Fantastic end to a trilogy!

Rating: Null/10 (18 December 2003)

Well what can i say about this film that hasnt already said in most reviews posted on this site? I was well behind all the hype for this film and thankfully i wasnt let down. After i watched the two towers a year ago i decided to buy the ROTK novel altho i had never read the previous 2(strange i know!)I guess because two towers had a great impact on me and i just needed to know the conclusion. Well it faithfully follows the book, sure there are some changes but some for the better some might say. The film throws you straight in assuming that you have viewed the first 2. The film does take a while to get going but i remember thinking the same when watching Two towers. Sam and frodo continue there quest to mount doom with the devious gollum! and again there are other branched out stories with gandalf and pippin, merry and the rohirrim, and aragorn legolas and gimli taking the dreaded paths of the dead. Well thats the main part of it and i wont go into too much plot detail as its already been explained and most will already know especially fans of the books. **SPOILERS AHEAD**
The films effects are unlike any seen before in a film. The siege of minas tirith and the battle of the pelennor fields are truly awe inspiring and really edge of the seat stuff. Theoden rousing his troops for battle, the charge of the rohirrim into the enemy, the sinking of hearts when the oliphaunts turn up. And especially eowyns confrontation with the witch king which truly does mirror tolkiens description in his book.

Other main highlights are of course frodos confrontation with the giant spider shelob and of course the finale in front of the black gates and the destruction of the one ring.
Have i any complaints about the film, yes i have a few but they are minor and shouldnt put you off seeing the best of the trilogy.
Well i felt that aragorns transition into king and leader was left out a little and didnt have the impact id hoped at the end. I think this is due to Gandalfs great leadership at minas tirith and theodens at the pelennor fields. I was also disappointed that Faramir and eomer didnt have bigger roles along with Aragorn. These faults however should be rectified in the Extended Edition next november. Again minor niggles. Performance wise no-one can be faulted, gandalf rises to the occasion after getting shortchanged in TTT and theodon and eowyn again are great in this film. Everything about this film kicks ass, the battles, the paths of the dead, shelob, gollum i could go on and on theres too many to give justice to here. Dont worry about all these whiners about the long ending. Its not that bad and you need it to finish all the stories and i didnt want the film to end. Go see it now and again and again. Great work by Peter Jackson and co. Roll on the extended Edition.