Rating: 
Summary: Sheer Perfection
Review: The last movie in the trilogy, "Lord of The Rings-The Return of The King" will leave its fans breathless and new viewers in awe.The themes in "Return of the King" are timeless: loyalty, devotion, friendship, honor and sacrifice. Time and again, each character must choose between the uncertain future they must fight for, and interminable agony. The King in waiting Aragorn addresses his troops:
"A day may come when the courage of men fails. When we
have forsaken our friends and break all bonds of fellowship but it is not this day. This day we fight!" The magic of this movie is that each of the central characters matter deeply to the viewer and to the story. It is no longer just about one boy and the ring he carries. It is sons and daughters trying to prove themselves worthy to their fathers. It is the bonds of friendship, tested to its limits. It is humanity itself making the bittersweet pilgrimage to redemption. The challenges of making a movie based on a well loved book are obvious. Readers of the trilogy already know how the movie ends. They can look forward to savoring every precious page brought to life. The result is over three hours of cinematic majesty. It would take at least three hours just to write its praises. That's how good it is. At the end of "Return of The King", the audience stood up and cheered. I was one of them.~givingloveaway.com
Rating:
Summary: A triumph of masterful moviemaking.
Review: The third and final instalment of the Lord of The Rings trilogy deserves every accolade that's been heaped upon it, and more. It's unbelievably real, brutally honest and instantly memorable. This is a film that will appeal to all types of moviegoers, male or female, young and old, Tolkien fans and non-fans alike. The story was well written and executed considering the sprawling and meandering nature of the book. The strategy of placing Shelob here instead of in The Two Towers was a good one and helped enhance an otherwise lopsided war movie. Three scenes are particularly memorable. Firstly, the aforementioned Shelob's lair where Frodo and Sam battle the giant spider. Secondly, The Battle at Minas Tirith. If you thought Helm's Deep was good, get ready for a jaw dropping spectacular battle scene. Lastly but certainly not the least, a flashback about the origins of Smeagol and how he deteriorates into Gollum. This is an unscheduled and unexpected diversion but it allows us to fully appreciate the duality of the character and provides us with some room to develop a degree of empathy for the creature. Acting wise, I found myself rooting for Sam most of the time. Sean Astin's performance shines above all the rest. Samwise Gamgee's bravura and dedication to his comrade makes up for Elijah's confused and weakened Frodo. Oh and Gollum. I could go on and on about how good Andy Serkis and the CGI team were in bringing to life this awesomely tortured creature but I'll let you fill in the blanks here.
Finally, here are a few tips to maximise your enjoyment of this movie or rather event of the year. 1. Go watch the first two instalments back to back before going to see ROTK. It helps to jog your memory about the main characters and brings you up to date about where they're coming from. ROTK does not waste time reminding you about anything. It races ahead relentlessy from the word go and doesn't slack off till the end. So you're expected to remember and know who and why the characters are the way they are. 2. Read some of the more reliable reviews about the movie first, either online or in print. Spoilers aside, they actually help illuminate some of the more rather confusing plotlines and side developments which is not fully elaborated in the show. (Where's Saruman?) You can't fault Peter Jackson for this. It's already 3 1/2 hours long and he already had chopped off more than an hour from the initial rough cut. 3. Bring a hankie. "Sometimes tears are not itself evil". 4. Lastly, start saving money to get that extended 4 disc version next year. I know I will.
Rating:
Summary: A FANTASTIC ENDING TO THE GREATEST FILM TRILOGY!
Review: "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" is by far the best film ever made, and a worthy conclusion to "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy! The acting is superb, the storytelling is sensational, the visual effects are incredible, and the action sequences are absolutely top-notch! The highlight of the film is the spectacular battle of the Pellenor Fields outside Minas Tirith. You are thrust into the biggest, and most intense, battle sequence ever filmed! A must see film for our generation! Grade: A+
Rating:
Summary: Totally Awsome And Impressive!
Review: This is the best movie I have seen in theaters all year! The action is just plain intense while the drama was pretty touching. The actors and actresses in Return of the King did a spendid job! The special effects were astounding! And the music (score) was spectacular and enhanced the movie. The Return of the King is a wonderful achievement in filmmaking history and is the best movie in Lord of the Rings trilogy!
