will take you to a place unlike any other, and most important it has brought people together to appreciate the concept and message behind the story. Praise to Peter Jackson the wonderful cast and crew for bringing this treasure to life for all of us to marvel in and to take something with us that very few movies tend to provide in today's lackluster Hollywood vibe.

Only one word....wow! - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

I just got back from the ?11:59? viewing of Lord of the Rings, the Return of the King. I honestly think this was not only the best movie of the trilogy, but the best movie I have ever seen. The entire movie was exhilarating. From the very second the movie started I had full attention on the screen. I loved every single way Peter Jackson filmed the movie. The battles were enourmous. If you liked Helm's Deep, try multiplying it by over 22! Yeah! I was not disappointed in any way, whatsoever, about the movie, and I mean it. If you were going to go to a movie this weekend, don?t waste your time on Cheaper B.T.D. (not to say that that will be a bad movie) but spend it on seeing the best movie of your life, LOTR 3. And I say all of this from my heart. Thank you.

King reigns, but still weary adventure - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

At 3hrs. and 20 min with 1 intermission, I found myself waiting for the ending. One lady in front of me let out an audible sigh when one apparent ending led to another daunting scene. The final chapter of Lord of the Rings delivers on many levels, but it's not an easy film to endure. Once again, the special effects are spectacular. There are some fierce battle scenes that defy the imagination. Still, it's the 100 minutes leading up to that battle that will have you weary. The story picks up where it left off. Then, like two towers, it switches gears from Sam and Frodo, to Aragon and company... back and forth. There aren't many suprises, and Peter Jackson does a nice job of building the tension. Similar to the tension leading up to the battle at Helm's Deep. After about 60 minutes of the greatest battle sequence I've ever seen, the story winds down for the last 40 minutes or so. The story is a classic tale at it's finest. It's a fitting conclusion to it's superior predecessors. The acting is very good. However, I found Frodo to be very annoying. The film's pace is the worst thing about the film, it's seems to be stuck in neutral far too long. Overall, I would recommend this film especially if you've seen the first 2 films. I would say this is the worst of trilogy with the first being the best, but it's still a very good film. I enjoyed revisiting the characters that I loved in the first 2 films.

Return of the king, the ring, and jackson triumph - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Reviews

When J.R.R. Tolkein penned the first lines of The Lord of the Rings in the mid-1930s, a journey was begun. As of December 17th, 2003, the journey which has touched the lives of millions, crossed generations, cultures, languages, and bridged two centuries, has come to its end. And what an end it was. It is all but inevitable nowadays that any decent book will be adapted for the cinema and it has also been all but inevitable that said adaptations fall woefully short of the original article. And while the first two installments of The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, have avoided this fate, many have been hoping against hope that the last and greatest chapter of the story will be told with the strength, beauty, and skill which it deserved. Having avoided the curse of the sequel once already, it seemed that hope for The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King was small indeed. But to the joy of readers and moviegoers everywhere, this is not the case. Thanks to the superb directorial skill of Peter Jackson, the talents of a great cast, and the vision of Tolkein himself, the final installment is every bit as triumphant is it should be. The film begins with a brief flashback to the finding of the One Ring by the hobbit-like creature Deagol, who is murdered by Smeagol/Gollum for possession of the Ring. This small moment is all which Jackson allows the viewer before sending them headlong on a three hour adrenaline pumping ride which is as visually arresting as it is thematically compelling. As before, the story is told by cutting back and forth between the action of the film, following Aragorn, Gandalf, and the hobbits Merry and Pippin as they go to war, and the core of the story, the journey of Frodo and Sam to destroy the ring, a technique which by now Jackson has mastered. From the mustering of the armies of Rohan and Gondor, the film thunders on to the battle of the Pelennor Fields, a spectacle so jaw dropping and grand in its magnitude that it makes the battle of Helms Deep in The Two Towers look like a playground fistfight and reduces other epic battle sequences like those of Braveheart and Gladiator to old men fighting over a game of checkers. All the while the battle is raging Frodo and Sam inch closer to Mordor, tormented and prodded by the malicious Gollum, who is so well voiced by Andy Serkis and hauntingly animated that it is more difficult to convince oneself that he is computer generated than it is to believe he is not. And while Elijah Woods' Frodo is much more believable now in his battle with the ring (perhaps due in part to more dirt on his face and hands), it is Sean Astins' Sam who ends up stealing the scenes and who should at the least steal a nod for Best Supporting Actor. Though some of the cast deliver solid, if perhaps now somewhat predictable performances: John Rhys-Davies faithfully brings some much-needed comic relief when the moment is right as the Dwarf Gimli, Orlando Bloom still stares very hard at everything he sees as the elf Legolas, others manage to deliver performances nearly equal to Astins. Viggo Mortenson has grown alongside the role of Aragorn since "The Fellowship" and he now assumes the crown of Gondor with a poise deserving of the character. Sir Ian McKellans' third performance of Gandalf is every bit as powerful and relevant as his first and Bernard Hill transforms the warrior king Theoden from a bitter old man into a resolute leader, doing an especially nice job in a scene with Miranda Otto in which he tells her, "I would see you smile again." But perhaps the most enjoyable characters to watch mature were those of the heretofore comic hobbits Merry and Pippin. Both Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd smoothly transition from slapstick to drama and make the viewer realize that if even the freest of creatures are now burdened with fear and grief, things must be very dire indeed. Despite its almost ponderous length, the film loses little momentum throughout. The combination of the marvelous visuals and the story behind them serve to hold the attention for the entirety of its length. At three hours plus, that is no small accomplishment in itself (In fact, if you were not in the first wave of viewers who saw the film at midnight Wednesday it would not be a bad idea to check your armrests for the embedded fingernails of previous viewers). Without a doubt, Peter Jackson deserves an Oscar for Best Director and his film deserves the statuette for Best Film. His camera work is so well done that one often forgets they are watching a made-for-the-masses movie and not some smaller piece which takes enjoyment from the skill with which the camera is wielded. He has succeeded in realizing a magnificent idea and done justice to a beautiful story. Whether one likes or dislikes The Lord of the Rings, one cannot fail to fall in love with the cinematic majesty of this film. The Return of the King is also more than a fantasy film or simply a visual feast, it is the universal story of hope and courage and love, of good triumphing over evil, and of the cost counted for such a victory.