Rating: Summary: Magnificent adaption of the greatest trilogy ever written Review: Now, first of all, I have to respond to the people who compare these films to Star Wars or even The Matrix ("were they released as books 50 years ago, they would be praised as the greatest trilogy of all time"). This is ridiculous. The Lord of the Rings, and Tolkien's work in general, has a lot more depth to it than the Matrix and Star Wars ever can dream of. And George Lucas himself said he was influenced by Tolkien, so what are you all talking about? As for the Academy Awards: well, Return of the King is simply better than the rest and it fully deserves every single Award it received. That's it. Accept it or not. Then the movie itself: it's all about the siege of Gondor and Frodo's final journey into Mordor. The two main themes of the film are death, despair and the consequences of war. I don't want to spoil the movie, but it has quite a few surprises. The end is bittersweet and true to the book. What else can you say? It's three hours long, but very well paced. The effects are superb as usual, but they come second to the story. The acting is brilliant, every actor totally transforms into his character. The sound is amazing and Howard Shore pulls off the best of his three scores. What's left? If you didn't see it yet, go now and do so!
Rating: Summary: The journy is over...pack away the popcorn Review: We all live in a world bound to a very strict and fragile set of principles. Probably, the main aspect of the Lord of the Rings being most affecting is the themes of basic human existence. People love this story, because it is sure one of the most beautiful tales ever told. Not only are the films a tremendous achievement in both craft and experience, ignoring the few but irrelevant glitches in the effects. Just as it was for the crew and cast, the films present a cinematic experience, like no other before it. Surely, many viewers took more than just mere entertainment from Middle-Earth. However, the story itself holds a box full-to-the-brim with jewelry in terms of dramaturgic aesthetics. Yet, nonetheless, despite all glory and greatness portrayed by the most expensive films of all time, J.R.R. Tolkien would have been shocked. The degrading effect of modern entertainment would not appeal to him in any way. Maybe it would have been best keeping this story beyond ability to make a film based on it. However, Peter Jackson should receive all fame possible, because regardless of the unconformity toward the book, he has done something quite astounding and something that will not happen once again too soon. With his will to create a roller coaster of the most known human emotions - love, hatred, jealousy and gluttony - we, the common viewer received example of utmost quality in filmmaking. Most of us will remember many of the so memorable and startling scenes. The opening in the Shire is underlined by maybe the most amusing and calming music ever composed. What follows is an adventure of the highest anxiety. I recall the moment when the final struggle at Mount Doom appears on screen, and after the film, I felt like having had a fully satisfying meal. Let us take a swift gaze deeper into the very essence of this story, which is still the foundation of these so highly esteemed films. As mentioned already before, one little detail gives all the good to this story. It is based on the fundamental themes of human existence. Thus, despite its setting in a made-up world, the viewer can relate to almost everything the characters experience. Certainly, up-front one sees Frodo, growing from the "small" and shy Hobbit, lacking self-confidence, into the savior of the known world. He wakes evil, and he is the one who destroys evil. Regardless of the unspeakable burden lasting on his shoulders, he withstands the final turning-to-evil only with the help of his greatest foe - the so loved and twilight creature Gollum. Again, one should see the constant allusion to the human fragileness. Yet LOTR gives out great hope for a world without limits and only love in the air. That is the main reason for the wide success of this tale. I believe it is absurd and senseless trying to compare this with other also great works of fiction. I have seen a couple people comparing LOTR and Star Wars, for instance, and yet I never understand what the use of such comparison is. Firstly, there is one great difference between them two; Star Wars is a monomyth, and LOTR is more like the quintessential heroic epic of friendship. As hard as it is to accept, many pour their unrivalled scorn on specific stories. All one can say to them is that no matter if one loves or hates a story, nothing will change the factual work and time put into its creation. This is what would make any above-average work of fiction better than many may think. Therefore, Mr. Jackson, I bow in front you, for never having missed the actual aim. Yet one has to acknowledge the fact that this film-trilogy is just a certain percentage of what is maybe the largest body of fictional work ever conceived. This is the passionate achievement of one passionate man. So let us not degrade it to the point of judging its pros and cons. Because in truth it is neither. Sometimes one must leave stories as they are, and enjoy every bit of it, and this is one is worth all time one can spare. The journey is over, and we have lived through a world of war, peace, love and beauty. I do very much hope Mr. Lucas provides us with an equally astounding and imposing Episode III.
