A nerve-wracking journey culminating in great satisfaction

Rating: 9/10 (27 March 2005)

"I AM NO MAN!"
I don't think I know any other movies from which you could just quote one short line and it will send shivers right through me  to the extent that tears may even start to well in my eyes. This movie trilogy is a huge emotional thing for millions of Tolkien fans who have built up our expectations through years of nerve-wracking waiting time, and Peter Jackson knew that.
Although I saw the theatrical version when it came out in December 2003 and was thrilled, I just watched the extended DVD for the very first time two days ago. As for the two forerunners, the extended version is a great relief. It makes me very happy when they have included scenes that contribute to the emotional development and character bonding. I love it when dialogue is not only fancy lines being thrown around, but actually contributes to the depth and understanding of the story. And I love it when details are taken straight from the book.
It was good to finally get to see moments that were missing in the theatrical version, particularly Aragorn using the palantír, Merry swearing his oath to Théoden, Gandalf confronting the Witch-king, Faramir's encounter with Éowyn in the houses of healing, and Frodo and Sam marching with the orcs. However, I sadly had to accept that one of my favorite moments from the book was never included. It is where Sam sits in despair in the tower of Cirith Ungol, humming a tune about the Shire, and then hearing Frodo's faint voice answering him from up above... This is a beautiful moment, but I guess it didn't fit in with the atmosphere.
The movie is good on the capturing the climaxes. Shelob, the battle of the Pelennor Fields, and the Mount Doom scenes are perfect. However, as with the first two movies, I get the sense of the movie rushing too fast through the action, and we miss the sense of how much distance and time the characters really lay behind them. It is probably the way it has to be when making such a story into a movie. But the movie also captures some of the small moments, and conveys in a touching way how also the small and seemingly insignificant creatures have an important place in history. The interaction between Pippin (Billy Boyd) and Gandalf (Ian McKellen) is beautifully done in this sense. One of many visually mesmerizing scenes is the little hobbit overcoming his fear of heights and climbing up and lightening the beacon of Minas Tirith, which in turn alarms Rohan that war is on its way.
After the Two Towers, I was quite nervous about the third installment. Both because the second one was an ever so small disappointment and because there was so much of the story left to tell. In both senses I think the Return of the King made up for this. Moreover, it certainly came to its right in regard to character development. Samwise finally demonstrating to be the true hero of the story (thanks, Sean Astin, for living up to my favorite LOTR character). Gollum no longer being annoyingly funny and cute, but finally evolving into a terrifying, horrid creep showing his true dark sides, preciousss.
However, I have a few small complaints: Firstly, the music score was really overdone several times. I think the smaller, emotional moments, particularly the Frodo and Sam moments, could have been more touching and powerful without that accompanying music score that had too much pathos. Secondly, I don't approve of scenes that undermine the power and wisdom of Gandalf, degrading him into a cool old fighting wizard, such as hitting the steward of Gondor in the head with his staff. Everybody knows, he would never have done that.
I could still write several pages about what I liked and what I disliked about the Return of the King, but this review has to come to an end. The bottom line is that whatever the worries throughout the first two movies (and particularly the second, which went out of its good concepts in my opinion), this one made up for it. And I guess that's it with this being the final installment, finally we get the idea of why the characters have been portrayed the way they have through FOTR and TTT  namely, to be able to show us the full depth of their development throughout the story. And now they have become who they were born to be, and it all makes sense. I just love that feeling; when it all makes sense. Thank you, Peter Jackson & co., for giving me the three most exciting Christmases of my life.