Great Action, Great Story, Great Movie!

Rating: 10/10 (2 April 2004)

"LOTR: Return of the King" marks the final and perhaps the best film in Peter Jackson's stunningly successful adaptation of Tolkien's much-revered trilogy.
Keep in mind that this was a story that many scholars, fans, and film industry hawks assumed would never be done to the satisfaction of multiple generations of Tolkien aficionados and fanatics (especially since these films never received the official endorsement of Tolkien's estate as managed by his son, Christopher Tolkien).
And sure, there are gaffes (the worst being the unsatisfactory way this film deals with the evil wizard Saruman), but none are so egregious that the legions of fans felt they had to boycott Jackson's trilogy.
In fact, all three films have managed to remain close enough to the books to keep the hardcore fans' respect while using the strengths of the cast, special effects, and a well-written screenplay to keep the story accessible to the millions who have never read the books but loved the movies nonetheless.
"Return of the King" not only maintains the high standard set in the previous films, but easily surpasses it. While no one has gone out of their way to praise the acting in the previous two films, the performances of Elijah Wood as Frodo and Sean Astin as Sam in "Return of the King" certainly deserve a mention.
For those of you who love the battle scenes (and I happen to be a bit of a battle scene junkie) you will not be disappointed here. The assault on Gondor is breathtaking and creative. Unlike the tediously long fight scenes in the final two "Matrix" movies, "Return of the King" smartly threads drama in and amongst the clashing swords, flying debris, and charging steeds.
All that said, viewers should be aware that the impressive feat of wrapping up the trilogy requires three and a half hours of viewing time. Sure, the vast majority of the film flies by, but it's something to keep in mind as you're planning the rest of your Saturday afternoon.
I say 'vast majority' because the final scenes drag out a bit and the movie seems to end several times before the credits actually roll. When I went to see the movie, many people in the audience stood up not once, but twice, because what felt like the end of the film faked them out.
Last but not least, kudos to New Line for having the financial and creative courage to film all three big-budget films back to back in New Zealand. It was gutsy risk that could have hurt the company a great deal had the first movie flopped.