Rating: Summary: A Classic, Pure and Simple. Review: Return of the King is an amazing end to probably the best film series ever made. A hear felt epic that not only ends with a bang but closes this series with class and style. A true epic, and a masterpiece that will live on forever because its about friendship, and faith. Something we do not see in movies a lot, and this has it in spades.Thank you Peter Jackson for such a great ride.
Rating: Summary: just a wee bit disappointed. Review: Saruman is MIA, Eowyn seemingly dies but end up happily together with Faramir, and tens of thousands of Rohirrm and Gondorians needlessly wasted their life when all they had to do was wait for Aragorn and his super-duper Orc cleaning green goo. AKA the undead army. This is what happens when I get lost in the hype. I had thought this final movie in the trilogy will not only justifiably end the series, but end it in a way to put shame into any other movie who dare end theirs and put a tear in my eyes and change my life and shed my unwanted weight and pay for my car insurance...but it didn't. Sad really, since it's not the failing of the movie but the unattainble expectation of some of its viewers (like me). I just can't help but get stuck on all the bad parts of the movie. Sure, the tears in my eyes welled up and dribbled down my cheek onto my jacket in various parts of the movie. If I also thought rationally, I can also see a masterfully created finale. But whenever I start to think back on the film and begin to like the film, I then remember the light house of sauron. I have read online (especially onering.net) and am looking forward to the extended cut of the film with many extra footages (Saruman, House of Healing, Sam and Frodo getting mixed in with the orc army in Mordor, ect.). One rumor puts the extra footage time at over an hour (here I go getting hyped up), and that certainly will fill in some of the lesser part of the movie. Anyhow...I enjoyed the film. 4 stars, no matter how negatie this review reads like.
Rating: Summary: The Lord of the Movies Review: I have to say that "The Return of the King" is without a doubt the best of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. The visual effects are extraordinary and the direction is flawless. And the drama will keep you on the edge of your seat for the entire 3 hours and 15 minutes of the film. This is cinematic history in the making. An all out roller coaster ride.
Rating: Summary: I compare this trilogy to Star Wars and The Matrix Review: I cant say much good about the highly overated reviews of this movie. It only won 11 Academy Award because there was only 2 other decent films of 2003 that werent computer animated packed jibberish. This film is good but the fact that movie goers around the country sit through this film muching popcorn in anticipation that the world may come to an end is humurous. Had Star Wars been made into a series of novels in the 50's, tastless sc-fi lovers would flock to the theaters in hopes that this movie may give their lives some meaning. If the Matrix was a book trilogy 30 years ago, same exact thing. It would be rated the "Best Trilogy of all time" or " the greatest fantasy epic of our time" I glad J.R.R Tolkien wasnt able to see this, i think hed be pissed to see his books turned into an overated movie trilogy done with nothing short of a mouse-click and a permit to shoot footage in New Zealand. Its a good movie, but some people need to open their eyes to more creative and independent films out there.
Rating: Summary: Return of the King Review Review: The Return of the King is a good movie. The reason I didn't give it five stars is because that - I already knew by the title what was going to happen. - I sat next to this bloody kid who couldn't stop joking about Legalos dress (god damn). - The battle of Pelanor Fields wasn't long enough. - Why did Aragorn go off the the caves again?? - Arwen didn't know her role. - Shelob's chase wasn't as scary as in the book, which I felt, would have given it five stars if the caves chasing bit was put it. - Where's the story of Eowyn? She didn't say much. However, there was more good than bad. - Skydiving in fire was cool - balls of fire - very original - eye of sauron spotlight - cool stuff. - wringwraiths were really good this time. Not bad , not bad stuff..
