Mixed Emotions

Rating: 9/10 (20 December 2004)

Just look at the multitudes of fan sites on the web and you'll see that this movie series, culminating with Return of the King, has completely shaken the way we view movies, the movie-going experience, the production experience, among other things. It is my belief that ROTK finally finishes just what Fellowship set out to do: Take the ring and destroy it... but it isn't that simple, and Tolkien himself knew that his book was well-nigh impossible to film.
That said, given the constraints that had to be placed upon it, ROTK succeeds amazingly, presenting us with the rich, deep, and subtle plot complexities that have endeared the books to so many readers. True, the longing glances between Sam and Frodo have not escaped the gaze of postmodern critics who wish to read more into the themes of friendship than Tolkien intended, but the movie remains unspoiled, never once winking towards the audience and breaking the realism. While not perfect, this movie certainly sets the bar higher for all that will follow.