"Return of the King - post all reviews here"

The Hollywood Reporter ^ | Dec 8, 2003 | David Hunter

[ecurbh]

Legolas the elf, Gandalf the wizard and Aragorn, heir of Isildur, return for the final installment of New Line Cinema's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "The Return of the King."

Dec. 08, 2003

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

By David Hunter

Bottom line: Well, Frodo is back in theaters and so will be a multitude of moviegoers.

Opens Wed., Dec. 17

NEW YORK -- An epic success and a history-making production that finishes with a masterfully entertaining final installment, New Line Cinema's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" is a soaring legend in its own day and destined to be cherished for many ages to come. "The Return of the King" is the longest and most complicated of the three "Rings" films and probably fated to be the biggest moneymaker. Sure to be an Oscar contender in many categories and a breathtaking argument for director Peter Jackson winning every award there is to give, "King" has none of the usual deficiencies that frequently scuttle third films.

Opening unexpectedly with a flashback to the day when the twisted Gollum was a healthy Hobbit-like fisherman named Smeagol (Andy Serkis), who commits murder to possess the powerful One Ring, "King" deftly resumes the story after the events of "The Two Towers." After a brief encounter with the talking lord of the forest Treebeard (voiced by John Rhys-Davies), Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Theoden (Bernard Hill) and other survivors of the Battle of Helm's Deep go to ravished Isengard. Within minutes, we're reintroduced to the many characters, including Hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd), Rohan fighters Eomer (Karl Urban) and Eowyn (Miranda Otto), Faramir (David Wenham) of Gondor and the one new human character, Denethor (John Noble), the Steward of Minas Tirith, site of the next great showdown between the mighty forces of evil Sauron and the free peoples of Middle Earth.

Frodo and Sam (Elijah Wood and Sean Astin), guided by the vengeful Gollum (again a wondrous combination of special effects and Serkis' inspired performance), finally enter Mordor, but the divisive influence of the Ring almost ends the fellowship of the two heroic Hobbits. When the three infiltrators pass by Minas Morgul (the dead city where the Nazgul reside), they watch another army of Sauron march to battle under the command of the Witch-king.

Eventually, this Black Captain of the Nazgul, who rides one of the dragonlike beasts first seen in "Towers," has a fight with Eowyn and Merry in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, outside the walls of Minas Tirith, that readers have been waiting decades to see. It's a gloriously crowd-pleasing moment, while overall the lengthy siege is tremendously exciting and visually unparalleled.

Huge elephantlike Mumakil and trolls pushing the giant battering ram known as Grond join hordes of Orcs in a gargantuan assault on Minas Tirith, a fight which faithless Denethor turns away from when he gives into fear and fatherly pride by sending Faramir to certain death. It's the leadership-tested Gandalf (Ian McKellen) who commands the defense of the city. Although Denethor comes off too as enigmatic compared to the original material, he sure has a spectacular final scene.

Jackson and co-writers Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh make noteworthy departures from Tolkien, including such crucial moments as what happens when Frodo is finally standing on a ledge over the Crack of Doom inside the volcano where the ring must be destroyed, and how Aragorn makes use of the Army of the Dead that only he can command. Whole swaths of the book have been condensed and eliminated, but Jackson and company usually realize splendidly whatever they take on.

There are only brief moments with the saga's Elvish beauties: Arwen (Liv Tyler) refuses to abandon Aragorn. Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) makes a crucial connection with Frodo near the story's climax. Dwarf fighter Gimli (Rhys-Davies) provides much-appreciated humor with his sarcastic remarks. Fearless Elf bowman Legolas (Orlando Bloom) delivers the best battlefield action, while wise Elrond (Hugo Weaving) provides Aragorn with the restored sword that defeated Sauron long ago.

The thunderous conclusion to the story of the Ring that includes the end of Frodo's journey and the battle outside the Black Gate winds down to a sublime denouement, leaving only 20 minutes to wrap up when Tolkien took a hundred pages. The extended DVD should bind "King" and the other two films into one awesome movie deserving of regular revivals in theaters. But who can resist right now a classic fantasy adventure that never drags and is simply ravishing to look at thanks to the thousands of craftsmen, performers, animals and postproduction refiners?

[Faraday]

Illuvatar seems to have gotten into the grog.

The confrontation between The Witch King, the leader of the Nazgul, and Eowyn, the daughter of King Theoden....

