Review:

**** (out of ****)

Starring:

Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Marton Csokas, Bernard Hill, Ian Holm, Ian McKellen, Dominic Monaghan, Viggo Mortensen, John Noble, Miranda Otto, John Rhys-Davies, Andy Serkis, Liv Tyler, Karl Urban, Hugo Weaving, David Wenham, Elijah Wood

Director:

Peter Jackson

Screenplay:

Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson (J.R.R. Tolkien)

Length:

3h 21m

MPAA Rating:

PG-13 (For intense epic battle sequences and frightening images)

The ultimate battle of good and evil rages to a conclusion in the final installment of The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The battle for Middle-Earth began in 2001 with the release of Peter Jackson daring vision of the world of J.R.R. Tolkien, the creator of a series of books called The Lord of the Rings. His vision was singular and entertaining and brought millions of people to the theater. In 2002, the second installment appeared and audiences went in greater number. Now, Jackson has finished what he started with the last and greatest achievement The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

We start off the film at a glance at the birth of Gollum. Sméagol (non-digitized Andy Serkis) fights friend Déagol for a ring he found in the riverbed. In taking the ring from his friend, he commits murder, sending him on an emotional trek to hide from his crimes and covet that which he holds most dear, his “precious”. The One Ring showed itself as a force of great evil, despite being a small object, in The Fellowship of the Ring. Here, it takes on the role with more fervor pitting the slowly-corrupting Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) against the conniving Gollum.

The Return of the King is a fearless look at hope and passion in the face of overwhelming odds. It is not only about the quest to destroy the greatest evil in the history of the world. It is also about the strength and courage of a disparate group of individuals whose lives, and destinies, are brought together to face this crushing evil.

The film follows two groups of characters. Frodo and Sam (Sean Astin) continue their dangerous quest to bring the ring to Mount Doom to destroy it. Along the way, they must contend with Gollum whose desire for the ring mounts with each day they continue. Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Gimli (John Rhys-Davies), Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Gandalf (Sir Ian McKellen) meet up with Treebeard (Voiced by Rhys-Davies), Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) at Isengard where they journey back to Edoras to begin mustering for war with the Dark Lord Sauron.

It’s not lightly that I call The Return of the King a masterpiece. The first two films were brilliant achievements in their own rights but the final chapter far surpasses their accomplishments. The film blends every fantastic bit of storytelling imaginable into an epic motion picture that transcends pure fantasy. The settings are so amazing and the effects so realistic that you can’t help feel that you’re actually there for the ride.

Sadly, the worst thing you can say about the film is that not all of the novel’s scenes are in the movie. Luckily, for everyone who hasn’t read the books (and even most people who have), what’s present is all the audience needs to bring the trilogy to a close, to feel that everything has been resolved and that the experience they have had was worth the wait.

Return of the King not only has visual appeal but it has an emotional resonance that succeeds where many films fail. As we find that each of these characters has a destiny to fulfill, we learn that life is as meaningful for them as it is for us. We understand that these people have to face insurmountable odds or have their world come crashing down around them. They understand that what they do is not for their own glorification but to save the whole of Middle Earth.

Nothing could capitalize on the emotional strengths of the screenplay more than the wonderful performances contained herein. The best performances come from supporting characters or major characters with supportive roles. The most impressive is Astin whose Sam has been faithfully serving Frodo, much like the gardener servant he once was but as the film progresses, we finally see Sam growing into his own person. He adapts to the dangers of the situation and shows amazing resilience as we finally see that Samwise Gamgee and not Frodo Baggins is the everyman that the audience can relate to. Similarly, Miranda Otto as the winsome Eowyn takes her rightful place among the heroes of Middle Earth in a climactic sequence that leaves the audience cheering.

The almost familial relationship between Legolas and Gimli would have been nothing without the laudable work of Rhys-Davies and Bloom. Each of them play delightfully off of the others’ weaknesses and provide much of the film’s best comedic relief.

The film would be nothing without, and could be best summed up through, its beautiful score crafted by Howard Shore. His eloquent and passionate melodies fit into every shadow of the film as if some greater power was listening to a grand classical work while molding the universe as it plays. We feel every note and its resonance is felt long after the film is over.

When the final parting shot fades from the screen, the audience will rejoice in writer, director and producer Peter Jackson’s seminal achievement. The Return of the King, as part of the whole trilogy, culminates years of dedication and passion. It is that passion that has galvanized millions of viewers and has opened up a new generation to the works of Tolkien. What could have been a colossal disaster, Jackson has adapted into a colossal achievement.

It is through Jackson’s effort that all of this becomes possible. The Return of the King is groundbreaking and uplifting. It is the kind of film that will stand the test of time and find itself placed on a pedestal of distinction in the pantheon of cinema history. It is there that it rightfully belongs.

-Wesley Lovell (December 17, 2003)