The Return of Movie Magic

Rating: 10/10 (3 January 2004)

Having eagerly anticipated this final instalment since Christmas 2003, my hopes and expectations for ROTK were particularly huge. With every article, trail, web page and poster adding to the suspense, I could not help believing that surely there would be some level of disappointment on my first viewing.
My fears could not have been further from the truth. Peter Jackson has delivered a magnificent finale, crowning what must be a unique movie-making achievement - a movie trilogy that surpasses each previous instalment. Superlatives simply cannot do it justice.
ROTK is nothing less than pure movie magic. It generated the same spine-tingling, heart in the mouth moments that only the silver screen can elicit when functioning at its best. As a cynical adult, with a fractured attention span, I could hardly have guessed at how I would be absolutely riveted for over three hours, my jaw dropping in amazement at the spectacular tale unfolding before me.
Having lived and loved Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Terminator 2 even Jurassic Park, it becomes ever harder to conceive of a movie that could possibly create the gasp and wonderment that only utter cinema magic can conjure. Peter Jackson, along with his cast and crew have proven their credentials as master wizards. Let's hope that the industry can recognise this incredible ach