Waiting for this film was like a deep breath before the plunge!

Rating: 10/10 (23 December 2003)

Borrowing from Gandalf's line, my anticipation for seeing this movie was the strongest of the three. After taking the "plunge" and witnessing this epic unfold, I am left without adequate words to describe how fulfilling it was. Ever since I read The Hobbit and the trilogy in 1978 I was hopeful that someone would create a cinematic version of them. Though hopeful, I was also skeptical that anyone could do the novels justice. After a couple of weak animated attempts by other film makers, I think Peter Jackson and his wonderful crew have nailed it! When I first heard in 1999 that someone was going to make a serious attempt at LOTR, I prayed they would do a good job and meet my expectations. He did. ROTK is the climactic ending to the trilogy and definitely does not disappoint. It had everything: action, character realism, emotion, love, drama, comedy, heroism, despair, hope, triumph! The bad guys were REALLY BAD and the good guys were REALLY GOOD. For those of you who don't like spiders, you better cover your eyes during the Shelob scene. What a creepy beast! I will be pulling for PJ during the Oscars. When the extended DVD comes out next year I will purchase it and place it next to my other two cherished extended version DVD's of FOTR and TTT. Right now? I have the same feeling when I finished reading the trilogy for the first time: sad there wasn't more but a strong feeling of contentment and joy that I experienced it.