The movie is too short.

Rating: 10/10 (18 December 2003)

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS***
That's right; too short. While no one could have included all the wonderful sequences contained in the book, there are several omissions here that diminish narrative flow and character development. The four biggest being:
1. The failure to explain Denethor's madness, and his foreknowledge of Aragorn (both born from the same source). The film wants us to believe he just went mad or that he lost it to grief over Boromir, and that just doesn't work.
2. No mention of the romance between Faramir and Eowyn. In a film with little love story, this should have been included.
3. Leaving out the development of Eomer as Aragorn's friend, and Gimli's rival. In the film version, Eomer is little more than an extra.
4. Eliminating the confrontation with Saruman at Orthanc and the Scouring of the Shire. This omission is huge. One of Tolkien's great themes was the growth of the young hobbits, especially Merry and Pippin. The chapter on their return to the Shire is the real climax of the book. It is where Merry and Pippin's growth as leaders of their people really shines. Also, Tolkien wanted to show how even the Shire could not escape the war. A definite missed opportunity.
Part of the problem is that The Two Towers was cut short. The confrontation with Saruman and a short sequence on Denethor could have (and should have) been included in the middle film. That having been said The Return of the King is still a wonderful film. The action sequences are breathtaking. The character development is at the right times inspiring and heartbreaking. Easily one of the best films of the year.