2nd Strong RETURN OF THE KING Review

By Wind(up)bird on 2003-12-10 05:00:16

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING is a triumphant end to what is probably - hell what is definitely - the greatest movie trilogy of all time. And yet I can't help feeling a little ambivalent about the whole thing. Not because of any problems with the film - and I do have one, but I'll get to that in a second - but because I really wish there were some way this could keep going on year after year.

I was half-hoping that at the Grey Havens Saruman would pop out from behind a column and Frodo and company would have to set off on another adventure. Or that they would have to destroy the Witchking's Ring and go back to Mordor.

Here's the thing... and oh, am I going to get slammed for this in TB, flame away, flame away... THE LORD OF THE RINGS saved my life.

When my father was dying of cancer, these books kept me sane. I read them over and over. I strove to be like Samwise. And Frodo, in a lot of ways, was my dad. And in the end, my father took the White Ship, and it changed me forever. Cancer changed my father. It was a Burden not unlike the Ring. He bacame different, more caustic, more angry, but in the end he accepted his Burden and moved on. And I couldn't help finding similarities in my own life. So when the book ended, I'd wipe a few tears, and go back to the beginning.

These films are like that for me. I can't tell you how happy I was to see my favorite scenes from the books translated to film. Samwise's speech about the Shire, and his brave acts on the slopes of Mount Doom - "If I cannot carry the Ring, then I will carry you!" The Battle of the Pelennor Fields which has to be the greatest battle ever put on film. Eowyn's great stand against the Witchking. The taking up of the mantle by Aragorn. Shelob. (Shelob's fucking scary, folks.) And by far, the pinnacle scene of the trilogy for me - Sam taking on Shelob with just a sword and his heart.

What's my problem with the movie? Aragorn is given too short shrift, in my opinion. I know that the film is long enough, and all the editing, sound, and intermission issues that come with that... but I felt that there was missing scenes about him. I'm sure that will be addressed in the EE, and the EEs really are the definitive versions for me. But I guess I wanted more of everything. That happens when you don't want a movie to end. Because it's just that good.

Editor's Note: After clicking below, scroll down to find the rest of the review. This review was not written by any of the dtheatre crew.