Action supplants character

Rating: 6/10 (18 December 2003)

Peter Jackson said in interview that the movie he really wanted to make (of the 3) was ROTK -because there was no character development to deal with. Well, it shows. While there are a few bright moments, they are far between. Yes, there are spectacles to witness- but vast portions of the film feel pointless -and worse- boring.
Jackson demonstrates why you should storyboard AND script a film before starting principle photography- which was not the case here. The only thing saving a weak script are excellent actors and a high production level. I would have rather seen a low budget film with the same actors and a script that equaled them.
At best it is eye candy with characters that have earned endearment from the previous episodes; at worst, ROTK debases what came before by repetition without added substance.