Not perfect, but a beautiful movie

Rating: Null/10 (23 December 2003)

Warning! Spoilers!
Return of the King is a feast for the senses: the music is hauntingly beautiful, the battle scenes intense, the acting superb. As a fan of both the books and the first two movies, I can understand Peter Jackson's decision to cut parts of the story. I can even accept the changes he made to Frodo and Sam (giving Sam leadership qualities, and making Frodo less noble). Although I love the third movie, I have two quibbles: The first is a continuity issue with Merry. As in the book, he looks very hurt when Pippin finds him after stabbing the Witch-King. However, the very next time we see him in the movie he is riding on a horse with no apparent injuries, the picture of health. Peter should have either had him look less injured to begin with, or provided an explanation for his remarkable recovery.
The other weakness I saw was the climactic scene where Frodo claims the ring at Mount Doom. I really, really wish Peter had not deviated so much from the book. It's such a defining moment, and one which any fan of the book will remember. Peter's version is more dramatic, but adding the fight with Gollum and Frodo's miraculous catch on the cliff changes the flavor of the scene, not to mention diluting the concept that mercy conquers evil.
Overall, I give this movie a rating of 4-1/2 out of 5.