An impressive success in every possible way.

Rating: 9/10 (17 June 2010)

The extended version of Return of the King is slightly over four hours long. And other than the excessively drawn out and overly indulgent ending (the only thing that keeps it from perfection, in my eyes), every minute of it is wonderful. The best compliment that I can offer, is that it makes those four hours pass by in the twinkling of an eye.
The first two movies laid all the groundwork, introduced most of the major characters, and set the stage for the end. All that's left for Return of the King to do is deliver...and deliver it does. The Battle of Minas Tirith makes The Battle of Helms Deep seem like a minor skirmish, and it's not even the climactic battle of the film. Each of the characters (and the entirety of the world of men) is in perhaps more danger than they've ever been. Frodo and Sam must face the perils of Mordor, the ring's continued burdening of Frodo, as well as the treachery of their guide. And the Eye of Sauron and the smoke and flames of Mount Dhoom cast a disheartening glare over all, as evil's final push to conquer Middle Earth moves into its final phase.
RoTK stands as the best of the trilogy, in my humble opinion. It handles the events of the book incredibly well, only changing or excluding things when it's of benefit to the film. It's astonishing to see the world of Middle Middle translated so well from page to screen. Such a great adaptation of a complex work of literature as The Lord of the Rings should be nigh-impossible, but Peter Jackson, WETA, and New Line managed to pull it off. Return of the King is an achievement, a marvel, and almost a miracle, but most importantly, it's a near-perfect film and a great end to the trilogy.