This film basically... changed my mental attitude...

Rating: 9/10 (29 May 2008)

Back during the year of 2001-2003, I was 10-12 years old. I've known about The Lord of the Rings, I've seen them advertised on television and so on, but I never gave any interest in them. Nor was I at all interested in films to begin with. I was never really a bright person back then either, I actually would pick on The Lord of the Rings for no particular reason - yet, even though I had never seen the films, I was very inconsiderate and immature. Of course, as years passed, I grew up a little. By 2005, after viewing Peter Jackson's epic King Kong, which surpassed anything I have ever seen in my very short movie-going experience. I got a lot more interested in films - King Kong amazed me, not just visually but emotionally... so I wanted to see more films like it. But throughout 2006, I never knew what films were good and what films were bad. All the films I saw throughout that year were all the bad ones. They were never satisfying. I was in desperate need of suggestions. Finally I discovered IMDb's Top 250 list - as voted by IMDb users, which guided me to seeing better films. The Top 250 was the answer to my prayer. So finally, I decided to rid myself of being a child and finally check out Jackson's The Lord of the Rings. Starting with Fellowship and Towers - renting them at a rental store. The Fellowship of the Ring was amazing, I discovered a heart inside of me that I never knew I had. The Two Towers gave me thrills and chills that I've only ever experienced watching Jackson's King Kong. But... when I finally watched The Return of the King, it throw me on my neck! You are talking about a nuclear explosion going off inside me. I was absolutely blown away by The Return of the King! It was perfect in every way possible! It had such a cinematic and brilliant story + conclusion to such a wonderful trilogy! This was "perfection" that I have never seen before! I immediately wanted to get these amazing films in my DVD collection, so I did. Throughout 2007 I would watch these films almost all the time, sometimes even twice to three times a month. Then came Feb 11, 2008 - my 17th birthday. By then I have seen and favor over 100 films on the Top 250. I felt like I've grown up a lot as a person and as a movie-fanatic, watching the films that everyone else watches. From how much I loved The Lord of the Rings, I decided to purchase the Special Extended Trilogy box set using my birthday money. And I felt, well... ashamed. Ashamed of what a fool I was! The extended cuts are seriously a much larger improvement than those theatrical cuts! Particularly in terms of story, depth, and characters! I could not believe all that time when I was watching the theatrical cuts, I actually didn't realize how much back-story they actually lacked! Even to this very day I'll watch the theatrical cuts for comparison, and yet I still find myself preferring the extended cuts, by far! My highest recommendation: watch the extended cuts! Not once, but two or three times!
I may not personally agree with the majority of the Top 250, but I must admit to the IMDb users, for they do have a very good taste in films nonetheless! However, of all the films I've seen and favor, including all those household classics (Rear Window, Casablanca, Star Wars, and so many more), The Lord of the Rings Trilogy yet remains in my top favorite of all-time, especially The Return of the King.
If you haven't seen these films yet, and I mean see them in the way that I did... you must stop at nothing to at least give them a try, whether it's your first or your tenth! Don't even think anything of it, just watch them! Watch them and follow the story in the way a film and story should be followed. These films continue to impress me and touch my heart every time I watch them. These films are very valuable to watch from time to time. For a plus, watch them with family! The films have deep moral messages about friendship, trust, courage, bravery and the processes of growing up and maturing. I'm so proud that I rid myself of all my immaturity and gave these films a try, only now do I feel like I've truly matured as a person. I'm far from that childish kid that I used to be.
Just put it, these films will probably be the best example of "Home Entertainment" you will ever have in your DVD collection.
Btw, I never read the books - as I'm not much of a reader, and there really is no need to, unless of course you want to. But it's not required, just watch the films!
Thank you, and I hope The Lord of the Rings will find a place in your heart and in your DVD collection, as they did with mine.