Sorry if this is a redundant thread, but I searched and couldn’t find any for people to post their opinions of “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”, good or bad, with no spoiler restrictions.
So here’s one now.
Uh…maybe you should wait until the film’s actually released??
Well, reviews are appearing all over the net, so why not here? I’ll be avoiding it until I see the film, but there’s no reason why others who want to participate in this sort of thread shouldn’t.
I’ll let you know in 10 days.
Here’s a capsule review based on my one viewing so far.
Overall impression: A triumphant conclusion to a magnificent trilogy of films. Beautiful, horrifying, funny, tragic and inspiring. It had me in its grip for three hours. The conclusion didn’t entirely satisfy me, but the journey was incredible.
Themes
Courage, perserverance, loyalty and love save the world. All these virtues are on proud display. Our heroes have many opportunities to give up, turn back, and despair, but they keep going, even with only “a fool’s hope” of succeeding. The film betrays one of the book’s strongest themes, however, by implying that all is right with the world with the fall of the Dark Lord. One thing that elevates LOTR the book above many childish fantasies is that the forces of good do not destroy the forces of darkness with one heroic act, but must continue to struggle and face evil whenever and wherever it raises its ugly head.
Story
Although it would have been great to have a nice send-off for Christopher Lee, I found myself more or less accepting Gandalf’s “He has no power anymore” at face value. I would have liked some explanation for how that palantir ended up where it did. It also seemed to me thought Sam and Frodo made it from the edge of Mordor to the slopes of Mount Doom awfully fast. Otherwise, if there were any major plot holes, I was too caught up in the film to notice them.
The Fellowship: Characters/performances
Gandalf/Ian McKellan: Another brilliant job. In “The Two Towers”, I missed the grandfatherly, curmudgeonly Gandalf the Grey of “The Fellowship of the Ring”. Well, he’s back, with all the intensity and ferocity of Gandalf the White. Watching him beat up on the bad guys was fun, but his interactions with the wayward hobbit Pippin – stern, caring and ultimately respectful – were where he showed what a great actor can do with a role.
Aragorn/Viggo Mortensen: Finally we see the transition from reluctant hero to the true King, masterfully portrayed. In his final scenes we see Aragorn almost completely transformed, regal and dignified, but not without the humanity we saw in Strider.
Legolas/Orlando Bloom: Bloom’s performance was adequate to the demands of the role. The “cool Legolas stunts” finally went over the top with “Spider-Elf vs. the Oliphaunt.”
Gimli//John Rhys-Davies: An engaging, nuanced character conveyed with a minimum number of lines and a mass of prosthetics. And no dwarf-tossing jokes!
Frodo/Elijah Wood: Near-perfect depiction of the hero consumed by the quest nearly to the point of losing himself entirely. His pain is palpable as he struggles on toward the abyss, with no hope of return.
Sam/Sean Astin: Intensely emotional performance, perhaps to excess. Too many Big Dramatic Scenes and Stirring Speeches without enough quiet, subtle moments to offset them. Loved seeing him take that eight-legged freak to school, though.
Merry/Dominic Monaghan: Early comic scenes with Pippin provide a welcome relief to an intense opening sequence and remind us of the joy and innocence of the life they left behind in the Shire. Monaghan effectively portrays the affection Merry feels for his friends as well as his courage and determination to stand with them, although he’s somewhat overshadowed by actors in meatier roles.
Pippin/Billy Boyd: Amazing. Pippin steals the show. Exuberance, terror, shame, pride, sorrow, joy, and a fine singing voice! I had high expectations of several actors going in, but nothing in the last two movies prepared me for this performance. Watching Pippin finally wake up to the horror around him, look within himself and find the courage to do what needed to be done was a moving, unexpected treat.
Others
Sméagol-Gollum/Andy Serkis: Finally, those who don’t watch DVD extras or TV specials get to see what Serkis looks like! The opening sequence, showing Sméagol’s acquisition of the Ring and its transformation into the corrupt, evil, twisted creature we know and love, is a tour de force for Serkis and the special-effects crew, and reminds us that the Ring is Evil with a big E. Gollum’s soliloquoys, if we can call them that, are as entertaining as ever, but the character’s nastiness is ratcheted up several notches as he moves inexorably beyond any chance of redemption.
Éowyn/Miranda Otto: Very convincing as another person determined do her part, despite the expectations of everyone around her. In her final important scene, she says farewell to the man who was like a father to her, grieving at his passing but having the satisfaction of knowing he dies proud of her and of himself. Oh, and she’s beautiful, too.
Denethor/John Noble: A truly nasty Steward of Gondor, without even the manipulative cleverness of the book’s Denethor to redeem him. Noble sinks his teeth into the role for an effective portrayal of what is essentially a human monster.
KGS
Well, yeah, I thought about that, but there have already been several screenings, I figured other dopers who had seen it might want to share their favorite moments or pet peeves. It’s a way for people who have seen the film to extend the experience, and for people who haven’t to satisfy their curiosity. People who haven’t viewed the entire film but have seen the trailers and TV spots probably have something to say, too. If no one else feels the same way, the thread should wither and die of its own accord.
squeegee
Great! Enjoy the film.
Oops. That last quote was from squeegee. I’ll slip away quietly now.
Oops. That last quote was from squeegee. I’ll slip away quietly now.
Thank you for those thoughts about the various characters. It’s fascinating reading and good writing. If you get a chance, could you say something about Arwen, Galadriel, Elrond, Faramir and Eomer? I know they all seem to have much smaller parts in ROTK, but what were your impressions? Also Theoden?
Does this mean you were bored for half an hour?
