Outshines every fantasy film in memory.

Rating: Null/10 (9 June 2004)

This third installment of the multi-Oscar awarded Lord of the Rings creates a weird "trilogy effect". Some argue against having to choose which among the three is the best. But if and when you must choose, you are bound to choose part 2 (The Two Towers) as the best yet, before having watched part 3 (ROTK). However, once part 3 is unleashed before your naked eyes for a very good 3 hours and you have to re-choose, you are bound to select part 3 as the best finally, but will more likely elevate part 1 (Fellowship of the Ring) to 1st runner up! Perhaps it's because Two Towers will be "similar" to the champion, shifting your perspective for the installment with a "different" mood thereby making it your second best.
That's my take on the majority's view. Actually for me, before watching ROTK, I liked Fellowship more than Two Towers because of the former's more expansive effect on mood and in fact more grand-scale scope in contrast to the Tower's more focused scope and always-battle-oriented mode. Fellowship laid the basics, the premises, the meaning of it all, and offered graduations of thrill and wonder plus, having had the "wow factor" the most, deserves the second best status.
And, ROTK, being the culmination of middle-earth's grandest quest of the Second Age, rightfully belongs to kingdom-come glory. Every scene was stunning in every way. The dialogues were almost poetic. It has surpassed the curse of trilogies whereby quality deteriorates in succeeding installments. It has likewise surpassed the difficult and painful problem besetting book-to-film adaptations that has so plagued Aliens, the equally popular Harry Potter, Batman and even the Godfather among others. It has surpassed the artificiality problem of special effects, let alone the daunting technical tasks involved: look at the hundreds and thousands of orcs, the dreaded flying nazguls, but and, simply look at gollum. (Just look at the creature.) Watching this film was tantamount to being awashed with the richness of soul.
Particularly, one scene said it all for me. With the ominous and real threat of destruction and death to the remaining fellowship in the battlefield as they give the smallest of beings, Frodo and Sam, the chance of unmaking the One Ring, we literally feel the desperation, courage, and the self-sacrifice of the fellowship for the foolest of hopes. Moments later we are then rewarded with numbing visuals as the diminutive but brave hobbit has painstakingly made it at last and we see the fellowship in tears cheering for their hero as the great enemy bursts into flames. Yet, this is followed by tears of sorrow and pity as they soon realize that in exchange for their salvation, of middle earth's salvation, they may just have sent their friends Frodo and Sam to their certain death and they have known this all along. Galadriel knew this, "the quest will claim his life." Yet we know it's not as sad and unfortunate as the fellowship have thought right there before the Black Gate. To top it all, these innocent hobbits never would have imagined such a great great burden will befall on them, right in their tiny hands. From the comforts and simple life in the grassy picturesque Shire to the horrifying destruction and death in Mount Doom, this film will the give you the film treat of a lifetime.
Treading on new higher grounds where no fantasy film has trodden, hell, this third installment simply SOARS! This magic spilled into Oscar night where it was crowned with NOT one, not two, not five, but 11 prestigious recognitions, practically winning in every category in which it was nominated. With its stellar achievements in cinema history, boy did we just find a new benchmark in fantasy film-making. My god.