Eowyn was, of course, the niece of King Theoden, which is made clear in TTT.

[sourcery]

A nice compendium of reviews: OscarWatch.com

[LinnieBeth]

Thanks for the Ping, ecurbh

That was a really heart warming review!

[ecurbh]

AP: Final 'Rings' Has Many Endings

Thu Dec 11, 2:54 PM ET

By DAVID GERMAIN, AP Movie Writer

With "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," Peter Jackson (news) delivers a decent ending to his fantasy trilogy — actually, about 12 endings.

AP Photo

Unable to settle on a finale among the many farewells and epilogues in J.R.R. Tolkien's text, director Jackson decided to use them all.

The result is an endless parade of false endings that will give you a great lower back workout as you rise from your theater seat thinking things are finally over, then settle back in for the next prolonged addendum.

This is the main flaw to an otherwise rousing, action-packed closing chapter that began with 2001's "The Fellowship of the Ring" and continued with last year's "The Two Towers." The nine-hour theatrical epic (more like 11 hours once the extended home-video version of all three flicks are out) winds up petering out in anticlimactic torpor.

Jackson does scale back greatly on the aftermath of the final good-against-evil battle, yet he preserves the main events to keep die-hard Tolkien fans happy.

So viewers are treated in some detail to such comparatively passive sequences as the survivors' return home; the ascension of human warrior Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen (news)) to the throne and his wedding to Elf hottie Arwen (Liv Tyler (news)); the mystical fate of runty Hobbits Frodo (Elijah Wood (news)) and Bilbo (Ian Holm (news)), woolly wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen (news)) and Elf top dogs Galadriel (Cate Blanchett (news)) and Elrond (Hugo Weaving (news)); and the domestic bliss of Frodo's Man Friday, Sam (Sean Astin (news)).

That baggage makes "Return of the King" the longest of the trilogy by far, clocking in at 3 hours, 20 minutes.

There's far too much cool-down time for casual viewers but probably not enough to satisfy the hard-core Tolkien legions. So why not put Blanchett back in voice-over mode, let her narrate a Reader's Digest condensed montage of Jackson's interminable ending, and save the elongated conclusion for the extended home-video cut?

The movie opens with a flashback explaining how Smeagol (Andy Serkis) came to possess his "precious," the nasty ring of ultimate evil, and the first dark deeds that began transforming him into wizened computer-crafted fiend Gollum.

Then the action picks up where "Two Towers" left off, with Gollum plotting to regain his precious as Frodo and Sam trek toward Mount Doom, where they must destroy the ring to keep dark lord Sauron from enslaving Middle-earth.

Meantime, Aragorn, Gandalf and the gang square off against Sauron's plug-ugly minions.

If you're looking for bigger and better battles than the first two chapters, "Return of the King" comes through. Jackson and his New Zealand crew, which filmed all three movies simultaneously, pile computer-generated props, sets and creatures as high as a Nazgul's eye to create the colossal combat scenes.

Bat-faced orcs ride gargantuan elephants into battle against humans on horseback. The adversaries engage in a very cool catapult duel that brings mountains of broken castle stone down on the warriors. Aragorn and pals Legolas the Elf (Orlando Bloom (news)) and Gimli the Dwarf (John Rhys-Davies (news)) charge into the fray at the head of a ghastly ghost army.

Frodo's battle with a giant spider — an encounter Tolkien placed at the end of "Two Towers" but which Jackson transplants to "Return of the King" — is one of the creepiest computer-animated sequences ever produced.

Like "Two Towers," "Return of the King" is more a bruising action movie than "Fellowship of the Ring," the best of the trilogy on the strength of the intimate interplay among its misfit heroes.

Hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan (news)) and Pippin (Billy Boyd (news)) again play larger roles, but much of the original fellowship members are relegated to prancing in larger-than-life mode. Secondary characters step up to provide the final film's most intriguing interpersonal drama.

Faramir (David Wenham (news)), brother of the slain Boromir (Sean Bean (news)), vainly struggles to gain the respect of his contemptible father, Denethor (John Noble). (If you have the chance, first watch the extended version of "The Two Towers," which includes an engaging flashback that adds texture to Faramir and Boromir's relationship with dear old dad).

While Tyler's Arwen and Blanchett's Galadriel again are mere window-dressing, Miranda Otto (news)'s Eowyn soars to provide the most forceful female presence in the entire trilogy and arguably the strongest single moment in "Return of the King."

