All you have to decide.............

Rating: 10/10 (22 December 2003)

is what to do with the time given to you...(Gandalf)
The crazy week before Christmas and I have spent 7 hours in the theatre ( 2 viewings), not to mention more time coming here, reading people's reactions. I have to drag myself off this computer, and my head out of the ROTK book again!, and get Santa done some time. Just can't seem to let it go......
I posted a comment after the first viewing. Unfortunately IMDB put it on the ROTK gaming site. After my second viewing I have different stuff.

Loved it more second time around as my anxiety of what was left in and what was left out (from the books) was over. I relaxed and cried and cheered and adored it.
(Spoilers ahead)
Humble disagreements: 1. Faramir should have been more fully realized in movie. He was a grand character I missed seeing more of. 2. The scenes of the pirate ships coming in- should have been more dramatic, it was a awesome, tear jerking part in the book. 3. Somehow condense the final endings, but I don't know how, as they are important and were very good. Just choppy or something. 4. Get rid of the few comic lines from Gimli/Legolas. They work in the context of the book, but in the movie, take away from the dramatic impact of most scenes.
Those few minor things aside,
I loved:
1. The Beacon Fires; blew me away. 2. The scene with Faramir and his dad- then following-Pippin singing that melancholy tune as Faramir's army rides to their slaughter. 3. Gandalf and Pippin in the hall talking about death-gave me hope! 4. The rallying cries of Aragorn and Theoden pre-battle. Very powerful and moving. 5. Eowyn and Merry on the horse, the looks of horror and fear on their faces when they view the vast army of orcs before them, and Miranda Otto's dialogue to Merry, "Have courage for your friends." Very moving. 5. The Characters; not one performance was less that fabulous, making these movies what they are. Special kudos to Sam in this third part.
I adore these books, I loved the movies. I am sad the adventure is over.