An Amazing Conclusion To One of the Strongest Trilogies Ever Created

Rating: 9/10 (29 December 2003)

When one thinks of famous trilogies, several come to mind including the original Star Wars, and the Godfather. Most trilogies collapse by the third movie and prove to be the weakest link within the three movies. Return of the King breaks this rule and so many more. It is the culmination of all that precedes it and brings absolute and perfect closure to all story lines that come before it.
Story: As with the other two in the trilogy, it is based on the literary works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The story of Return of the King, in the context of the books, is excellent. The transfer to the screen is almost perfect. Unlike Two Towers, which is not as direct in its translation, Return of the King does not stray from its source material. A+
Acting: No one actor can be taken out of this film. As they should be, they work well together as a "fellowship". The acting is very good, but there is no standout performance that deserves special recognition. A-
Directing: Peter Jackson does an amazing job of directing in this final installment. He crafts a near perfect film and he is very much deserving of the Best Director Golden Globe. A+
Overall: As a huge fan of the series, I am somewhat biased in my assessment of this film. I love this film immensely. Easily in my top 5 films of all time, this movie accomplished all I could ever dream of when I envisioned this movie being made. Characters are developed even further in an amazing fashion, especially in the last half hour. The special effects in the battle sequences will blow you away and will bring you within the battles and convince you of the importance of what is being fought over. Enough cannot be said of this film. A rousing and moving epic that should not be missed. A+