r e v i e w s

This is my full review of Return of the King. SPOILER ALERT!!!! I suggest you don't read this review unless you have already seen the movie.

Movie Length-3:21

Overall Rating: 5/5 (Out of LotR I couldn't expect less)
Closeness to book: 3/5
Acting: 5/5
Soundtrack: 5/5
Visual Effects: 5/5

This was a truly amazing movie. I walked out of the theater breathless and barely able to move, after sitting for 3 and a half hours (maybe I should bring a cushion next time) shaking and twitching so hard you might have thought I was having a seisure (and no, I do NOT have health problems). So far I have only seen this movie once, but hope to see it many more times.

The movie starts out with a worm, and then we notice that the worm is Deagol's and he is going fishing with Smeagol. This was an amazing scene, along with all the rest of them. When Smeagol and Deagol we're arguing ("Give it to us, Deagol my love") I was surprised to see that the lines were STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOOK, word for word, though a little cut short. Andy Serkis got his face shown for once, and he made a very good Smeagol.

After a short scene with Frodo and Sam, the movie goes to the rest of the Fellowship in Isengard. I was sad about the lack of Saruman, since he had such a strong character in the other two films, but I will be glad to see it again in the Extended DVD (!!!!).

I thought Pippin and the Palantir was very well done, though these were the first signs that Gandalf was more grumpy in this movie. Legolas and Aragorn talking outside was a very beautiful scene, and not just because of the people in it ;).

I don't think PJ could have done a better job casting. Elijah Wood made a magnificent Frodo, and his blue eyes fit the part perfectly. Frodo, I noticed, was not really the Frodo in the Fellowship at Bilbo's party, laughing and dancing around like a hobbit. His character was greatly changed by the ring. But I think all of the characters went through a change similar to this.

Sam was probably the biggest hero I have ever seen. What he lacked in height he surely made up in courage, and though he knew that this was probably going to be the end, he walked bravely and coldly by Frodo's side, fighting dangers and even in the end, carrying Frodo up the slopes of Mount Doom.

I thought the Minas Morgul was very terrifying, and the Nazgul scream was longer and more piercing than in the other two movies. I was quite disappointed to see Frodo turning against Sam, since I don't think Frodo would have ever done anything like that in the books. That was probably the most major inventive change from the books to the movies, though it only proved Sam's character stronger.

Though Merry and Pippin were unseperable in FotR and TTT, in RotK I finally saw them part. While Pippin rode to Minas Tirith and ended up becoming of service to the Lord Denethor, Merry snuck into battle with the Riders of Rohan. I thought both did absolutely wonderful.

Some parts of the movie which weren't in the book but were breathtaking none the less: The beacons of Gondor- absolutely beautiful scene. more than words could describe. Pippin singing to Denethor- Very good singing. I was glad to find it on the soundtrack. Very touching scene. Aragorn's speech in front of the black gate- Amazing speech. Most of it was in the trailor and I was really looking forward to it in the movies.

Though Denethor had a small appearance in TTT EE DVD, his character was really brought out in RotK. Very...mad. Again I must say, good casting job!

I don't think Faramir' character in the movies was as strong as it was in the books for two reasons; the first being the changes made to his character in TTT and the second being the lack of his love sequence with Eowyn. In the book the difference between him and his brother were clearly shone, where he did not care for war or domination. The one thing that was stronger in the movie was the relationship between him and his father.

Shelob's lair was very terrifying, and has officially made me afraid of spiders. It was horrible seeing various creatures hanging from webs, and even more horrible to see Frodo being stunned from behind and wrapped up in webs like a fly. Sam did very well in this scene, dodging and stabbing at this massive beast, no longer the simple little hobbit dreaming of Rosie Cotton and not even dreaming of the big wide world.

"And this one's for my Gaffer!"

When they advanced into Mordor, I felt that a lot was missing, but I didn't miss it much. Still, I'm hoping to see it in the Extended version next November. Anyway, Mordor was very large and horrible, and Mount Doom was magnificently done. The eye was another thing done to greater detail in this movie, with it's spotlight searching the land. And finally the downfall of Barad-Dur was spectacular as well.

The battle of the Pelennor Fields must have been the biggest battle sequence ever put into a movie. Thousands and thousands of orcs, catapaults and towers crashing, trolls, wargs and oliphauts, men on rohan charging so hard the earth shook, thousands of men and one very brave woman, still beautiful, Eowyn son of Eomund battling against the Witchking and his steed. Wonderful moment. Absolutely stunning.

But finally out of all things must come the end. Beautiful and proud, tearjerking though you can't help but smile, I finally stopped shaking at this point in the movie. The crowning of Aragorn, the wedding of Sam and Rosie Cotton, and the final goodbyes as Frodo sailing into the west. Though I have heard many people say that there were too many endings, I didn't think there were enough. I still missed some of the endings like the funeral of King Theoden, Treebeard, Rivendell, and the most of all the Scouring of the Shire (the one I missed most, though that would add about another half hour to the movies, and I don't think that would be possible).

Overall, though the movie was beautiful and spectacular, there was something missing. It was more tight-packed than the other movies and yet lacked more from the books. It lacked Saruman and the discussing of his evil plans, the spaciness of showing a few people walking or riding through plains, and the strong fellowship music. But I must say, this was THE movie, and something I'm very proud of.

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