The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) (VG)

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Directors:

Bret Robbins
Chris Tremmel

Writers:

Michael Becker (story)
J.R.R. Tolkien (novel)

Release Date:

5 November 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy

Plot:

Play as Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Gandalf and Sam as you battle for the fate of Middle Earth.

Plot Keywords:

Middle Earth | Forest | Ring | Slit Throat | Statue

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Elijah Wood	...	Frodo Baggins (voice) (archive footage)
Ian McKellen	...	Gandalf (voice) (archive footage) (as Sir Ian McKellen)
Viggo Mortensen	...	Aragorn (archive footage)
Sean Astin	...	Samwise Gamgee (voice) (archive footage)
John Rhys-Davies	...	Gimli (voice) (archive footage)
Orlando Bloom	...	Legolas Greenleaf (archive footage)
Andy Serkis	...	Gollum / The Witch King of Angmar (voice) (archive footage)
Billy Boyd	...	Peregrin 'Pippin' Took (voice)
Liv Tyler	...	Arwen (archive footage)
Andrew Chaikin	...	Shagrat (voice)
Tom Chantler	...	Rangers of Gondor (voice)
Dominic Monaghan	...	Merry (voice) (archive footage)
Chris Edgerly	...	Rohan Soldier (voice)
Christopher Lee	...	Saruman (voice) (archive footage)
Lorri Holt	...	Eowyn (voice)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

USA:T | Australia:M | Germany:16

Company:

Electronic Arts (EA)

Quotes:

The Mouth of Sauron: But I have a token I was bidden to show thee.
Gimli: Frodo's Mithril vest! Poor hobbit must be dead!
Aragorn: I shall give you a message for your Master!

Movie Connections:

Spin off from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

A Cinematic Masterpiece... almost

The Return of the King almost stands its ground with other cinematic masterpieces out there such as Dark City and Citizen Kane. I really wanted to give this movie a perfect score; I really did.

The Return of the King is the third sequence of a trilogy titled The Lord of the Rings. As a continuation of the second installment, Gollum (Andy Serkis) leads Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) to Mount Doom to destroy a powerful ring capable of a second darkness. Gollum leads because he knows the secret routes through Orcsville. His real intention though, is to get rid of the hobbits and keep the ring for himself. Gollum never gets annoying as a best like Jar-jar does in Star Wars. His list and terrible voice captivates and somewhat moves the audience in a listening bliss.

Meanwhile, a huge battle (When I say huge, I mean huge) is being fought for Middle Earth. It is up to the King of mankind to unite all the tribes and fight as one. Aragorn (Viggo Mortenson), the elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and little guy Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) once again are the big heroes in the battles. Legolas and Gimli even compete to see who can kill more of the enemy.

I'm glad to have seen the third installment focus more on the two small Hobbits, and their journey to Mount Doom. Though Frodo is the designated Hobbit assigned the task of destroying the ring, one can almost sense the pain and burden of this task. It exhausts him to the point of unconsciousness. But there is where the human emotional connection ends. We all know the humans are going to win, but we never feel like siding with the humans, like we sided for William Walace in Braveheart.

As for the battle for Middle Earth, this is one of the most magnificent battles ever captured in cinema. There's everything from three story mammoths to big fat ogres trying to destroy humanity. What really bothered me though, was the inaccuracy of the effects. For example, it is told that mankind's army is 6,000 strong. Yet when an aerial shot is made of the scene, it seems closer to 20,000. These petty inaccuracies drove me crazy throughout the movie. This, however, as understandable in a Hollywood film, must be made to satisfy the audiences' craving for bigger, badder fights. Somehow, the characters we once sort of cared for in the second movie, we don't really care for anymore. It's replaced with a lushness of beautiful surroundings and good dialog most of the time. The innate feel is lost. As an effect, one cannot truly connect, and thus, this is the film's major flaw.

At three hours and twenty minutes long, one wonders why it wasn't vigorously edited. Just when you think it's over, another ending comes. And then another. And then another. At this point, you just want the damned thing to end; then another ending comes.

It is said that the best movies ever were ones that dealt with actual human events. The Return of the King is a fantasy, and it comes pretty close to being up there with the great classics. But as the best in it's own fantasy category, it could easily go for the best picture of 2003.