film: review

> LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (2003)
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By John C. Lyons
Film Critic

Starring: Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, and many more

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Written by: J.R.R. Tolkien (novel) Frances Walsh (screenplay)

Genre: Fantasy/Adventure

Our Rating: 10/10

Trilogy Rating: 10/10

The 21st century can already go down in history, as far as I am concerned, as having given us now two of the best trilogies on film, ever. I doubted Lord of the Rings from the beginning. I wasn’t really interested in seeing the movies and I thought this giant gamble had a good chance of failing, and here I am now proclaiming its final chapter, The Return of the King, as the best movie of 2003! RotK is the best film of the series. It wraps everything up completely and really takes your breath away. I loved this movie!

With each theatrical release weighing in around the 3 – 3 ½ hour mark I am sure that a lot of the people that haven’t yet given in and seen these movies probably haven’t because of that reason alone. I can honestly say that three hours of James Cameron’s Titanic felt like three hours, whereas even watching the 3 ½ hour extended DVD version of The Two Towers (the second film in the Lord of the Rings trilogy) felt no different to me than a usual two hour movie. Give credit to everyone down the line from director, writer, editor, cast, etc. This film sets the bar as an achievement in perfection at every level of film production.

I thought Two Towers was epic in scale! Besides some amazing acting (Sean Austin as Sam, Elijah Wood as Frodo, and of course Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf) this film gives us a battle that will likely never be topped. Everywhere you look, there are massive landscapes. And then they are populated by gigantic, warrior Oliphants, flying dragons, disgusting orcs, and dueling catapults! It’s a fantasy orgy to be honest. All this is set against the brilliant sequences between Sam, Frodo, and Gollum (who is so well done now that he shouldn’t be called a “special effect” anymore) as they make their way towards Mount Doom. Shelob stalking Frodo. The friendship of Sam and Frodo (while still being a bit much in today’s world was really played flawlessly here). Eowyn in battle. OK, so I could go on all day. Incidentally, in these scenes it’s also pretty clear there’s more going on, under the surface, than just a great tale of adventure.

I urge everyone to see these movies. Unless you are just unable, for health reasons, to sit down for three hours at a time. Personally, I rank them overall in order of their release: Fellowship, the “weakest” a 9 and now Two Towers at a strong 9.5 and Return of the King at a perfect 10. Perfect, really. Sure, I have a couple minor issues (Legolas straight out of the X-Games skateboarding, Gandalf’s impression of Yoda when he becomes the ultimate elderly badass out of nowhere, and why is everything that Liv Tyler does have to be in slo mo) but I really can’t imagine anyone doing this trilogy any better. And I can’t wait for the extended edition of RotK with reportedly over an hour of chopped footage re-inserted! My Oscar picks: Sean Astin for Best Supporter, Peter Jackson for Director, and RotK for Best Picture.

(03-1126)

related links:
Return of the King - official site

MPAA rating:
PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and frightening images.

length: 3 hours, 30 minutes