It’s a three and a half hour movie!
Still, the film is very good. Even for a “casual” fan like myself, it held my interest without fail the whole time.
Afterwards, my wife had to explain some things still “left out,” like the whole palantir thing as TWDuke mentioned, and Wormtounge’s role in the book, and the meaning of the dead white tree.
At first she was a bit pissed that stuff was left out, but when I reminded her that we had to pay for parking even though you get four hours free (we arrived a half hour early), she reconsidered her criticism.
Besides the Premiers/DGA/Critics Screenings, there have been a couple of charity screenings.
One question for people who have seen it, is this line in?
I’m glad you are with me Sam, here at the end of all things
I sure hope so. I think I’ve heard this line (or something like it) is in:
I can’t carry The Ring for you Frodo, but I can carry you
The NDA for print reviews is lifted 08DEC IIRC, tho a few have appeared.
Brian
N9IWP, I guess there haven’t been as many screenings as I thought. Lucky me, then!
Both your lines are in and very moving, unless you’re one of the teenage girls sitting behind me laughing and giggling.
richardb, while I was never bored, the last 10 minutes or so weren’t as compelling as I’d hoped, not because it was drawn out, but because it was rushed. We’re told that Frodo’s wounds trouble him, but we never see the physical, emotional and spiritual torment that drive him to leave almost everything he loves behind and sail to the West in search of healing.
Ah, yes, the tree. Much is made of the dead tree. At the end, you see a living tree in its place, with no explanation. I guess the logical explanation would be that the tree magically came back to life when the Enemy was destroyed – which isn’t that far off.
Equipose, you’re welcome, and thank you. The characters you listed didn’t stand out as much as some of the others, not through any fault of the actors but because they weren’t called on to do as much.
Éomer/Karl Urban - Very believable as a proud leader of a fierce people. Not being very warlike myself, I never thought, “We ride to ruin! To Death!” could be much of a pep talk, but he sells it. As a whole, the cavalry of Rohan is awesome.
Théoden/Bernard Hill - Sheds the last lingering effects of Saruman’s and Wormtongue’s influence. Dies a good death.
Faramir/David Wenham - If Faramir doesn’t touch your heart, you may be an android. Wenham plays him as a very strong but deeply wounded man, and his nobility makes Denethor look all the worse. Sadly, without the Houses of Healing we never see him begin to recover and become whole, but there is a glimpse of him near the end of the film that implies that everything has turned out as it should.
Arwen/Liv Tyler - Her final decision to stay with Aragorn is handled well. On the way to the Grey Havens, a little boy runs through the woods in front of her. What the…? She looks ahead and sees the boy run into the arms of a beaming, gray-haired Aragorn. Oh, it was only a vision, but for an instant, it was real. Arwen leaves the procession and returns to confront her father. (Insert oft-seen image of Tyler shedding her cloak as she runs up stairs.) He admits that he did not tell her all that he foresaw, not only death, but life. Then, we actually see her become mortal. I’d have to watch it again to see if it’s all in the performance or the effect of lighting or makeup, but there is a visible change. Unfortunately, giving up the life of the Eldar wasn’t enough, the screenwriters decided that she would die immediately unless the Shadow was defeated. Apparently, saving the world isn’t enough motivation for Aragorn.
Elrond/Hugo Weaving - In Elrond, you see defeat in victory. The commanding, vibrant elf-Lord of “Fellowship” is gone.
Galadriel/Cate Blanchett - Basically a cameo, which is true to the book. She appears as a radiant vision at a moment that Frodo nearly gives up, and as a comforting presence at the end.
If you want unlimited spoilers about what’s actually in the movie, here is a veeery long Q&A thread on another board from someone who saw the film at a SAG preview a few days ago.
BTW, TWDuke, I find it interesting that you call the last 10 minutes of the film “rushed”, where the reviewer in the other thread (see my previous post) thought it was too drawn out.
Oh FUCK NO. I’ve already heard this but I was praying it was a rumor. Just how are they going to explain Arwen being bound to the fate of the Ring. Oh, they can’t explain it, BECAUSE IT DIDN’T FUCKING HAPPEN.
Oh, and one more moment I heard that is going to try my patience when I see it. I hear Gandalf loses his tempter with Denethor, and simply beats the crap out of him with his staff. :rolleyes:
The real Gandalf is above an act like that.
I hate to be the one to tell you this…
There is no real Gandalf.
The “real” Gandalf is the one in the books.
I mean, I assumed my comment would be easy enough to grasp, seeing as how there are two Gandalf’s, the book Gandalf and the movie Gandalf, but I guess I was wrong.
Wow, I am looking forward to this film in the same way that the younger version of myself used to look forward to Christmas.
December 22nd will be the day of reckoning for me ( would be the 21st, but for a Grandma with a thoughtlessly inconvienent birthday). Me and my brother will be there, whilst my b.f, staying behind in Hungary for the festive period, grows green with envy-heh heh.
The descriptions here are really whetting my appetite, keep em comin’. I must say, it’s quite a weird feeling to be so anxiously awaiting a film where you already KNOW what’s going to happen, but that’s a testamnet to P.J, and everyone else involved’s genius.
Just one additional question from me- does Aragorn’s sword get re-made? If so, who brings it to him- Arwen?
Yes. Elrond brings it to him. This is in the trailer.
I’d like to know if Narsil is renamed Anduril per the books, and, since such a big deal is made of Aragorn getting that sword in the trailer, if Narsil seems to have magical abilities when Aragorn wields it in battle (e.g., cutting foes in two, flashes of fire or lightning when it strikes, or whatever).