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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[Skywalk]

Did anyone here get the terrible-looking movie with Jude Law, Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow? I think it was called "SkyCaptain and the Men of Tomorrow" or something silly like that. You know, that kind of movie might play if it were based on a well-known comic, but it looked ridiculous.

I even thought it was going to be a preview of a movie WITHIN a movie, but nope...no jokes there, except the movie. Not only is it sci-fi set in the 30s/40s(it appears) but it's in some horrid black and white!!

WHAT THE HELL!?!?! I should have no problem getting the movies I have in my head made, if they're making this crap.

[BibChr]

Just had my second viewing. It was terrific...except some idiots in the audience. Talking incessantly, inappropriate laughter and comments, just jerks. Hard to tune out. But what a terrific movie. Appreciated Miranda Otto's Eowyn all over again. And it is a pity Mortensen is such a burbling idiot; his portrayal of Jackson's Aragorn is superb.

Dan

[Gordian Blade]

Oh, so you were the guy. I hope you didn't mind that I ground it to pieces under my boot?

[ican'tbelieveit]

Isn't the vin diesel one a continuation of pitch black. I remember thinking through our previews that there isn't an original thought anymore. Everything was reproductions or sequels.

[Bogey78O]

Riddick is the character he played in Pitch Black. From what I understand they're reviving the character.

[Bogey78O]

I nearly chucked it at light speed into a wall.

[ican'tbelieveit]

Oh yeah, we also got Mask 2... so, spiderman 2, mask 2, the riddick movie, sky captain... walking tall.

[Lil'freeper]

What a wild ride this has been!

Indeed! Finally got to see it- and am completely overwhelmed. I think I sniffled and wept all the way home. It definately requires a second viewing- which I hope to accomplish this weekend. Tremendous tremendous tremendous! I have neither the words or the breath to properly gush over how perfect everything was visually. I want a penthouse in Minas Tirith!!!!!!

And I can't believe I have quibbles! But here are a few:

I loved the Ent draught scene in TTT-EE in which Merry and Pippen add a few inches to their stature. I was hoping to see a moment when the fellowship reunited that someone would notice how tall they were! But how could they? PJ forgot to make them appear taller. In shots with all four hobbits Merry and Pippen did not apppear to have grown at all. *pout*

And speaking of such fine and admirable hobbits, I wish more was made of their exploits in battle. Yes, Merry sliced the witch king's legs but it happened so fast that it was unclear what he did. Similarly, Pippen didn't get his chance to shine with the troll.

Oh that some of the Dunedain had traveled with Elrond. (that wouldn't have been so hard, would it, PJ?) Houses of healing, Faramir + Eowyn.. well that goes without saying and has been addressed already on the thread.

In the Grey Havens (breathtakingly beautiful, btw), Galadriel comments that the 'time of the three rings is over'. I'm hoping the EE will provide some context for that because PJ has failed to explain to the characters where the other two rings are (although the ring of fire was clearly visible on Gandalf's hand at the Grey Havens). Additionally, I'd like a scene explaining how these three rings are tied to the One ring and elaborate on the FOTR Nuclear Galadriel scene in which she states that 'she will diminish and go into the West'.

Earlier on the thread there was some comment on similiarities to scenes from Star Wars. I couldn't help but think the war elephants (can't remember their official name) plodded on too much like ATATs in Empire Strikes Back.

The time dilation was irksome. I realize it's necessary for the screen, but it took four days to get to the Black Gate. On the screen it appears they rode out one day and reached the gate in time for lunch.

Oh and can you believe Aragorn washed his hair for the coronation!! The presentation of Arwen was a little cheesey, but was overall a great scene.

[Gordian Blade]

I think Merry and Pippin growing taller was a joke reserved for the Ex version of TTT, so I am hoping that they will put being taller back into the Ex version of RoTK. It would only have been confusing and inconsistent in the theatrical release of RoTK since there was no foundation for it in the theatrical release of TTT.

Whatever my minor quibbles, I was happy that there was nothing in RoTK that was a shocking departure from the book. I think two of the scenes in TTT came from left field: the warg attack / Aragorn over the cliff and Frodo at Osgiliath. Time has gotten me past the shock of those scenes, but I still don't see why they were necessary.

I'm heading for my second viewing in a couple of hours. I expect (hope) I will enjoy it all the more because this time I won't be waiting to see what they didn't put in or what wasn't exactly like the book.

