FReeper Reviews of Return of the King (Spoiler FILLED)

Dec 17,2003

[HairOfTheDog]

Lord of the Rings:
Return of the King!
FReeper reports and reviews thread

Beyond this point there be spoilers!

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[mstar]

For my part I are very pleased with ROTK. There were some parts of the book that PK/New Line left out that are very dear to me (The Houses Of Healing stories), but I can understand why they were cut, to be released, from what I understand, on the extended DVD. ROTK is a lot of movie! I think PK kept a good flow, keeping his audience's interest, while covering some very difficult written material.

In my opinion, for what it is worth, Sean and Elijah owned this movie. The scenes of Sam carrying Frodo up the mountain just broke my heart. PK did a wonderful job capturing these inspiring, but heart breaking moments from the books.

[Tijeras_Slim]

As you might guess, ol' Slim isn't up on the all the "finer" nuances of LOTR.

I hope all the FReeper Hobbitheads have a great time.

[DCBryan1]

Hey, Where was "THE MOUTH OF SAURON"?

I thought he was cast and would ride forth from the Black Gates and listen to the demands of Elessar....Just wondering...

Also, will there be an extended version of ROTK, and if so, when?

[RightFighter]

Yes, and how could I forget Eowyn, who I find to be both incredibly beautiful and incredibly inspiring. To see her stand up to the Witch King was great, especially when he said "No man can kill me." You knew what was going to happen, but it was cool anyway to see him shrivel up and die when she stuck him - and sticking him right in the face??? You really felt like Frodo would have liked to have seen that one after what happened on Weathertop.

[RightFighter]

Also, will there be an extended version of ROTK, and if so, when?

No, I think Peter Jackson and New Line decided that they'd probably make enough money just releasing the theatrical version of this film, after releasing both theatrical and extended versions (and collectible extended versions with free collectible figurines) of the first two films. While they're at it, they're going to make Jackson's next film, a remake of King Kong, free to moviegoers out of the goodness of their hearts. It's not ALL about the money! ;)

Of course there will be an extended version! As for when, if it follows form from the last two, it will come out about 6 months after the theatrical release. We should see the extended DVD for ROTK sometime next fall.

[Guenevere]

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

any comments?

I am patiently waiting to see ROTK....perhaps this weekend.

Hubby has a very hard work week, and I wouldn't dare go without him....as he's the bigger Tolkien fan than I.....having gone through all the books...

..but I love the first two of the trilogy.

I can't wait!

[PMCarey]

Let's face it, Gandalf was a miserable failure. He needed a much larger coalition to go against Sauron. Instead he tried to organize men to unilaterally attack Mordor. Where were the Elves? Where were the dwarves? Sure he had small token Elf force at Helm's Deep and ONE dwarf!

Some people say that Sauron had WMD, but where's the proof? The only WMD were the three Elven rings and the One Ring and those were all in Gandalf's pocket.

The War of the Ring was a shameful episode in the history of Middle Earth.

[HairOfTheDog]

No, I think Peter Jackson and New Line decided that they'd probably make enough money just releasing the theatrical version of this film

Tricksey!

Great review comments up thread. I also loved those moments. I was dazzled and amazed with this film too. I feel pretty inarticulate about it so far, needing to both see it again, and get some normal sleep.

The BEACONS! - The beacons were really neat. Really dramatic having all those lonely beacon guards called to action.... when they could not know what action, only the beacon.

[HairOfTheDog]

we are listening to the soundtrack right now!

[Guenevere]

#29...LOL....and...?

[GretchenEE]

You certainly were with a vocal audience. I've never been in a theater where the previews were boo'd or applauded. Is that usual where you live?

Thanks for the review. I hope to see it on the 22nd.

[GretchenEE]

But how do you explain Sam and Frodo napping on a rock in a sea of lava? How long would it take thar rock to become a frying pan -- to say nothing of (again) the rising heat?

The extraordinary cooling effects of the frigid air atop Mount Doom?

Thanks for pointing out the non sequitors. Logic loopholes drive me nuts so it's nice to be prewarned.

[HairOfTheDog]

It's excellent.... Wonderful new Gondor themes, and returning themes like the Followship theme and the Hobbits theme revisited...

Get it.... but most important, see the movie!

[BibChr]

Oh no, booing is not common. This just signified they wanted to get RIGHT to the ROTK!

<< The extraordinary cooling effects of the frigid air atop Mount Doom? >>

I love that. Yeah... yeah... THAT's the ticket!

Dan
(c8

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, but Frodo and Sam collapsed on a rock surrounded by lava is right out of the old Nasmith painting I remember.

[Guenevere]

#33..Thanks!!

[HairOfTheDog]

LOL!

[HairOfTheDog]

We had boos at the really dumb movies that were previewed.... something with a dancing baby (the Mask baby) but Viggo's Hidalgo got cheers and some cheering for the new Harry Potter movie.

In the film I remember the entire audience clapping at

The Denethor flamin' fall, surprisingly enough...

Eowyn and the Witch King...

Frodo and Sam when the eagles were coming.

Lots of ooohs and aaahs about the Corsairs and some of their footage.

And big round of applause at the end.

[maquiladora]

Wow, what a ride! I really need to see ROTK a few more times, there was just so much happening. At least 100 times better than TTT and....wow...was there ever a more amazing piece of cinema? Not as emotional as I thought it would be to be honest, and the ending did reduce a lot of the energy in a way, but still, two thumbs way up, I loved it and I'm trying to work out how soon I can see it all over again, and again, and again.....

That still only counts as one!

[HairOfTheDog]

That still only counts as one!

Indeed!

We are off for view number two now!