Beautiful movies, but so poignant... so sad...

Rating: Null/10 (13 April 2004)

Beautiful sets; seamless editing; realistic, intense acting... I can't place my finger on one thing that wasn't done well... although I feel that Arwen has become more of a background character. She just sat around, waiting for Aragorn while Éowyn actually proved herself worthy of something. I like the fact that she chose to fight since it really displays feminine power. I like it when women are able to stand up and pull their own weight in something, rather than cower back as too many dramas show women to do. (unrelated, but, while they are both beautiful, Arwen is a little too fancy and perfect while Éowyn seems much more natural). I was also a bit disappointed that nothing is shown of their(the hobbit's) lives after Frodo left. I can't help but wonder what happened to them, what they went through... oh well.
I loved this movie when I saw it. It just pulls at my heartstrings after several weeks since seeing it. Shelob scared me half to death, yet I couldn't look away, much to my chagrin. Any of the scenes with the hobbits were what I really looked forward to. Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin made me smile... and cry. Everything down to their eyes expressed all, from laughter, to hope, to heartbreak. Frodo with his vulnerability and determination; Sam with his will, courage, strength and spirit; Pippin and Merry with their wit, antics, eagerness and awkwardness. Their vulnerable, child-like nature really made me feel for them, especially since they had suffered so much. I felt a knot in my throat as Pippin was forced to leave for Minias Tirith...without Merry. The looks on their faces were too much for me to bear. My heart soared when Pippin exclaimed this in the Final Battle: "The eagles are coming!" (or something), Sauron was destroyed, when Frodo and Sam were rescued, when the fellowship was reunited, and when Aragorn and his people bowed to the hobbits. (And I thought it was so cute when Pippin caught Rosie's bouquet at Sam's wedding!) Out of all of the "heroes" of this story, I would say that Sam comes the closest to being the real hero. His courage, strength, determination, instincts, compassion, humor, whistfulness, and love make for perhaps the best character in here.
Yet, I felt a very strong feeling of sadness in theses scenes as well...even when Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin returned home. I feel like crying when I think of Frodo leaving Middle Earth. I understand why Merry, Pippin, (and especially) Sam did so. It melted this hardened heart to see these three little ones on the dock, watching their friend sailing out of the harbor, into the sunset, leaving for the last time... I just wanted to hug them, to comfort them. Their closeness helped me to open up. It's just so dear that they are so affectionate to each other. This whole trilogy is filled with exquisite beauty, and the friendships between the characters are what impress, and touch, me the most out of all else...