FReeper Reviews of Return of the King (Spoiler FILLED)

Dec 17,2003

[rosyposy]

[ican'tbelieveit]

ROFL!!!!!!!!

[rosyposy]

[JenB]

Third: IF I'm remembering this right, UNLIKE the book, Denethor does not slam the door and insist on immolating himself. No, Gandalf knocks him back onto the pyre, whereupon he (by Gandalf's direct doing) bursts into flame, screams, and runs off, horribly dying as Faramir watches. Whereupon the now-immobile Gandalf philosophically muses (concerning the man HE just set on fire) something like, "Thus ends the stewardship of Denethor [because I just set him on fire]."

This part annoyed me too, but I felt that they missed Denethor's dignity. It was a silly end. Denethor's real death was wrong and suicidally, but not silly.

I liked your review! I was the same way about the jaw-dropping. Going to write my review in a minute.

[JenB]

My review! In case anyone wanted to see it.

First off, I went with four of my six siblings. We snuck Seth along at the last minute, even though he's only eleven, because my Dad decided he couldn't make a 9:30 showing. We also had a friend of my sister and a friend of the family.

We were going to the last showing of the day, and we got there an hour early - good thing, because ten minutes later the line was fifty people long. At a theater that had RotK on four screens. For the late show. The theater was full.

Once the movie started... well... this movie made me forget I had a bladder. Awesome. I came close to tears several times and there were tears - but not evil ones - in my eye at the Gray Havens.

It looked real. Middle Earth looked more like a real place than ever. Minas Tirith - I feel like I've been there. The battle scenes were better than even in TT, because I could tell what was going on a little better. Some of those charges... the most moving to me was either Faramir's slow-motion charge of Osgiliath, or when Aragorn takes off running toward the hosts of Mordor, and Merry and Pippin follow. I know Merry isn't really in that scene but I liked that adition!

I am sorry they took out the scene on the stair where Gollum almost repents. The bit with the lembas seems cheap in comparison. I think it's a case of the filmers didn't quite get what Tolkien was doing there.

However, to give them credit, that scene in the tower where the Orcs kill each other before Sam showed up is a good illustration, for me, of Tolkien's ideas about Grace and Providence and such. You do what you can and Someone else will handle the big things.

Pippin and Gandalf's little speech about the afterlife... the Gray Havens... this movie was about death and it was glorious. Wow.

And the most heart-wrenching bit, to me, is where Sam and Frodo are crawling up Mount Doom. If anyone ever tells me Frodo "failed" again, I'm going to sit her down and make her watch that scene four hundred times. That is courage! There aren't words to say what I really feel.

I wish they hadn't cut Faramir and Eowyn's love scenes. Their stories feel incomplete.

Loved the coronation. Viggo Mortenson may be a doofkabob but Aragorn makes a great king. I was expecting someone to start singing "Frodo of the Niii-ine Fingers!" though.

One thing that would have been nice is a shot of the elven ship going across the sea, and the fog lifting for a glimpse of Valinor... oh well. Can't have everything.

I need to go again. This one is going to be my favorite, I know it is. There are so many wonderful things I haven't mentioned - Sam's heroism. I could write an essay on that. Merry and Pippin's little comic scenes, what delight. Pippin's singing added such dimension to that doomed charge.

It was so awesome. We got out at one in the morning. I've been tired all day. It was worth it.

[HairOfTheDog]

Great review Jen!

I have felt a little too inarticulate to write about it yet.... I am enjoying reading other's points of view! Maybe after another view I will write something.

I feel like I want to write a review of the whole trilogy.... how it works as a whole. I will always like Fellowship best, but ending it will with RoTK makes the whole thing work.

[ecurbh]

I came close to tears several times and there were tears - but not evil ones

Well, I was not just close, but outright weeping for the last half of the movie. I lost it when Sam says "I can't carry it for you, Frodo, but I can carry you!" and picks up Frodo and continues to struggle up the mountain. ~sob~

[AlGone2001]

Not having read the book, it was an awesome film.

I think it was cool that Smeagol was able to be overtly up to no good to Samwise, behind Frodo's back. He was absolutely evil.

It just cracks me up to realize that all Smeagol had to do was cut his celebration short by leaving the area, and he'd kept the ring.

[AlGone2001]

Pippin's singing added such dimension to that doomed charge.

I am not sure if that was the actor's true voice, but the song was absolutletly beautiful and timely. It did sound identical to Pippins voice.

[LinnieBeth]

Has anyone bought & listened to the soundtrack for Return of the King?

Oh yes, the morning it came out! In fact, had to go through the shipping box with the clerk to get it.

It is beautiful!! Did you expect other wise?! However, I have been using FotR and TTT as walking music- rousiing and brisk. RotK has a much quieter and slower pace, very lyric, thus, not conducive to brisk walking, but great if you want meander or stroll.

[Lil'freeper]

Haven't seen it yet, but I watched FOTR-EE today. One of the scenes added was an exchange between Frodo and Sam 'down by the river' in which Sam explains how he promised to help Frodo. Frodo is dismissive, 'you can't help me Sam.' 'But I promised him Mr. Frodo!'

*sniff*

can'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twait

[HairOfTheDog]

When are you going?

[LinnieBeth]

is that little exchange between Eowyn and Theoden in the book,

No, in the book it is Merry that Theoden talks to, and then when Eomer and some riders arrive, he has his banner passed to Eomer.

The other thing that will almost certainly make the EE is that it is Merry, and his Barrow Downs blade that pierces The Witch Kings backside- causing his blade to swing wide and miss Eowyn--thus allowing a 'woman' to finish him. Both Merry and Eowyn end up in the House of Healing.

[Lil'freeper]

Tomorrow evening. Houseguest has gone home!

[JenB]

It is Pippin's voice, according to the credits in the soundtrack.

Glad you liked the film! You should read the book, it's even better!

[ican'tbelieveit]

Merry did get a shot in at the Witch King, destroying his blade and knocking him down... with the damaged arm.

[paul544]

The movie was great. Does not feel like the 3 1/2 hours it was. The end was a tad bit drawn out, but thats it. PJ had a lot to get done in this film and it shows. Didn't spend a lot of time on sweeping vistas and such. Every scene had a purpose.
Kinda sad to see it end though. I'll miss it a lot. The movies, like the books, will be immortal, but it has been a big part of our lives.
Frodo Lives!

[Skywalk]

Oh also, it's the magic of the Barrow blade that pierces the magical protection of the Wytch-King.

otherwise Eowyn would have met with the same fate as all other "men."

[sweetliberty]

Just got home. I laughed, I cried, I got chills and I even hollered a few times. I was on the edge of my seat for a lot of it too. That movie was simply amazing! I am still processing it.

[HairOfTheDog]

I am still processing it.

Me too.... we may have to see it again.... you think? ;~D