The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (DVD, 2004, 2-Disc Set, Widescreen)

THE RETURN OF THE KING, the third and final film in Peter Jackson's THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, finds Middle-earth on the cusp of great change. Weary hobbits Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) venture further into the dark realm of Mordor, guided by the increasingly desperate Gollum (Andy Serkis), the two-faced former owner of the Ring that Frodo must destroy in the fires of Mount Doom. Meanwhile Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) contend with the deranged ruler Denethor (John Noble) at the once-mighty city of Minas Tirith, as Merry (Dominic Monaghan) joins Éowyn (Miranda Otto) and the Riders of Rohan to hold back the forces of Sauron. Amidst the chaos, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) must rise to his destiny, aided by Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) in assembling allies for a massive battle that will decide the fate of Middle-earth. With RETURN, Jackson brings J.R.R. Tolkien's world-renowned tale to a stunning conclusion. As with THE TWO TOWERS, the director deftly weaves various storylines together in one remarkable scene after another. Spectacular visuals complement Jackson's sharp focus on the characters and their emotional battles. While the special effects help to create huge battles and frightening creatures on a previously unseen scale, they never outshine the excellent ensemble of actors who bring the heart of the story home. A truly astounding work of filmmaking, THE RETURN OF THE KING skillfully concludes one of the greatest trilogies in cinema history.

Perfect.

I've never seen a series like this. A trilogy of movies created with such love and care and utter perfection of craft that you can't help but walk away and wonder how did Peter Jackson make this possible? I have always loved the original "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" series for their epic storytelling, and just for just fitting in as a great moment in cinema. This should be, will be, remembered with as much revered fondness for generations to come. They do not make films like these anymore.

As a stand alone film, it picks up immediately where "Two Towers" ends, so brush up before seeing it. I've read the books, and the anticipation of seeing some of the more profound moments in this film made me kind of view it with a rushed sense of perspective. I wanted to make sure everything in this film was done "right". And when it happened, it was. I will need to see this again to enjoy everything on a more casual level.

The cast comes through once more. The musical score retains its beauty, elegance and power. The special effects, notably Gollum again, are nothing less than breathtaking, and simply move the story along. The battles are monumentally huge and exciting. There are some liberties taken with the story, especially during the end with the homecoming, and yet, everything that needed to be covered regarding the main characters was handled. After the greatest moment of the series resolves itself, the story provided a breather. And gives a good-bye to friends seen on screen for the last three years. It was truly a bittersweet feeling in realizing that there will be no "Rings" movie in 2004. I will miss this talented group of actors.

As with the first two, the film is very long, but goes by without you ever truly realizing it. This film is so much more than a simple "fantasy" epic. It's a story about strength of character, friendship, loyalty and love. And while every member of the Fellowship has their part to play, I finally understood why some critics have said this series is a story about Sam. It's his unwavering resolve that led the quest to its victory. Sean Astin is a true credit for adding the inspirational heart to this epic. As as far as the ending goes, they ended it the way that it had to be ended. Jackson ended this film the way it should have been.

I will miss looking forward to a new "Rings" movie, but these movies provide hope that high-quality films can still be made without special effects taking over a story, bathroom humor, or a "Top 40" soundtrack. George Lucas could learn a lot from these films about how not to alienate the fanbase.

Each film has earned a "10" from me for the last two years, which for me to give is a rarity. This one, however, is as equally deserving as its two predecessors. The Academy had better not look over this film for "Best Picture" of 2003. To do so would be greatly disrespectful of the craft and care that anyone involved with these films put into them.

The RETURN OF THE KING is one of filmmaking's most fantastic acheivements. There's nothing I can say that hasn't been said already by millions of people. Each installment of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy is a must-have for any DVD collection or library, and will afford you years of viewing pleasure. As a die-hard fan of reading good old-fashioned books, I can't think of any other instance where I could say "Watching the movie gave as much pleasure as reading the book" besides the Lord of the Rings. Peter Jackson and wife Fran Walsh magically transform one of the most unique stories in history and put together a lush, stirring, wondrous, magical and expansive cinematic classic that must be seen to be believed.
This third installment of the series is full of action, suspense, fierce fighting, brave deeds, true friendship, love, and much more. Will Frodo and Sam make it to the top of Mt. Hood to destroy the Ring of Power? Will Sauron's armies crush Gondor, or will Rohan come to their aid in time? What will become of the sniveling Gollum? Will Denethor come to his senses before it's too late? All these questions and more are answered here in this swashbuckling conclusion. There are new friendships forged, a legendary battle, unexpected allies, and unexpected twists and turns right up until the end. There is not a single element in this movie that I am disappointed in, and can find nothing lacking. This is a definite 5 stars and a must for any DVD collection along with the previous two installments in this masterful series.

Most of the movies that were adapted from novels nowadays do not really stay faithful to the book itself. Some even alter entire stories completely. It is not surprising when fans are utterly disappointed and walk out of theaters angry. And that’s the trend. No matter how big the budget is or how “cool” the digital effects are, it actually all boils down to the story. And that’s it.

However, once in a while, a great film based on a book comes out. This century, that film is J.R.R Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings”, the story that arguably started the fantasy myth of heroes, elves and other races. Directed by Peter Jackson, the film, hands down, has been very faithful to what LotR fans has come to love and cherish for several decades. Yet, on another perspective, people who know nothing about the book will be able to understand and appreciate the movie version. And when they read the books, like what most people do after watching film adaptations, they wouldn't be confused on the events that unfold. Instead, they would say, “Ah, I saw this part….”

On to the film proper, LotR started with Fellowship of the Ring; followed by The Two Towers and was ended by The Return of the King. The first movie, Fellowship of the Ring, introduces us to the characters and the story as a whole. The second one, The Two Towers, builds up tension of the story and gives the audience a clue on what can be expected on the next movie.

The last one, Return of the King, hits the climax of the story and gives audiences a breather during the ending. All throughout these three films, the cinematic's, digital effects and sounds are superb. Peter Jackson and the team did an excellent job of setting the right ambiance and mood. The characters each have their own shining moment in which the actors portrayed them excellently. Believe me, this is one movie you don't want to miss.

This trilogy isn't just three great movies. It is a monumental achievement. The first Star Wars trilogy set what I thought was an insurmountably high bar for epic movie making. LOTR leaps over Star Wars with room to spare and sets a new standard. Peter Jackson did a magnificent job adjusting Tolkien's original story for the big screen. After watching the awesome climaxes in the first two films, I wondered how they would be topped. Return of the King more than satisfied my wildest expectations. The battle of Pellanor Fields was amazing to watch on the big screen. Watching the Ride of the Rohirrim, my jaw dropped in awe for the first time since I was a kid. The acting is first rate throughout as are the special effects. Shelobs Lair is wonderfully creepy and Gollum's character is again beautifully presented. Some people feel the ending was a little long, but I feel such a great example of storytelling deserves to wind down just a little. Gave me a chance to catch my breath and truly appreciate such wonderful work. I was glad "The Scouring of the Shire" was left out of the movie. It was the one part of Tolkien's story I found a little awkward. The movie is as beautifully finished as the rest of this epic. BRAVO!