A brilliant conclusion to a great adventure.

Rating: 10/10 (18 December 2003)

***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** LotR was the best book I ever read (about once a year)
FotR was the best movie I ever saw
TTT was the second best movie I ever saw
RotK was the best movie I ever saw (better than FotR)

LotR was the best (3*)movie experience I ever had - thanks PJ & co.
I went to see a marathon show (with the theatrical releases) on Scandinavia's biggest screen. This was by no means a mistake. I was blown away by this movie. After watching FotR and TTT and then RotK at midnight I still had no trouble keeping awake - RotK doesn't let go for a minute. And when there was an intermission after about 80 minutes I was shocked - how could they interrupt right now? But anyway - the story fits perfectly together with only a few things missing from the extended editions (elven cloaks, lembas bread, pipe-weed etc.)
Pros: Almost everything.
The adaption from book to script was very successful. I, as a huge fan of Tolkien since my early childhood, believe that this is close to exactly as I have always imagined the story inside my head.
The fighting scenes are absolutely awesome. - Cave trolls and Mumakil in battle - cgi to the people :)))
The actors (esp. Sean Astin) do a great job in the more "emotional" scenes - without overacting. Not to forget Gollum _and_ Andy Serkis - good job!
Howard Shores great score keeps the great feeling and contact with the movie.
The path of the dead - cool!
So many other nice things to say - go see it - but remember to see FotR and TTT first - and make sure to read the book - it is even better!
Cons: The editing is a bit rough with very fast shifts from one place to another - but maybe we'll see a better flow in the ext. ed. But if one has to put such a big story into "just" 200 minutes - how else could they have done it? I for my part can not see how.
Now I just can't wait for the extended dvd edition :)

The story about Smeagol and Deagol - what a great thing to include!
It is a shame that The Scouring of the Shire is missing. I think that it is very important to the story. But I trust that the guys (incl PJ) who made the movie are the pro's here and that the movie really is better without this ending. The catch about wars not only being fought abroad but also in the local is very interesting - especially in these times with terrorism etc., but maybe this is also a reason to exclude it from the movie - they don't want anyone to get the idea that it is political.