The buzz behind Peter Jackson's final trilogy installment is more than we might expect.

Rating: 10/10 (21 December 2003)

Majestic. Mighty. Glorious. No other words would be fulfilling enough to describe the final chapter in Peter Jackson's adaptation of Tolkien's, 'The Return of the King.' A work of cinematic art that we, as tortured movie-goers, haven't been treated to for decades. However, we are all asking: is this one good enough to seize the little naked gold statue? Oscar experts are readily saying, "Yes", but there is always that ever-present fear in the back of our minds; a little voice that says, "That's what they said last year...and the year before!" Truthfully, nobody can really know how the game will be played out in the next 2 months up until Oscar time, but for some odd reason there is a special air about Jackson's final installment. If the first two chapters in the trilogy, ('The Fellowship of the Ring', and 'The Two Towers') lacked anything at all, is was a strong emotional side to the story. Jackson and his team perhaps have learned what exactly the Oscar voters are looking for: drama. 'Fellowship' and 'Towers' received handfuls of technical awards, (Film 1: Cinematography, Visual Effects, Make-up, Score; film 2: Visual Effects & Sound Editing) but neither one took home Best Director or Best Picture at the Oscars. Who can guess what exactly the Oscar voters wanted in their Best Director both times around, though when 'A Beautiful Mind' grabbed Best Picture over 'Fellowship' in 2002, Brian Grazer, the producer of, 'Mind' came up on-stage to accept the award, and added courteously, "'It was very close', they said." The musical 'Chicago' won Best Picture over 'Towers' in 2003. 'The Return of the King' took a stylish turn for the better as it pranced into theaters across the globe on Dec. 16. Opening with a prologue-type scene involving Smeagol and how he came to posses the Ring, it drew us right back into Tolkien's vast world once again.
The depiction of Frodo's slow progression into evilness as the Ring's hold on him grew stronger, forced us to feel the same pain he was going through...as we realized for the first time just how much the little Hobbit had changed since we saw him for the very first time back in Dec. of 2001.
Sam melted even the coldest hearts as we saw his unconditional love for his master in a much more powerful light. As Tolkien once said, "His will was set, and only death would break it." How could there be a more superior story? There isn't. Every moment in 'The Lord of the Rings Trilogy' has lead up to this point. The point where everything that this fellowship has been through is put to the ultimate test. Even as Frodo denies Sam's loyalty and harshly turns him away, Sam never looses sight of what brought him thus far: love.
That's the magic behind 'The Lord of the Rings.' Not the breathtaking visual effects, the exotic costumes, or even the vast sets and locations it was filmed on. (All of which are spectacular!) If this majestic film receives any award, it should be Best Depiction of Unconditional Love in a Motion Picture.
I give it A++ and 101% for over-all achievement.
"I can't carry It for you, mister Frodo, but I can carry you!"