Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

Dir: Peter Jackson

Str: Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Andy Serkis

So, we finally reach the end section of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. Has Peter Jackson kept up the amazing work he made with the first two films, or does the ending feel a bit too flat? 

Well, before filming began, Jackson had already mentioned the changes he would have to make to the story to make it work as a film. In the first film we had Tom Bombadil removed. Arwen’s role was expanded out for the whole trilogy. Elves appeared at Helm’s Deep. Yet, despite this tampering with such a fantastic work of literature, the fans were happy. There were changes, but somehow they worked, and kept the feel of the books. Now, in the final part we already know the scouring of the Shire section was removed. Does this affect the overall story?

Heck, no! Return Of The King is the finest of the three films, and possibly one of the greatest films ever made!

That seems a bold statement, but it is rare indeed that a film with such a long running time can keep your eyes focussed from the opening scene to the closing moments, without the occasional glance at the watch, your shoes, the strange hairstyle of the guy in front, etc. The only moment I quickly glanced away was when a bloke sat behind me squealed like a girl at the Shelob scene (very amusing!)

If you though Helm’s Deep was an epic battle, then Pelennor Fields is going to blow your mind. It makes Helm’s Deep look like a pub fight in Glasgow! In fact, every scene in and around the grand city of Minas Tirith are simply breathtaking to behold. The CGI seems to have improved leaps and bounds once more between films.

This is a truly gorgeous film, with characters that have become so real to us all (Gollum included), that to know that this will be the last time you see them can’t help but make next year seem all the more empty. The pace of the film is rapid, and occasionally dark. Humor is placed at key points to lighten the mood, but without seeming forced. The story sticks pretty closely to the book (or books if you bear in mind that the Shelob section was actually in the second book).

This is the final layer of icing to a very sumptuous cake, and is recommended as a perfect dessert to round off the year. It has to be seen on the biggest screen you can see it on, so if you are thinking of waiting for the DVD, don’t. Treat yourself to the end of a glorious Trilogy that puts all other trilogies to shame!