[BibChr]

My second viewing lst night was more teary-eyed, I think, because I wasn't simply being overwhelmed and awestruck. Sam's scenes teared me up, and definitely Eowyn. (Miranda Otto SO rocks, in her portrayal of Eowyn.)

I just wish it hadn't been spoiled by such rude audience members. It's hard to lose yourself in the story when some drooling moron is CONSTANTLY talking through EVERY scene, laughing inappropriately, making inappropriate remarks... my first viewing, being on Trilogy Tuesday in a large theater packed with diehard LOTR geeks like myself, spoiled me.

Too bad they can't have separate "geek" and "braying jackass" showings. Grrr.

Dan

[Lil'freeper]

Too bad they can't have separate "geek" and "braying jackass" showings. Grrr.

And a tuberculosis (coughing) showing and a "toddler-in-tow" showing. Ours wasn't too bad- a few family dramas: "Mom! Tell him to stop touching me!" "Jason! I said share the popcorn!" One bewildered toddler who promptly, and mercifully, fell asleep. And a whole host who were about to hack up a lung. But we had exquisite seats and quiet people immediately nearby. No complaints, really.

[sweetliberty]

"So maybe he's just lying to make him feel better?"

Of course not! Gandalf had seen the other side. I expect he even had some notion of who would share the world he had seen. I thought it was much the same as someone who had been brought back from a near death experience might share his reflections. Pippin knew that Gandalf had tasted death and that he himself very well could, and he was afraid. By sharing his own experience, Gandalf was able to give Pippin courage to face whatever might come.

[sweetliberty]

"And to imply that glory and happiness await EVERYONE"

I didn't get the impression that he meant "everyone." The only context in which he used everyone was that death was a veil that everyone must past. What awaited beyond the veil I thought he put in terms that Pippin would have seen as the ideal....a green world and a quick sunrise. It wold have put him in mind of the Shire, a place far removed from where they now stood.

[sweetliberty]

We got previews for the Mask 2, the Punisher, Hidalgo, Cold Mountain, Spiderman 2, the Butterfly Effect and the Harry Potter movie. Hidalgo looks good. The Butterfly Effect looks interesting too. Cold Mountain looks like it might be a butchery movie on the south and I don't like Nicole Kiddman.

[sweetliberty]

"I was hoping to see a moment when the fellowship reunited that someone would notice how tall they were! But how could they?"

Don't you remember that in the extended version, the being taller was only temporary. Remember near the end I think it was where one of them checks thier height (I forget which it was) and says, "ah yes, the world is right again," or something like that.

[Lil'freeper]

"ah yes, the world is right again,"

Merry says it, and it's not temporary- he has snuck some Ent draught, too. They go down in history as being the tallest Hobbits ever because of it.

[sweetliberty]

"but it took four days to get to the Black Gate. On the screen it appears they rode out one day and reached the gate in time for lunch."

Much was swept through rather quickly near the end of the movie. What bothered me about that particular scene was here was this fearless army of mighty horsemen who had traveled all the way to Mordor and the Black Gate....on foot? Only Aragorn, Gandalf, Gimli, Legolas, Merry and Pippin (I think both hobbits were in that scene) were mounted. Huh?

[sweetliberty]

"They go down in history as being the tallest Hobbits ever because of it."

I don't recall anything about that. I do remember both of them having some, but I got the distinct impression that they went back to their normal size. I don't remember how it was in the book, but perhaps PJ didn't feel it necessary to build on this subtheme. It would have been an easy one to edit out.

[Lil'freeper]

traveled all the way to Mordor and the Black Gate....on foot?

That detail escaped me. I must watch it again!

[The Iguana]

Much was swept through rather quickly near the end of the movie. What bothered me about that particular scene was here was this fearless army of mighty horsemen who had traveled all the way to Mordor and the Black Gate....on foot? Only Aragorn, Gandalf, Gimli, Legolas, Merry and Pippin (I think both hobbits were in that scene) were mounted. Huh?

Another instance (I think) of too much efficiency with the cuts by Jackson.

In the book most of the force that marches to the Gates is on foot because of the great evil of the lands they would be traveling in.

There may well be a scene where the horses are dismissed or left behind.

Even stranger is how Frodo and Sam lose their orc-mail without explanation. Another apparent cut.