Go See This Film !

Rating: 9/10 (17 December 2003)

*** Possible Spoilers ***
Go see this film.
Mr. Jackson has successfully, and sometimes incredibly, pulled off something that many thought was impossible. He, with the help of an extremely talented crew of actors, designers, craftsmen, artisans, and more; has brought the Lord of the Rings to the screen in a way that does more justice to Mr. Tolkien's epic story than has been attempted.
Anyone who has read the books knows that to bring every detail to the screen could have taken a trilogy dedicated to each book and still some things would have to have been left out. And you have to grant Mr. Jackson some creative leave to add his own touches. But I have to applaud Mr. Jackson for expertly piecing the story lines together in such a fashion as to make this a very entertaining, and gripping set of films. Go see this film.
As for The Return of the King, is it the best of the three? I don't think anyone will be able to accurately compare it to the first two until its final extended form is released on DVD - hopefully before next November. I think many people that have expressed disappointment still have the extended versions of the first two films fresh in their heads. It this theatrical version, quite a lot of things have been cut from the story - just as in the other two films. Don't believe me? Go read the first reviews of the other films here on IMDB.com. The way many of the scenes abruptly end, and the 'false endings' a lot of people are talking about tells me that the extended version of this film is going to be Mr. Jackson's redemption in the eyes of many of his critics just as the extended versions of the other two films have been. You'll get your showdown Saruman, you'll get your expanded Legolas and Gimli, you'll get a better winding down and parting of friends, you'll most likely get your Arwen and Faramir romance, you'll get more of Sean Astin's Oscar-worthy performance, and I hope you'll get Theoden's funeral, and more on the new bonds between Rohan and Gondor as well.
Go see this film. If you are a Tolkien loyalist, take it for what is presented at this point and don't worry about what's missing, I am confident Mr. Jackson will make it up to you next November. If you haven't read the books - you need to. There is so much richness, depth, detail, and beauty in this story that no matter how good the extended version ultimately is it will never be 'perfect'.
This adaptation (especially in it's extended DVD versions) will go down as one of, if not the, greatest movie trillogies of all time.
Go see this film.