ZZZZZ....huh?Oh cool!...zzzz

Rating: Null/10 (28 December 2003)

Bloated for the most part, with an excellent action interruption, and then a fat multi-end conclusion. This film is a flat ending to an otherwise well done trilogy.
I think only die hard JRR fans will really dig it. Plenty of those, so no worries.
Adapting novels to screenplays is difficult and it is sometimes important to keep the structure consistent with traditional cinema. I think in this case it could have used it. I think the fuzzy climax should have a quicker resolution to follow. I understand the novel also took some time to wrap up all the loose ends. For the movies we don't need a long resolution and the appearance of more than three logical places to end a film. Also, I am Shocked to realize Frodo has no real character arc compared to Sam and Strider.
Could have easily been 2 and a half hours long.
Excellent action sequences though, and a few good scenes and moments.
Worth seeing once for resolution to trilogy. Arm yourself with a DVD remote and your finger on the fast forward button.