Bit of a disappointment after the first two

Rating: 8/10 (11 July 2007)

The only one of the trilogy I have serious problems with. Not that I haven't watched the Extended DVD many times, but I only saw it once in the theater, unlike the previous (thrice each). Generally great considering that PJ is cramming half the entire trilogy into one flick, but to me he blew the deaths and departures pretty completely. All of 'em. Beginning with Saruman, who dies like a cheap thug (Charles Bronson in "4 For Texas" died the same way). C'mon, Pete, we're talking about one of the 3 most powerful beings in Middle Earth here! Stab-plummet-splash?? That's IT??? He should've fallen like a comet and Worm should've at least burst into flames when he stabbed him. And since he dies at Orthanc (a good choice), the tower should've been thrown down at the same time, providing a good bookend for the (first) finale. Second is Theoden, who dies according to the book and very well--then is totally completely utterly FORGOTTEN! Not borne from the field in high honor (30 seconds more) or even mentioned. Poor old guy. Then we have Sauron, who bursts like a bubble. Wow. A few seconds for the master villain of a 10 hour flick. Where was the towering lightning-crowned figure of shadow looming over Mordor and stretching out a vast impotent hand to the West? Or at least loping over the hills hauling a steamer trunk of odd socks? At least he took most of Mordor with him. And the Nazgul--what DID happen to them? First thing I did when the DVD came out was slo-mo through that sequence and it STILL isn't clear. Snap-crackle-oops, no pop. At least the Witch King went out in style because they followed the book. More on him in a moment. Finally Frodo's departure--WHAAATT? I had to explain to a friend of mine who hadn't read the trilogy why he had to leave, because the movie sure doesn't make it clear. He mentions that the wound from Weathertop "has never healed" but it looks about as serious as a mild case of indigestion. He shoulda been a lot sicker than that, and in the book he was. Finally we come to the bit that angers me more than any of this: when the Witch King breaks Gandalf's staff. What kind of idiocy is that?? I refer to my previous statement about the most powerful beings in Middle Earth--Saruman, Sauron and Gandalf (they're all Maia, f'Pete's sake)! The Witch King would've had less chance against G than a hobbit against a mumakil, yet according the beginning when Gandalf breaks Saruman's staff the movie is telling us that the WK is more powerful than G. Nonsense. The Don knew this, that's why he cut the confrontation short. Fortunately the DVD is banded so I can skip that part. Despite all this it's a fitting finale to the trilogy which I am enjoying more now. Maybe I'm finally getting used to Sam's whining.