I Don't Want it to End!

Rating: 10/10 (20 December 2003)

I've just gone to see The Return of the King today. After waiting for quite a long time freezing my buttocks in the cold outside the theater (this was a Saturday morning) with over a hundred other people, I finally got in and got a great seat (A Note: Stadium Seating is the only way to really experience this movie). When the tedious ads and previews finally ended, the Newline logo screened and the movie began. Nearly 3 and a half hours later, I walked out of the cinema with tears in my eyes. I cried because the film was better than I could have hoped it to be, I cried because it was the most emotionally stirring piece I have ever seen in a theater, but most of all, I cried because the film symbolized the end of this wonderful and unforgettable tale that will be remembered for generations and cherished.
After a delightfully frightening opening flashback of Smeagol's transformation into Gollum, the film picks up where we left Frodo and Sam, in Ithilien, nearing Mordor. The atmosphere here is notably more tense and frightening than it was in The Two Towers, with an undeniable sense of fear and dread lurking up the road. It's scary, but attractive, and drew me right in.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the Helm's Deep victory, Aragorn, Theoden, Gandalf, and co. are partying in Edoras. An unexpected and deadly twist of events though sends Gandalf and Pippin riding to Minas Tirith, the citadel of Gondor, and an absolutely mind blowing, enchanting, and terrific setpiece. There they meet the steward Denethor, who has gone mad over the loss of Boromir and has condemned his other son Faramir to protecting Osgiliath, which is under horrific attack by battalions of orcs. From this point, while the armies of Rohan gather in the North and Aragorn sets out on a terrifying test to claim his position as the king of men (hence the title), Middle Earth prepares for what Gandalf accurately calls, "The Great Battle of our Time".
This of course, is The Battle of Pelennor Fields, which like Peter Jackson said, dwarfs Helm's Deep in scale and excitement. Watching 200000 Orcs, Elephants, Southrons, Trolls, Siege Towers, Wargs, and more besiege the city in what has to be the most spectacular battle scene ever filmed is indescribable. However, the real power of the battle really lies in the feeling behind it. In Helm's Deep, despite the bad odds, there was always a hopeful feeling that Rohan would win. Throughout much of Pelennor Fields, there is a feeling of utter despair, terror, and courage. It never becomes tiresome, is shot brilliantly, and will stay in your mind for days.

Another important thing to mention is the treatment of Frodo and Sam, with their journey to Mordor. Since a lot of the second book was saved for Return of the King, the two hobbits had a lot of ground and places to cover. THankfully, they receive much more screen time here than they did in THe Two Towers, and in truly fantastic (and scary) places. The character of Sam emerges as a true hero and friend in this final chapter, and Sean Astin gives the preformance of his career. Andy Serkis becomes much less funny and pitiful, and more vile and hatable as Gollum, in an absolutely fantastic role. Finally, Elijah Wood gives a final heart breaking and admirable preformance as Frodo, now more hurt and tortured than ever. Their journey is the real center of the movie; the bond between Frodo and Sam, their strength and determination.
The ending for the film couldn't have been more satisfying. Diehard fans of the book may criticize Peter Jackson for changing it a little, but it really suits the film perfectly. If you loved the other movies, I guarantee you will have tears in your eyes by the time the first credit rolls. Kudos for Jackson, an absolute genius and wizard of a filmmaker for bringing this to screen in such splendor and glory.
The acting here is beyond words. Like I said earlier, Sam was my favorite character, but it was hard to choose. Viggo Mortensen made a wonderfully valiant Aragorn here, Sir Ian McKellen still is Gandalf, and Orlando Bloom and John Rhys-Davies are once again hilariously competivite but touchingly close in their friendship as Legolas the Elf, and Gimli the Dwarf. Miranda Otto really impressed me here as Eowyn, who trades in her royal robes for armor and sword here. I'd always liked Billy Boyd (who can really sing!) and Dominic Monhagan as Pippin and Merry, but this was their moment of triumph. The two of them were just wonderful. David Wenham and John Noble were fantastic as the noble Faramir and the crazed Denethor. Their tear-jerking relationship was outstanding and so sad. They were great. Finally, the Orcs themselves rise from scare-inducing baddies to truly brutal and horrible villains (their commander makes the Uruk-Hai look like Oompa Loompas). They even turn the term "Release the prisoners!" into a threat. Just wait and see.
One of the greates parts of the movie is the score. It is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo much better than those of the other films, which is saying a lot because both of the first two had fantastic soundtracks. My favorite score points: Gandalf and Pippin arriving in Minas Tirith, Frodo and Sam climbing Mount Doom, the Finale, the classic Rohan theme, and the score for the heart-breaking last scene in the film. If Howard Shore doesn't win Best Original Score, the Academy will have a lot of hate mail to read.
People say that Mystic River or Cold Mountain will win Best Picture. Not only do I think that they won't but I think they don't deserve it. As much as I liked Mystic River, it did not come close to the marvelry (battles aside) and emotion expressed in Return of the King. And as for Cold Mountain (ugghh) Nicole Kidman may be an Oscar favorite as the genre of the film, but the lack of originality and emotion of the film should have knocked it off the nominee list. This is truly the film of the year. For something you will remember as more than a film you saw at the cinema, get your butt down to the cinema and see The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.