Pippin steals the show (just) from Sam and Gollum

Rating: Null/10 (19 January 2004)

This is a stunning film which brilliantly concludes the trilogy. I would have loved to have seen the scouring of the shire, as this, more than any other part of the books, showed how much the hobbits had grown, especially Pippin and Merry, who in the first movie seemed rather like comic relief for Sam and Frodo.
Gollum remained the most interesting and menacing character of ROTK, he is a triumph of CGI and Andy Serkis' art.
To me, Sam (Sean Astin)emerged as the true hero, but Billy Boyd as Pippin stole the show. His charachter underwent the biggest transformation of any in the trilogy. The scene where Gandalf and Pippin discuss the meaning of death was incredibly powerful, and Billy Boyd has a hauntingly lovely voice, perfect as a backdrop for Faramir's (David Wenham) suicidal charge. I take my hat off to the talented and versatile Mr Boyd. Sean Astin, Andy Serkis and Billy Boyd have shown how the 'little' characters can make or break a film.