'Cinematic Glory' or 'And They Thought the Epic Was Dead'

Rating: 10/10 (6 February 2004)

Peter Jackson's concluding film of the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy is a masterpiece of film making. For now, let's ignore the storyline.
'Return of the King' is one of those rare films that excels at every aspect of the film making process to make an across-the-boards excellent film. From
costume design and Art Design/Production Design to lighting, cinematography,
visual effects, sound effects, sound, etc. etc. etc. 'Return of the King' is a solid example of film-making at its finest. The sequence in which the Beacons are lit is probably one of the most cinematically beautiful moments on film in the past 10 years (if not more).
Peter Jackson had a vision that was the Lord of the Rings, and he stayed true to that vision from beginning to end. Part of the greatness of this movie is that unceasing dedication. The attention to the slightest detail is the key to this film.
Without a doubt, this film deserves Oscars for Art Direction, Costume Design, Score, Song, Visual Effects, Sound and Sound Editing, Directing and Best
Picture. [Of particularly odd note, is the lack of a Cinematography
nomination...although its efforts in the first film were recognized then.]
This is epic film making in the finest traditions of Cecil B. Demill and others. Without a doubt, Return of the King will go down in Hollywood history as a
shining moment of the first decade of 21st Century film.
Now on to Acting: Was the acting great? Yes. Why so few awards?
Simple. Return of the King's cast is irrevocably tied to each other. Each
character, and therefore each individual actor, interconnects in a manner not unlike a quilt or afghan. Should nominations have been received? Probably. [especially for Astin and Hill]. Although with no individual cast member out- shining the rest, it is not surprising that no nominations were received. With luck, they will receive credit for Best Cast from the SAG - a fitting symbol of how close and well balanced the cast actually was.
Now, on to the story. Yes you can point to inconsistencies between this and the book. And yes, you can have an endless debate about whether 'Return of
the King' can stand alone or it is irrevocably tied to the other two. It is all unnecessary. Perfect adaptations are a pariah and artistic differences should not be a strike against a film's value for its own sake. 'Return of the King,' is a brilliantly crafted war and adventure story. Written more like one of Hollywood's great History screenplays, the story is rock solid with believable characters, situations, and a rich history.
If you are the type that likes good fantasies, histories, and/or war movies. Definitely watch the whole trilogy. If not, see 'Return of the King' to experience the new masterpiece from a master director.