It takes a couple o' days to get it down and done

Rating: 10/10 (19 December 2003)

The story is now complete. The last scene faded to black and the theatre roared and clapped as if the actors were right behind the screen, waiting to be called for a ceremonial bow of acknowledgement and gratitude. I've rarely seen such a phenomenon, "... and that say quite alot".
"LOTR: The Return of the King" is the best your money can get you in this age. It is a well rounded story, approved by millions. It's a well sharpened script, featured by an excellent cast and tamed and tempered into a steel-hard-core entertainment, by a briliant director. They all did great - there is no other way to express this.
I'm looking forward to check out the extended edition. The extended "Twin Towers" and "Fellowship of the Ring" boosted the film even further. That was hard to imagine. The last episode equal's the already extended versions, so it's enlengthed version must be what I've fantasized in my readings of the trilogy.
Some words of resentment - the beginning is somewhat slower. Contrarey to the outburst at the beginning of the second movie, I was hoping for some of the same at the beginning of the third. Also, hasting to reach a certain point in the beginning of the movie made it feel as if the editor used crude seams to patch up holes in the screenplay. We got used to the little misses, we later get back in the extended versions anyway, so text-wise it is of little consequence. But what almost convinced me ranking it 9 rather than 10 (sinful thoughts, I know) was the lack of the technical smooth silken flow of later scenes, right from the start.
I actually went to a special "Day of LOTR" event that included the first two parts (Fellowship and Two Towers) right before the world-wide premier of the third (At least world-wide in my time zone... damn liars :) ). Point being, I could see the entire story in tight ten hours, and I must say that it was not easy seeing them all. These can't be taken lightly - I felt exhausted, both mentaly and physically. But it's an experience I would never regret nor forget.
The only thing that saddens me is that other fantasy and sci-fi movies rarely recieves such a kingly treatment. We need more of this and that done so.
Right so.