Mediocre finale

Rating: 5/10 (18 December 2003)

I'm sorry to say Peter Jackson's team really blew the finale of the LOTR trilogy. I enjoyed the first two (especially the extended editions), and I wanted to love this one, but by 1/2 through the film I wanted to leave. The movie strays from the book in too many ways, none of which improve the film, so it's 60% of Tolkien's ROTK, which, in my opinion is not enough. The ending especially felt like an overly sentimental rush-job tear-jerker -- by the end of the movie I couldn't wait to get out of my seat.
Perhaps the extended edition of ROTK will fix some of the problems, but I doubt it.

Specific Peeves (**** SPOILERS AHEAD ****)
* Superfluous character: the orc leader who looked like a cross between a melted candle and "Sloth" from Goonies (ironically, another Sean Austin movie). * Saurman written out. * Battle of Bywater and the scouring of the Shire completely written out - a real shame. * Eowyn, the "stern and proud" shieldmaiden of the House of Eorl -- is portrayed as a character who doesn't know what the f*ck she's gotten into when she meets up with the Black * Removal of the confrontation between Gandalf and the Black King at the City Gate. * The portrayal of Denethor as a food-chomping idiot (not even close to the savvy Steward in the book). * The Denethor rejecting aid from the Rohirrim and (oh boy!) Pippin to the rescue by lighting a signal fire (again, completely deviating from the storyline) * The nonsense about Arwen getting sick because of Sauron's overwhelming presence. * The Paths of the Dead - aka Peter Jackson's version of Haunted Mansion -- I half expected Eddy Murphy to show his head.
Overall, the more the movie strayed from the book in plot and dialogue, the worse it was. I don't think JRR Tolkien's turning in his grave, but I do think he is squirming quite a bit.