DeMille Smiles Upon Peter Jackson!

Rating: 10/10 (17 December 2003)

The first time I saw FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, I really didn't like it. I gave it another chance on DVD and was able to appreciate much more of the rich texture of the characters and story. I saw THE TWO TOWERS and loved it for its epic scale and scope, as well as the themes of honor, responsibility and hope in trying times. RETURN OF THE KING continues those themes and takes them to the highest levels.
RETURN OF THE KING features the most incredible battle sequences ever put on film, without losing sight of the characters that are the heart of the tales (George Lucas take note). Peter Jackson structures the story in a way that makes you feel every bit of hope, despair, fear, victory and betrayal that his characters feel. The CGI effects are flawless and even Gollum/Smeagol, who is balanced out just short of reaching a Jar-Jar like annoying presence never makes you think he is anything less than real. As with the other films, the sets, costumes and overall production design are unlike anything ever seen. Cecil B. DeMille would be proud of the epic scale of this film.
Only one real problem exists with RETURN OF THE KING. It has a hard time reaching a conclusion. Being a fan of the films, I enjoyed seeing how everything wrapped up, but it was edited in such a way to mislead you into thinking each event was an ending. Really, this was only a problem because when you've had a large fruit punch before a 3 1/2 hour movie, the last few minutes can be painful.
Overall this film is a magnificent triumph, the Best Picture of the year (maybe of our time) and bookends the most incredible trilogy ever made.