Take a Bow Mr. Jackson

Rating: 10/10 (17 December 2003)

I just saw this last night during the Lord of the Rings Marathon, and I must say, it is by far the best movie I have ever seen. Flawless performances were given by the whole cast, with Sean Astin and Billy Boyd leading the pack.
Peter Jackson did an excellent job of crafting this film. While it may not have been a replica of the books, it certainly held true to the spirit of the story.
After seeing Return of the King, you begin to understand the true meaning of the word 'epic.' The entire movie was stunning, the visuals, the dialogue, everything. When I heard how many CGI effects were going to be in this film, I was worried that those might take away from the struggle of the characters, but Jackson balanced them perfectly.
The battle sequences are unlike anything you've ever seen in movies before. The Fields of the Pelennor was amazing, with Aragorn and his army of the dead on one side, and Theoden and his Riders on the other.
My only real complaint is the ending. It should have been longer. After sitting through a three and a half hour film, I could have waited a few extra minutes for a more polished ending. It felt as if Jackson rushed to tie up the loose ends, but that is a mistake often made in long productions.
Despite that, Return of the King shines as one of the best movies of all time. Take a bow Mr. Jackson, you did it.