Rating: Summary: The Best of the Best Review: At the end of The Two Towers, Gandalf says the battle of Helm¡¦s Deep is over, the battle of Middle-earth is about to begin. In a sense, that does sum up The Return of the King. Helm¡¦s Deep was really just an opening skirmish. And the real battle is happen right now between the men, elves and the orcs. Saruon comes to believe that men still have courage to encounter his force and men are not weak as his supposed. He will not risk the people of middle-earth united again. He fears the King of Gondor return. Therefore Saruon brings all his army to Minas Tirith, the capital of Gondor. He wishes to stick down the city to the ground in order to make the middle-earth fall in shadow again. The world is in dangerous. Gandalf rides to Minas Tirith for alert to the Kingdom of Gondor. The leadership of Gondor is in the hand of the stewards who are supposed to be the caretakers for the throne. However Denethor, the stewards, don¡¦t wish to bow to Aragorn. Gandalf raise the beacons of Minas Tirith, Rohan answered. Although Gondor didn¡¦t come to the aid before, the riders of Rohan are summoned to the aid of Gondor. And in the Pelennor Fields they fought for the freedom of middle-earth. On an external level we have the massive war, and on an internal level we have 2 little hobbits, Frodo and Sam. They are on their hands and knees literally crawling up a mountain. It is the relationship between two nice characters. It is the heart of the movie. They face the adventure with trust, friendship, confidence and mission. Gollum wish to sow discord the fellowship between them. And you can imagine the pain and suffer in their journey. The movie brings a message: At what cost will good win? People always believe justice is always happen around the world. The evil cannot win the good. But they did not think everything have its price. Although at last the ring destroyed and Aragorn become the King again. There is great lost as well. Theoden, the King of Rohan dead in the battle. Frodo always lost his finger. There is also lost many solders and warriors of Gondor and Rohan. The unexpected is Gandalf and Frodo go to Undying land with the Elves at last. Many people come to believe that it is a fate of the ring-bearers. The position of the Lord of the Rings can beyond Star Wars in my point of view. It considers all situations which we will face. Like the forbidden love between Aragorn and Arwen, the friendship between Fordo and Sam, the battle between human and evil, the different between 2 wizards Gandalf and Saruman. None of us can imagine from The Fellowship of the Ring, the fellowship will be broken into 3 parts. Fordo and Sam continues their journey to Mount Doom. Gandalf and Aragorn leads the mankind resist the evils. Pippen and Merry becomes a warrior. They find themselves with an army that going into battle with. The whole movie runs 200 minutes. And there is even no time for you to think. I have waited this firm since The Two Towers. There has been almost 1 year. And it is very glad that if finally in theater. There are many huge battle senses and emotional stories. The only regret is the director Peter Jackson cut many sense in order to make the firm run only around 3 hours. Many of my friends and allies always purpose this problem. This movie also makes us to understand that man should be united in our common interest. We all live in the same planet. We all breathe the same air. We should not separate by only selfish or our own meaningless will. Of course Saruon would not appear in the real world, but the spirit always exists. Men always own guilty in their mind. They are weak to resist evil. They are scattered, divided, leaderless and unsatisfied. If we let this situation continue happen, men will fall in no time. All we shall do is make our world peaceful and fortune. Let us make our dream ¡V Utopia to come true. Let us make every child have their right to be educated. Let us make our world have resources to help the beggars. And let us always look down show some mercy to everybody. One small step of us, there will be one great step for all mankind. Let us hope tomorrow the future of mankind will be brighter than everything.
Rating: Summary: The return of the king Review: I, Like all Tolken fans have suffered through this set of three movies which end with the Return of the King. I should have known how this set of movies was going to end up when Frodo was rescued by a pretty woman instead of an Elf Lord in the first movie. But that I could forgive. I cannot forgive the return of the king. Having read the books... several times, I know that there were three great moments in this story. The first is Denathor's speach to Gandolf about the Black fleet. The second is when Aowyne slays the lord of the Nazgul, and finally Arogons speech to the dead. I will not even comment on the ending. I expect too much. It would have taken five movies instead of three to make things come out right. I have bought all the extended versions of this movie. The return of the King is not great.... It is simply all that we have.
Rating: Summary: Intense and Emotional Movie For LOTR Fans Review: When The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers, was finished, the 12 moths between this and The Return Of The King, were too long. Gollum's history as introduction was exciting and very dramatical. The Figth by Minas Tirith was wonderful (sincerely I was expecting more violence, we'll see it in extended edition?). Only the kiss between Aragorn and Arwen was too poor, like a soap opera, within magical or elf environment. At the end of this movie, I was crying: 1) Because this was the last movie of the trilogy, and 2) Anne Lennox's very emotional interpretation: "Into The West". I hope Peter Jackson an excelent extended edition and it's new filming in the next years: The Hobbit... we are awaiting!!!.
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