brace yourselves

Rating: Null/10 (16 December 2003)

For those of you who enjoyed the first two chapters of Peter Jackson's adaptation, brace yourselves. 'Return of the King' is simply one of the most visually spectacular films that I have ever sat through - not only does it stand alone as a classic, but it only acts to emphasise the first as a three hour establisher and 'The Two Towers' as a film ebedded with the atmosphere saturated with post-911. The battle of Minas Tirith has already been lauded as finest battle sequence in history - that is a given. However for me it was a beacon-lighting sequence 40 minutes in that was simply superb - it builds the anticipation and is set against a New Zealand that has become a stable diet of this trilogy. There are so many positives and so few negatives, save an elongated epilogue and a couple of gratuitously crowd-pleasing moments (in fairness though, I did get carried away with the wave of applause that erupted after Orlando Bloom/Legolas' champagne moment). As soon as ROTK ended, I had already decided that on it's release, I shall be returning for a second viewing - a hasty decision that I haven't made since seeing 'High Road to China' when I was four (in my defence, it was one of Brian Blessed's finest hours. Kind of). Strangely, I also had a massive sense of relief. Part three is like the final twist and turn on a rollercoaster when they try and finish you off physically. It worked - I was exhausted. I really wanted to not like this one. But I couldn't. In fact, I challenge you to find someone who cannot drain any level of excitement from ROTK. If you succeed, check their pulse. Book your ticket now. And when it's all said and done, hope it's not too late to get down to Ladbrokes - clear the mantlepiece Mr.Jackson, the Oscar is finally coming home.