(4 out of 4 Feet)

Rating: 9/10 (4 March 2004)

-By Brad Baer
BaerFoot Reviews

I was very eager to see this movie. The first two pictures had left me in such awe of Peter Jackson's epic filmmaking that I could barely get past the opening credits without soiling myself. I, of course, managed. I was on my way to the greatest movie experience of my short life.

The cast of characters are back in full swing. We take journey with Frodo, Sam, and Gollum as they journey towards Mount Doom to destroy the ring, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli as they try to summon an army of the dead, and Gandalf and Pippin as they try to ready the forces of Minas Tirith.

The battle for Minas Tirith is the most amazing scene I have ever witnessed in a movie. Thousands of troops surround the city, giant elephants act as carriages for battle hungry creatures, huge trolls pull gigantic catapults that fling boulders into the walls of the city. A scene like this cannot be explained in writing, well unless you are Tolkien. See this for yourself. I know when I finally get my hands on the DVD I will be wearing this scene out.
The special effects are so real, we forget what we are watching, we marvel at what has been brought to life. Gollum is as real as his companions Frodo and Sam. Did anyone actually look at him and think `what terrible graphics?' I bet most movie goers didn't even know he was a computer graphic. This is not to take anything away from Andy Serkis who did an amazing job providing the voice and all the movements for Gollum. We also get to meet a giant spider named Shelob, which was so real, I quivered in my seat thinking of such a beast. I hate spiders.
If you have not finished the trilogy for yourself, shame on you. You are depriving yourself of not only the greatest films of our time, but perhaps the greatest films ever. I do come short of calling each individual film the best ever because I don't believe they work as well as individual pictures. The trilogy is best viewed as a whole.
With the trilogy over, a new standard for story telling has been set. Like the pictures before it, Citizen Kane, Casablanca, The Godfather, we have witnessed something truly special. Not only has Mr. Jackson brought one of the most imaginative books to life, he has given this and future generations films that can be cherished for lifetimes to come. Now all we need to do is recognize his achievement, and give him the best picture and best director Oscar.
(4 out of 4 Feet)