Rating:
Summary: An Epic of Our Time
Review: First off I haven't read the books (besides the Hobbit) so I have no bias in these films. I hear people complaining about how some parts were left out of the book. Well maybe someday somebody will make a 30 hour adaptation of the book and these people will be happy. But if you are anybody else you will be amazed. This trilogy is an epic of our time. This trilogy even surpasses the Star Wars trilogy and the Back to the Future trilogy. Even if you didn't care much for the other two films, Return of the King is solid gold. It has amazing special effects, cinematography, amazing detail, if full of emotion and does a very good job of concluding the trilogy. If J.R.R. Tolkien were here to see the movie, he would crap himself. SEE THIS MOVIE!!!
Rating: 
Summary: The Extended Version will rate a 5 star review
Review: Of the three movies, The Return of the King begs the most for the extended version....The Fellowship EX had some nice bits but did not add that much to the overall arc of the story...The Two Towers EX had some important additions such as the Denethor-Boromir-Farimir scene and the additional coda to the Battles at Helms Deep and Isengard....The Return of The King however will benefit the most when the extended version appears, and this is on top of the fact that ROTK is the longest theatrical release of the three....Despite it's length, there are scenes that appeared to be rushed (except for the many false endings) and the transitions from scene to scene showed gaps which may leave the uninitiated scratching their heads a bit...The two characters who suffer the most are Saruman, who is absent in this release and Denethor...to brush off Saruman with a "he is now powerless" line weakens the character and makes Christopher Lee's strong portrayal in the previous two movies seem rather pointless....similarly, Denethor comes across as a selfish loon and not the tortured soul of a man who has fallen from grace because he was bewitched by the Palantir...in fact, Denethor's owning of a Palantir, and how he abused its' use, is not even mentioned, so the casual veiwer is left with the wrong impression, not in line with what Tolkien intended...it's curious to have scenes from the trailers not in the movie...I am presuming Eomer might be crying over Theoden but I am not certain, and the Mouth Of Sauron is nowhere to be seen, though it does seem that the trailer shows his encounter with Gandalf...all of these quibbles will no doubt be worked out when the additional footage is added...some may argue that it's unfair to be shortchanged with the theatrical release, but my concerns are minor and do not severly deter from the great story that unfolds before you....overall though, one does not go away feeling cheated by this film, in fact, you will regret that it's all over...This has been a remarkable journey that Peter Jackson has taken us on, and one the will be rejoined many times in the comfort of our homes for many years to come...Jackson is a visionary and only the staunchest Tolkien purist will gripe, but I say unto them, who on earth would have done a better service to the material than Jackson?...New Line Cinema is to be applauded for taking on such a financial risk, and yes, it was a risk...hindsight makes us think this was an easy decision to make, but that is not necessarily true...I am glad that I was able to take part in this journey and invite everyone to hop aboard....
Rating:
Summary: IMPORTANT!! No One Listen To This Person!!!!