Christopher Lee (news)'s evil wizard Saruman unfortunately is absent, though no doubt he'll be back in the extended home-video version. Though the trilogy's done, Tolkien fans still can look forward to that precious longer cut next fall.

"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," a New Line release, is rated PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and frightening images. Running time: 200 minutes. Three stars out of four.

[HairOfTheDog]

ackson does scale back greatly on the aftermath of the final good-against-evil battle, yet he preserves the main events to keep die-hard Tolkien fans happy.

So viewers are treated in some detail to such comparatively passive sequences as the survivors' return home; the ascension of human warrior Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen (news)) to the throne and his wedding to Elf hottie Arwen (Liv Tyler (news)); the mystical fate of runty Hobbits Frodo (Elijah Wood (news)) and Bilbo (Ian Holm (news)), woolly wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen (news)) and Elf top dogs Galadriel (Cate Blanchett (news)) and Elrond (Hugo Weaving (news)); and the domestic bliss of Frodo's Man Friday, Sam (Sean Astin (news)).

That baggage makes "Return of the King" the longest of the trilogy by far, clocking in at 3 hours, 20 minutes.

This is the first "bad" review I have seen!

OK So this guy has issues..... "runty"? "wooly?" "Man-Friday?"

[Mudboy Slim]

"If you're looking for bigger and better battles than the first two chapters, "Return of the King" comes through."

Works fer me...MUD

[HairOfTheDog]

I am looking forward to the long emotion-filled endings that he calls "baggage"

Frodo's battle with a giant spider — an encounter Tolkien placed at the end of "Two Towers" but which Jackson transplants to "Return of the King" — is one of the creepiest computer-animated sequences ever produced.

[Corin Stormhands]

BTW - don't look fer me Tuesday. I'll be watchin' the Trilogy.

[Mudboy Slim]

"I am looking forward to the long emotion-filled endings that he calls "baggage"

Me, too...after the climactic battle scene, Aragorn's gotta be made King, Eowyn and Faramir have gotta hook up, and then all the stars need to hit the seas towards the West...that ain't baggage!!

FReegards...MUD

[Mudboy Slim]

"Tuesday. I'll be watchin' the Trilogy."

ROTK doesn't come out until Wednesday...or do you have a bootleg copy?!

FReegards...MUD

[Corin Stormhands]

Tuesday, Regal Cinema Short Pump

2:00 p.m. EE Version Fellowship of the Ring

6:00 p.m. EE Version The Two Towers

10:30 p.m. Theatrical Release - The Two Towers

Bought the tickets a couple of months ago. They're doing this in about 50 cities nationwide.

[The Iguana]

Alas - in KC they sold out in an hour. I missed out.

Fortunately, my brother-in-law has seized control of his seminary's auditorium projector next Tuesday...

[Corin Stormhands]

I bought mine on impulse while others in The Hobbit Hole were doing the same. My son's missing a holiday band concert at school. Not sure the teacher understands.

We don't really care. ;-)

[Mudboy Slim]

Have fun...sounds like a BLAST!!! I've heard HOTD's going to a midnite show of ROTK...are you doing that?!

If not, me and a dude from work are going to see it Friday afternoon, after our office Christmas Party, and yer welcome to join us...MUD

[Corin Stormhands]

Thanks for the invite. I'm not sure I'd be allowed to see it again without my son.

Technically, since I'm seeing all three together I'm doing a midnight show.

[Ciexyz]

Bookmarking this for future reading...AFTER I see Rings next Wed, opening day. (Don't want to be spoiled.)

[Ciexyz]

Frodo rules! Anybody else going to be in the cineplex on opening day?!

[Mudboy Slim]

Oh, so yer "10:30 p.m. Theatrical Release - The Two Towers" shouldda read, "The Return of the King"...that's what threw me off. Have a great time...whenever the ROTK comes out on DVD, I look forward to sitting down and watching all three in succession!!

FReegards...MUD

[Corin Stormhands]

Oh, so yer "10:30 p.m. Theatrical Release - The Two Towers" shouldda read, "The Return of the King"...

oops...yeah, yer right...sorry I've been home with a sick three-year-old all day...and I don't feel so good muhself...

[Vindibudd]

Actually they are doing it in 100 cities including Orlando where'll I'll be!