Least of the Three but still great

Rating: Null/10 (21 December 2003)

"The Battle for Helm's Deep is over,The Battle for Middle Earth is about to begin" So was said by Gandalf at Helm's Deep. I was excited more than anything. I was eagerly awaiting the final chapter of Director Peter Jackson's view of possibly JRR Tolkien's greatest work. Well I saw it Friday night,and here is what I thought...
The film opens with a beauitful terrifying look at Smeagol/Gollum's past. A complete deteriation of a hobbit like creature to a monster. I didnt expect this as a prologue but it was good nonetheless. We see then see the ring bearers,the brave hobbits,Frodo and Sam. Frodo is weakening every step into the black land. And Gollum plans to kill them both and take the ring for himself. Aragorn,Gandalf,and crew march to a destroyed Isengard. Saruman' final scene was cut out by Jackson a month before release. I missed Christopher Lee's sly and misunderstood Saurman. But oh well. The crew marchs to Rohan. Where Pippin looks into Saurman's seeing stone. Gandalf rushes him to Minas Tirith. Where they prepare for the so called final battle for Middle Earth. Meanwhile Aragorn is slowly developing into a king like figure. He has to take his destiny as the king of Gondor. You see I thought the world would fall if he didnt take his place as King. But they seem to go fine without him. Mortensen is gone most of the movie when it is supposed to be about him! Gandalf provides comic humor. Which makes Sir Ian McKellan a man I greatly admire look like a buffon. The battle isn't as thrilling as Helm's Deep or as dramatic. Sending children to fight,a kind who has lost his faith. A lot of thought was put into that. This battle seemed rushed. Frodo,and Sam's story is what saves the movie. Poor Frodo the ring robbed him of his hobbit innocence. There comes a point in the movie where Sam has to carry him up a mountain. You really grow to love Astin's Gamgee by the end of the series,and deeply hate Serkis's Gollum. The film is still thrilling though and worth of...
3.5/4