Review: Attention all Amazon.com customers! Please disregard the review of "a customer" from nyc,ny. He obviously knows nothing about LOTR. To the reviewer: even if you did not read the books, at least show SOME knowledge from the first two movies. It sounds like you never even saw them. It also sounds like you do not appreciate fine film. The reason for all of the "mushy" stuff and the dramatic sequences is because it is the last film in the series! It is the end of the saga and everything needs to come together. The characters are saing goodbye forever! They have just been through the hardest thing any of them will ever have to go through! I mean, what were you expecting?! This movie had one of the most amazing fight scenes in the history of cinema not to mention the dead on acting and perfect cinematography. As far as your comments about the "useless" characters, nothing you said is worth saying. And before I even start, they are called "Uruk Hai." Not "Uruk Kai." The "squishy faced ork" is just a head ork. There is no reason to explain his entire history. And if they did, you probably would have complained on this page about it. He is no different than the head ork in "The Two Towers" at the campfire scene. The "mad-max" character, as you so eloquently put it, was never made into a big deal. He was shown about four times, briefly. His only purpose was to show the malice and cruelty of Sauron's forces. I don't know why you thought he was made into a big deal. And thank you for correcting yourself from saying "trees." You later called them by their right name, "ents." And why were you so confused by the ghost army? They were cursed fighters summoned by Aragorn to repay the debt they owed to the king of Gondor. They came off the boats that were hijacked by them and Aragorn. They came and saved the day. Where did you think they came from? And as for Aragorn, HE IS THE FREAKIN HEIR TO THE THRONE OF GONDOR!!! He bravely ventured to find the ghosts so that they would fight. In a way, he won the battle!! And he did not ask Legolas and Gimli to follow. And what was your problem with Eowyn? The actress portraying her was amazing, and the character showed amazing courage throughout the whole film. SHE KILLED THE NAZGUL THAT NO ONE ELSE COULD!! I mean, what movie did you see? "So that's that part." And sorry you couldn't handle the "suspense." I mean, God forbid they put suspense in the movie. The entire story is a suspenseful one!!! And the characters did not "elect to die." They left Middle Earth to go LIVE ETERNALLY! That is why they are called the "undying lands." Look, if you are going to bash a movie, at least sound knowledgeable while doing it. That's all. Know your facts and don't give people misleading information. This was an amazing movie. A modern epic that will stand tall for years to come. Peter Jackson has created a legacy with his LOTR trilogy, and 'The Return of the King' is a fitting end to the gripping saga.
Rating:
Summary: The Journey Ends...
Review: "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" is an extraordinary work of art. Never in my life have I experienced such a stunningly beautiful, mesmerizing, passionate and moving film. ROTK not only entertains and moves us; it shows us what greatness humanity is capable of. Everything about this film is perfect. And I mean that. I'm going to have trouble putting into words exactly what I feel about "Return of the King". It's beyond words; indescribable. Director Peter Jackson's masterpiece is an example of what movies can really do. Every other film I've seen pales in comparison. From the sweeping aerial shots of battle to the tender bonds of friendship shown between Sam and Frodo, nothing even comes close. One can only imagine what Mr. Jackson and co. went through to get these films made. If this man does not win the Oscar for Best Director (and Best Film), I will loose all the respect I ever had for the Academy and their authority on film. The astounding ensemble cast is unparalleled in cinematic history. Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, Arwen, Galadriel, Elrond, Bilbo, Faramir, Eowyn, Theoden, Eomer. Each one of these names draws to mind an incredible story. An incredible character; so real you feel a pang within your heart when they suffer or happy to the point of tears when they triumph. Each one of these characters will forever be embedded in the hearts of moviegoers worldwide. This is such a visual film. The cinematography, in conjunction with Howard Shore's stirring score, is simply the best I have ever seen. Jackson doesn't use his sweeping camera views just to impress us, each frame helps add to the story and the overall emotional impact. Oh, the emotion! Never in my life have I been so supremely moved by a film; a book, an image, a song. This is more than characters sitting around crying over each other. It's more than you could ever imagine! I don't know how J.R.R. Tolkien ever envisioned such an epic and poetic story. There were so many moments in this film that brought me to tears. And I'll have you know, I cried straight through the final 30-40 minutes of the film.
When the credits began to roll, I remained in my seat, saddened. Tears silently trickled down my face. The journey has ended. There is no more to come. After "The Fellowship" and "The Two Towers", we knew there was something more to come. Now there is nothing. As I walked out of the theater, I felt as if I were bidding goodbye to old friends. Farewell; you will all remain forever in my heart.
Rating:
Summary: Oscar Contenders Beware...
Review: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King is likely to do very good at the Oscars. This movie was very fascinating and intense (along with some emotional moments). The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is a wonderful ending to the great saga! It is better than film one and film two. This movie is the best picture of the year!
