Epic Film Trilogy!

Rating: 10/10 (27 January 2004)

I've now seen Return of the King six times and am in the process of listening to all three books on CD. Without a doubt this film series is the best ever made.
It was a very difficult task to translate J.R.R. Tolkien's vision to the screen. I believe Peter Jackson did it best in The Two Towers. The books are very wordy with much conversation and much description. Tolkien actually read the books to a group of friends called The Inklings (one of the Inklings was C.S. Lewis). When listening to the audio books, it is obvious that they are much easier listened to than read. Tolkien's creation of Middle Earth composites and entire history going back before LOTR to The Hobbit and the Silmarillion. There are many references in the book, LOTR to the First Age and the Second Age--many references to past battles, elves, and the men of Numenor.
Peter Jackson has taken the story and pared it down to its essence, using wondrous special effects and computer animation. He knows that the story is about Good Vs Evil, the ultimate power of evil to corrupt and mankind's effort to resist it. Christian symbols abound throughout the movies. The light of Galadriel, who symbolizes the Blessed Virgin, the humility and cross of the ringbearer, Frodo, everyman Samwise who rises to greatness. Gandalf is also a Christlike figure, dying and returning again to serve Middle Earth. I touch upon only a few.
While many complain that this movie is too long, I believe Jackson actually had to cut a couple hours out of it. There is simply too much to tell in ROTK to encompass under five hours. The movie feels choppy in places.
These criticisms in no way detract from the greatness of ROTK. Watching it in conjunction with the first two films, The Two Towers and Fellowship of the Ring is an experience which I recommend to everyone but small children.