The Greatest Movie Of All Time-Part 3

Rating: 10/10 (8 March 2009)

For a 12-hour film, you'd be surprised by how quick it flies by. Exsposition and battles never seem to drag, and scenes where they cover great distances truly hold the weight of the travel.
Perfect is probably the best way to describe Howard Shore's magical score to the film. Defining the tone brilliantly, whether it be ancient, dramatic, epic, courageous, horrific, dark, or simply inspiring, he nails it. He also pours much choir into his score, and if you listen carefully you can hear chanting in Tolkien's artificial languages that he created for Middle Earth.
But no matter how well made the film is, it all comes down to the heart of the story, and this is where LOTR is truly unforgettable. Just try and not feel effected by such scenes as Frodo's departure, or his decision at the end of the film,, or such lines as: "I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you!" or " I'm glad you're with me Samwise Gamgee, here at the end of all things." But I suppose the true message of the film is conveyed in Frodo's judgment of Gollum and his carefully deciding what he thinks is best. And also in a single conversation between Frodo and Gandalf about Gollum: Frodo mentions it was a pity Bilbo did not kill him when he had the chance. "Pity?" Gandalf says. "It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Don't be so quick to deal out death and judgment." Frodo then regrets the ring coming to him, and Gandalf encourages him. "So do all who live to see such times but that is not for them to decide, all you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you." So there you have it, interpret it how you will.
So it is, that it would'not be a total exaggeration to call LOTR more than just a movie, but it leaps beyond that, to become an experience, a hazy dream that you hate to wake up from, a dark fairy tale with infinite morales to the story that are all yours to understand and interpret how you will. Or maybe it would'not be an overstatement to call LOTR the greatest film of all time. Or maybe it's more than that, maybe it offers a way of life. But thats your judgment to decide. Because of course, in the wise words first dreamed in Tolkien's mind, "All you have to decide, is what to do with the time that is given to you..."
Screenplay 10 Art Direction 10 Cast 10 Cinematography 10 CGI/Production 10 Editing 10 Music 10 Substance 10 Themes 10 Message 10
Overall 100%