A brilliant adaptation of the Tolkien masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (17 April 2004)

A brilliant adaptation of the Tolkien masterpiece--The Return of the King is a fitting end to the great film epic of our time. My favorite scenes in the movie are the lighting of the beacons, the muster of the Rohirrim and the arrival of the Rohirrim at the Pelennor outside of Minas Tirith. Of special note, I loved Bernard Hill's Theoden, the king of Rohan, and Miranda Otto's Eowyn. I also liked Jackson's subtle but obvious homages to other classic films in the trilogy--when the orcs leave Minas Morgul, I had a sudden vision of flying monkeys, and of course, the more obvious reference to Triumph of the Will in the Two Towers, and even Henry V (Tolkien was not quite up to St Crispan's Day, but Jackson created somewhat pallid, but stirring speeches at the Pelennor and before the Black Gate from his writings). I must give high praise to the film and all involved in the film--they captured the spirit of Tolkien.