Rating:
Summary: Jackson's Culmination
Review: I think this is a good film with the potential for being great. Unlike most reviews I've seen I don't think it is the best of the three, Fellowship is superior in that it follows the book more closely. As with both Fellowship and Two Towers, we will not see this film at its best until the Extended Version is released next year. There are many beautiful and stirring scenes in The Return of the King. One of the finest depicts Arwen on her way to the Grey Havens having a vision of her possible future with as consort of Aragorn and mother of Eldarion. This is not only lovely but it clears up some confusion (at least for me) in The Two Towers where there is a scene of Arwen leaving Rivendell in company with other elves. I wondered last year if the third movie would show Arwen turning around at some point, so I'm doubly pleased with this scene for having proven me correct! I also loved the opening scene with Deagol and Smeagol for showing Smeagol's gradual corruption into Gollum so clearly. The Departure for the West was very fine, but I found Frodo's reunion with the Fellowship after the War ended much more emotionally wrenching. It reminds me of the scene at Rivendell when Frodo sees Bilbo for the first time, which always raises a lump in my throat. Among the battle scenes the one I was most touched by was Faramir's departure from Minas Tirith, as the populace bade farewell to their doomed men. (By the way, the Gondorians were well cast for their dark hair and eyes and pale skins, very Numenorean and most unlike the more Nordic Rohirrim. The architecture was also suitably grand, somber carven stone that was obviously the work of a very proud and ancient culture.) The Ride of the Rohirrim and the deaths of Theoden and the Witch-king were magnificent and, because they followed the book so closely, most effective. I had always interpreted the Dead who followed Aragorn as being sad, humble shades who were eager for a chance to redeem themselves, so their leader's arrogance was somewhat disturbing, but it did seem to work well in the end. I feel the film was too condensed, particularly towards the end with the use of a map to trace the triumphal journey home. I am ambivalent about the loss of the Scouring of the Shire, because one of Tolkien's themes is that it is not possible to return to find everything as it always was. Not having this part also lessens our awareness of Frodo's final weariness and pain which makes his journey to the West inevitable. He looked far too healthy at the Grey Havens! I really disliked Gollum's being able to turn Frodo against Sam, even temporarily, though it did underscore the Ring's power to corrupt. Also, the Mount Doom scenes were overdone. Surely Tolkien's own description of the final fight, Gollum's fall, and Sam's rescue of Frodo are dramatic enough without having to add a literal cliffhanger! As to the battle scenes, beautifully done but almost to excess, especially with Legolas' acrobatics on the mumak and the continuation of his competition with Gimli. (Not to mention the continuing dwarf jokes!) I also found these battles less compelling than Helm's Deep. Perhaps it was the difference in the civilian population. Minas Tirith's prosperous citizens seemed to be less vulnerable and less frightened than Rohan's peasants huddling in the caves, probably because their Dunedain heritage made them more dignified, even when scrambling for cover! Denethor was the least realized character. Tolkien's austere autocrat became a violent, almost vulgar madman. I always saw Denethor as cold and remote, even when about to light his funeral pyre. The movie's flaming plunge off the cliff was sheer theatrics and any dramatic effect was lost in the midst of the battle. Speaking of Denethor, I am unimpressed with his Guards, who on one hand were perfectly willing to obey his order to burn him and his son alive, while on the other they stood apathetically by when Gandalf raised his staff against their Steward! The tendency to ignore travel times and difficulties also grated at times. We are asked to believe Elrond sped from Rivendell to Dunharrow with Anduril, then returned to Rivendell to bring Arwen to Gondor! There are some plot holes which the Extended Edition will probably resolve. How did Saruman's palantir wind up in the water at Orthanc, or Sam get hold of the elven glass and Sting at Cirith Ungol? (Of course long time readers know how, but those who aren't familiar with the book might find this puzzling.) Faramir and Eowyn are obviously a couple at the coronation, and it would be nice to see how they met and fell in love at the Houses of Healing. At the Grey Havens we are told that the Three Rings are leaving with their bearers, but the bearers aren't identified. (I did notice Gandalf was wearing a ring, and viewers of the Fellowship Extended Edition know Galadriel bore Nenya, but Elrond's ring is not shown, or at least I didn't spot it.) Interestingly enough, some scenes from the trailers didn't make it into the film: Merry swearing allegiance to Theoden at Edoras, Eomer weeping over Eowyn on the battlefield, or the Witchking's confrontation with Gandalf at the Gate of Minas Tirith. These will probably be in the Extended Version too. So Peter Jackson's great trilogy is finished. Does it compare with the books? Certainly not, but no film ever could. But I do believe it is the best that could have been created at this time and place, and it does give many people who would not otherwise experience Tolkien a taste of Middle earth.
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