# LOTR \*MOVIE\* fans...start your engines! (GREAT first reactions) No Spoilers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 28, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725 "2003-11-28T14:42:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725/1 "2003-11-28T14:42:31Z")
Screenings for ROTK began last night in Los Angeles for Guild members and other interested parties. These are questions asked of someone who saw it, posted on the Tolkien Online message board (no, I’m not going to give the URL, there are way too many spoilers. If you want spoilers, go find it yourself). I didn’t write any of this. > [@](#): > > _How is the very ending?_ > > Moving to the extreme. > > _Is it worth the wait?_ > > Yes > > _Is it as good as it was cracked up to be, and is it as good as we all hope it will be?_ > > Yes > > _What I’d like to know is just how emotional it is, and elaborate on how much you liked it…is it much better than the other two?_ > > It’s certainly more emotional than the other two. I spent most of the film with a lump in my throat. Yes, I do think it’s better. It has a climax, after all. > > _On a scale of 1 to 10 what do you give it as whole?_ > > 9.5, ok 10 Plus, these are quotes from Moriarty (from aintitcoolnews) > [@](#): > > It’s amazing. It’s better than you think it’s going to be. > It is astonishing. There’s a stretch in the middle where PJ hits an emotional crescendo that lasts almost an hour and a half… I don’t think I’ve ever been so worked up in a movie. I didn’t know if I should stay seated or jump up or what. It’s preposterously great. > Take all the emotional power of the first film… and double it. > Take the battle intensity of the second one… and double it. > Then put them together. > I talked to three people at the DGA afterwards… all three are voting Academy members, and all three are guys who are part of major voting blocks. They all said the same thing: “There is no competition for that. There can’t be.” > And the crowd… a fairly blase industry crowd… went nuts. They applauded at least eight different scenes. Just to put this guy’s (Moriarty) thoughts into perspective, read what he had to say about **The Fellowship of the Ring** after he first saw it, here: > **[MORIARTY Reviews LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING!!](http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/10998)** > > Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab. So this morning I saw New Line's highly-anticipated LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, right? I cannot stress this strongly enough: do not see this movie. If you do,... ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725/2 "2003-11-28T14:48:07Z")
Oh, since I put “No spoilers” in the Subject Line, if you want to post something that is a spoiler for the film (and book) please put it in a Spoiler box. Not everyone has read the book. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725/3 "2003-11-28T16:23:08Z")
> [@](#): > > Not everyone has read the book. On this board? Are you kidding? ---
**Author:** ![CyberPundit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@CyberPundit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyberPundit)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725/4 "2003-11-28T17:02:15Z")
“On this board? Are you kidding?” Not at all. I love the films and haven’t read the books. I am sure there are others. The movie sounds great. I always thought ROTK would win the BP Oscar and now I am nearly certain of it. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725/5 "2003-11-28T17:08:56Z")
Utúlien aurë! Aiya Eldalië ar Atanatari, utúlien aurë! Auta i lómë! (The day comes! Behold people of the Eldar and fathers of men, the day comes! Night is passing!) [sub]Sorry, I’m just getting a bit worked up over this. Been watching TT EE pretty much nonstop for a week now. [sub] ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725/6 "2003-11-28T17:43:05Z")
I hear ya Qadgop! I just finished rereading ROTK on Monday. I cannot wait for the film to come out. ---
**Author:** ![jmizzou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/edb3f5/32.png) [@jmizzou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmizzou)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725/7 "2003-11-28T18:41:43Z")
What’s the final running time on the film? Last I heard it was around 3 hours, but they were still cutting things from it. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725/8 "2003-11-28T19:21:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jmizzou \* > \*\*What’s the final running time on the film? Last I heard it was around 3 hours, but they were still cutting things from it. \*\* It’s almost exactly 3:20. (I know “almost exactly” is an oxymoron, but it’s 3:19something and I don’t know what it is exactly exactly). ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725/9 "2003-11-28T19:28:33Z")
Here’s a non-spoiler review from the Tolkien Online message board. > [@](#): > > Date Posted: Nov/28/2003 10:11 AM > > The Return of the King \*\*\*\*\* > > As we all know, the third film in a series (not counting Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) is almost always weak. ROTJ, BTTF3, Alien 3, Scream 3, Godfather 3, The Matrix Revolutions…the list goes on and on. I relly didn’t have this fear going into ROTK. I knew the source material was there, I knew PJ was right on track, I knew they were all shot together. What I was afraid of was an anti-climactic ending. I knew that Gollum tumbling over the edge had the potential to be a “what the…?” moment for many virgins. > > Of course a lot is riding on the success of this film, not the least of which are the Oscar and the honor of being the only film trilogy to have three consistant great installments. It all comes down to the moment for which we’ve been waiting for over two years. And PJ hits it out of the ballpark. > > As I’ve said before, my love of this series has stemmed from an appreciation of Jackson’s cinematic mastery and Tolkien’s visionary genius. Well, up until this point, I have had very little emotional response to the material. Not that I ever really do anymore. I’m a Hollywood type, I see everything, and I know all the tricks. When I feel the manipulation, I start to sneer. > > Well, to use a cliche, step right up folks, and go for a ride on the Return of the King Emotional Rollercoaster, keep hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times. This time PJ’s playing for keeps. > > He juggles