Tremendous

Rating: 10/10 (16 December 2003)

Movies have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I can watch my favorite films over and over again, I've studied films for years, and I've loved movies, aspiring to make my own, wanting to engulf my life in them.but I have never had a film experience like The Return of the King before. In film history there have been few films that have literally changed the ways movies are made forever, Citizen Kane, The Godfather, Star Wars, but I have never really felt that there was one made in my lifetime (I was born in 1980 by the way), but I truly think (and infinitely hope) that Return of the King will change the way movies will be made in Hollywood (and the rest of the world). How can anyone claim that they are making an `epic movie' if it doesn't follow in this film's path? Why was it so great? It was everything. I don't get emotional at the movies very often, I don't get lost in movies often enough, and I DO NOT sit through a three + hour movie and not let my mind wander. But I did not want this movie to end!!! I did not want this trilogy to end. In a perfect world a Lord of the Rings movie would be released every year FOR ALL TIME! I totally bought every line, every image, every sound, every special effect, every performance, and every minute of this film. It was 3 hours and 20 minutes TOO SHORT. The reason why these movies are so great was because every single person making them was 100% dedicated to the project (I know this because I watched both 3 hour "extended edition" DVD documentaries). It was made all at once, just like the books were written, and IT SHOWS. Yes, I know the first two films had all the same amazing effects, sets, and music, but what stood out in The Return of the King was the PERFORMANCES BY THE ACTORS. Ian McKellen deserves the award for the most convincing performance/ perfect character/ and all around bad-ass! Gandalf cannot ever even be matched by any other character EVER. But Samwise Gamgee is the true hero of this story, and I can't tell you why without really giving anything away, but he just towers. Gollum/Sméagol was even more incredible here than he was in The Two Towers (which I didn't think was possible), and Frodo sinks amazingly to a new low. I thought that Theoden was the biggest JACKASS/KING in the universe until I met Denethor. Eowyn was so NOT annoying, and kicks ass. Merry and Pippen are no longer simply C3P0 and R2D2, they become warriors. Last but not least Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli do not disappoint. Oh, and HELMS DEEP WAS A TEA PARTY!!! There's an enormous ground battle that simply RULES ALL!!! Complete with Goonie orcs, Imperial Walker elephants, and killer ghosts. But every emotional scene in this film centered around the hobbits. This was their movie. When (spoilers) the whole kingdom bowed down to the four hobbits, I cried...like a little girl...and I DON'T CRY. (end spoilers) The question simply is, though: Is Return of the King the best movie of all time? I don't know, the test of time can only answer that. But I do know that it IS the most well made movie of all time, you can freeze frame any moment in this film (or in the whole trilogy for that matter) and hang it on your wall as a work of art. I know that it IS the most influential film made in my lifetime, this movie will inspire a record amount of people to accomplish whatever they want to accomplish. Finally I know that personally this film IS the most satisfying movie experience that I've had in my life and I can't wait to see it again and again. The only thing wrong with this film is that it ended. FRODO LIVES!!!! Grade: A+ + + + + + + + "