Message:
Here is a non-spoiler version of Marty’s answers and overall impressions to date. There is some redundancy in the questions, and it can be pretty much summed up in the first Q/A.
Q
If you remember, you said that you were not moved in TTT in your first viewing, even though it has the word epic written all over it - and a lot of that was because the only major death was Haldir, and for you (and me) it was just kicking an empty bucket.
I suffer from second viewing syndrome - quite badly, it seems. How did your ROTK experience compare to the others in this respect?
A
FOTR was very clinical. I didn’t know what to expect and had the same fears going in as the rest of you. I did enjoy it the first time, but experienced second viewer syndrome as well.
TTT, I was already primed for PJ’s vision of LOTR and was more open to the experience. I loved it, but I was wowed rather than moved.
In ROTK, I was moved beyond belief. Like I said, I’m a jaded Hollywood type and I knew what was coming, but I had to bite back tears through out the whole film. I haven’t had that experience in years.
Q
Is the “I can’t carry it, but I can carry you” scene as good as we hoped it to be?
A
Bring Kleenex
Q
How good are the visual effects? Better than Matrix Revolutions?
A
Well, Revolutions had some pretty good effects, but I think you’ll be pleased
Q
How realistic are the action scenes?
A
Very
Q
Moriarty is quoted on CHUD’s forum as saying “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. Amazing. Better than you think it’s going to be. It is an emotional endurance test of the highest order, and it deserves to win enough Oscars to choke even a practiced -** ******** like Jeffrey Wells. It’s just now setting in… LOTR is over. I’ve set sail to the Grey Havens, and Sam’s gone home. Holy ****. Holy, holy ****.”
OK, apart from the EE version that’ll come out, did you feel the same way about it being over?
A
It didn’t really sink in until today.
Q
Is the Pelennor Fields battle brilliant/good/mediocre?
A
Brilliant
Q
What are the 4 best scenes/highlights of the film for you?
A
Shelob, Eowyn/Wiki, Ring destruction, Grey Havens
Q
Does the tension build well? And does the story give “payoff” to the tension?
A
Yes
Q
How are the digital/SFX scenes? Do they detract at times and pull you out of the story?
A
Great and no
Q
Did you like the way the Army of the Dead is depicted artistically and practically, eg. the way they looked and acted?
A
Yeah, not blown away, but it worked
Q
Is Sam shown to be truly heroic in his love for Frodo?
A
Oh, yes
Q
Who really stands out?
FOTR had Boromir
TT had Gollum
ROTK has …
A
I’d say the hobbits
Q
How do you like the score?
A
Phenomenal
Q
Is Arwen beautiful for the wedding?
A
Schwing!
Q
What did women at the screening think?
A
My gf is the only one I spoke too, and she loved it.
Q
How is Viggo’s overall performance? Does it merit an Oscar Nom in best actor or supporting actor? Or does Sean Astin deserve this?
A
Astin’s better.
Q
How are the epic cinemagraphic shots? Are there brilliant long shots to give the scope and full impact of what is happening?
A
Yes
Q
Is it a better film than the Rankin/Bass animated classic?
A
A little
Q
general audience reaction - many tears shed?
A
Through the roof. Not a dry eye…
Q
Tell us the general feeling you got. I sit everything you hoped on first viewing? Can you now see the single event picture? Does it work? Is it BP or not?
A
I’ve been saying it will win BP since FOTR lost and my prediction remains.
Q
Best of the 3 movies? Better than TTT at least?
A
Yes, but I liked TTT more than FOTR
Q
Is it an “action” movie or a “character” movie?
A
Both
Q
One question for me, will most who see it say to themselves…Yup this is worthy of best picture??? Meaning will critics, and general public be satisfied also.
A
Hard to say, still reeling from the experience, but given the crowd’s reaction, they will be hard put to give it to anything else I’ve seen this year.
Q
In your opinion, does the Grey Havens sequence come off as “cheesy” at all, or is it as emotional powerful as most of us expect?
A
Cheese free if you’re not too jaded. I’m quite jaded, but I was moved to tears.
Q
Does the WiKi look silly, or really boss?
A
Boss
Q
How heartbreaking is The Choices of Master Samwise?
A
Quite
Q
if possible Marty could you give us the complete Eowyn vs Wiki scene line by line? How much is new and how much is taken from the books…
A
You’re not serious, are you?
Q
How many soft-filtered closeups of Legolas’ pretty eyes are there?
A
Leg’s got a few moments, but his presence isn’t as strong as in the other two.
Q
Does PJ pimp his kids in another useless cameo?
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I think so.
Q
Does your bladder start throbbing in agony at the 3:07 mark or the 3:15 mark?
A
1:15
Q
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?
A
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.
Q
How is the very ending?
A
Moving to the extreme.
Q
As a book adaptation, how “close” did you feel the film was to the books as compared to FoTR and TTT?
A
Quite close with one major change.
Q
How much did you enjoy the film versus the first two? Was it your favorite? Least favorite?
A
Most, but not by a large margin.
Q
Did you cry?
A
Nearly, but I was with my GF so I had to keep up my manly facade.
Q
Is it worth the wait?
Yes
A
Is it as good as it was cracked up to be, and is it as good as we all hope it will be?
A
Yes
Q
Did you look at your watch during the last half hour?
A
No
Q
How do you rank it compared to the first two acts?
A
Better, but quite in keeping with the others.
Q
Did you hear any feedback from other viewers today, besides the GF?
A
Other than the multitude of ovations, not really.
Q
Does Aragorn really stand up with authority and become the King we all want?
A
Yes
Q
Is the suffering of Frodo truly moving?
A
Yes
Q
How is the editing and flow of the movie?
A
I liked the flow, but you could tell there’d be plenty of material for the EE
Q
How is Miranda in her fight with the Wiki?
A
One of the highlights of the film. I was moved more than I’d ever imagined I would be.
Q
Were there any scenes of the film that you felt were extraneous and/or unnecessary?
Q
None come to mind
A
And along that same line, did you ever feel that instead of seeing insert scene X, you’d of rather seen the filmmakers include insert deleted scene Y instead of cutting it?
A
It was all necessary. However, like most here, I would have liked to have seen fewer cuts.
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