the multiple storylines with ease, giving each plot thread and character the gravitas it needs to complete their arcs. No tear is unearned, no lump in the throat unfelt. > > Of course, from a more acedemic standpoint, Jackson maintains Tolkiens myriad of themes a cookin’. The emotion is not maudlin because it serves the messages of friendship, corruption, mortality and all the others woven into the narrative. > > From a more filmmaking standpoint, the effects continue to be superlative and actors like Sean Astin, Miranda Otto, and Billy Boyd finally get their chances to shine. Unlike in the previous two films where I felt some characters were underdeveloped, each person is fully fleshed out with satisfying conclusions to their stories. > > Criticisms? Well, I think that PJ was right to amp up Saruman in the previous installments. The lack of a tangible villan was noticable. And I’m still not a fan of Orlando Bloom. > > And so it all comes down to that ending. This is a spoiler free review so all I can say is, it works. It works better than it has any right to. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725/10 "2003-11-28T19:31:21Z")
ARGH, that’s NOT a spoiler-free review, but somehow my eyes deceived me, probably because of the last paragraph. Grumble grumble…should have taken my own advice…grumble grumble. ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725/11 "2003-11-28T19:46:54Z")
I am not wearing much makeup to this, as I already know I will probably miss most of the movie the first time around from bawling my little heart out, I can’t even watch the stupid animated version without getting upset. Especially the little song at the end. Argh, want to see movie NOW. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725/12 "2003-11-28T20:30:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jinwicked \* > \*\*Argh, want to see movie NOW. \*\* I am watching it right now, in my mind. 🆒 It’ll be better during the drive home after work, where I listen to the soundtracks for FOTR and TT. Anybody know when ROTK soundtrack comes out? ---
**Author:** ![lilbtagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4491bb/32.png) [@lilbtagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilbtagna)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725/13 "2003-11-28T20:41:13Z")
The soundtrack’s already out, **Qadgop**. I bought it on Tuesday and have been listening to it nonstop. Go get it! ---
**Author:** ![Soapbox\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Soapbox\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soapbox_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725/14 "2003-11-28T21:28:42Z")
If this film blows me away I may be able to forgive PJ for some of the shit he pulled with Two Towers. But if he alters even ONE FUCKING DETAIL about the scene at Mt. Doom I’m gonna throw away my copies of Fellowship and TT and just pretend this whole thing never happened. Then I’m gonna get cozy in my bed and start reading the books again. ---
**Author:** ![Tremmie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@Tremmie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tremmie)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725/15 "2003-11-28T21:44:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Soapbox Monkey \* > \*\*If this film blows me away I may be able to forgive PJ for some of the shit he pulled with Two Towers. > > But if he alters even ONE FUCKING DETAIL about the scene at Mt. Doom I’m gonna throw away my copies of Fellowship and TT and just pretend this whole thing never happened. Then I’m gonna get cozy in my bed and start reading the books again. \*\* :rolleyes: I would post what happens, but with this attitude i much rather let you stew so you can let it all out on the post-ROTK-premier thread . ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725/16 "2003-11-28T23:18:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Soapbox Monkey \* > \*\*If this film blows me away I may be able to forgive PJ for some of the shit he pulled with Two Towers. > > But if he alters even ONE FUCKING DETAIL about the scene at Mt. Doom I’m gonna throw away my copies of Fellowship and TT and just pretend this whole thing never happened. Then I’m gonna get cozy in my bed and start reading the books again. \*\* Maybe you should go to the other thread and find out before you see the movie. I don’t want this thread to be a place to bitch about changes to the Book. ---
**Author:** ![Delly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Delly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delly)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725/17 "2003-11-29T01:07:54Z")
Pleeeeease lets not let this thread turn into " How dare Peter Jackson change [fill the gap]" Personally I cant wait to see it, the year apart has been far far to long. ---
**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725/18 "2003-11-29T02:04:20Z")
RTFT!!! (Read The Freaking Title)!!! **Equipoise** did us all a favor by including _ **MOVIE** _ in the thread title. I personally can’t wait for this. I’ve marked the last two Decembers by seeing the movies on opening day, and I can’t wait to do it again. On further reflection, damn you **Equipoise**!!! Until I read this thread ROTK was a minor itch that would appear about once a week and need scratching. You have turned it into a raging, pus-spewing spider bite that needs constant cleaning, scratching and general fussing-over. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725/19 "2003-11-29T03:06:20Z")
December 16…must wait…must keep waiting…AAAAAGH! And I’m with **pilot141**. How am I going to make it NOW??? ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725/20 "2003-11-29T04:31:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lilbtagna \* > \*\*The soundtrack’s already out, **Qadgop**. I bought it on Tuesday and have been listening to it nonstop. Go get it! \*\* I’ve ordered the special edition version of the soundtrack, which won’t come until next week or so. However, to tide me over I’ve been listening to “[Into the West](http://www.lordoftherings-soundtrack.com)” with Annie Lennox performing. Every review so far has made much of the emotional impact of the film; I can hear it just listening to this song. Makes me misty every time I listen to it. Of course, I also already know what’s going to happen… _snif_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-movie-fans-start-your-engines-great-first-reactions-no-spoilers/215725.md?page=2)