![]() Finally, there's the simple fact that we have gotten to know the characters. Jackson views elements of the hobbit's travails as operatic (witness the choral aspects of Howard Shore's score). And Frodo's struggles have become magnified. As impressive as the Battle of Helms Deep was, it is dwarfed by the Siege of Minas Tirith and the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. The second is that Jackson, like Tolkien, saved the best for last. The first is that this is the conclusion - the resolution we have eagerly awaited for what seems like more than two years. I can think of three key reasons why this film is stronger than the earlier chapters. The Return of the King exceeds that criteria by a considerable amount. Gene Siskel once argued that a great film needs three memorable scenes to go along with no bad ones. It's the "wow" factor, and it is frequently repeated. One of Jackson's most notable contributions is that he directs the film with the intention that certain instances will raise nape hairs. When the movie was over, I couldn't believe that 3 1/4 hours had passed.Īlthough it's unfair to characterize the film as a collection of great moments - the character arcs and overall narrative are too strong for that - it is nevertheless impossible to deny the power of many individual scenes. The pace is unflagging - once Jackson has us, he doesn't let go. The experience is so immersive that I found myself in the middle of the Battle of the Pelennor Fields along with the heroes, rooting for them - even though I knew how things were going to turn out! Along the way, there are moments of genuine pathos that draw a tear from the eye times of triumph that cause the heart to soar instances of overwhelming tension that cause the adrenaline to surge and images of spectacle that make the jaw drop. From there, it's a slow, steady buildup to a rousing climax. The slowest portions of The Return of the King occur early in the proceedings, as Jackson re-establishes the characters. Meanwhile, Gandalf and Pippin head to the city of Minas Tirith to warn them against a coming invasion, while Aragorn prepares to announce himself as Isildur's heir, the returned king of Gondor. ![]() Along the way, he is burdened by betrayal and paranoia, and must face a deadly giant spider called Shelob. The first tracks Frodo's progress as the increasingly haunted and weary ringbearer attempts to make his way to Mount Doom. From there, the film follows two branches. Meanwhile, the company of Gandalf the wizard (Ian McKellan), Aragorn the ranger (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas the elf (Orlando Bloom), and Gimli the dwarf (John Rhys-Davies), reunite with their hobbit friends Pippin (Billy Boyd) and Merry (Dominic Monaghan) in the wake of the battle of Isengard. The Return of the King opens where The Two Towers ended, with hobbits Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin), and the creature Gollum (Andy Serkis) approaching the dark land of Mordor. However, with the earlier chapters readily available on DVD, anyone with the desire can be prepared. Taken as a whole, there is nothing out there today that can come close to comparing to The Lord of the Rings.Īs with The Two Towers, some form of previous knowledge of The Lord of the Rings is necessary. Somehow, Jackson has managed to synthesize what worked in The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, while siphoning off the less successful elements. Not only is this motion picture an entirely worthy conclusion to the landmark trilogy, but it's better than its predecessors. And so on? Yet, with The Return of the King, Jackson has done more than just bucked the trend. As good as the first two films, The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, are (in either their theatrical or extended DVD versions), movie history is littered with occasions when trilogy conclusions have crashed and burned. One could be forgiven for initially approaching The Return of the King with a little trepidation. This is an experience of epic scope and grandeur, amazing emotional power, and relentless momentum. In fact, labeling this as a "movie" is almost an injustice. There can be no greater gift for a movie lover than the one bestowed upon audiences by Peter Jackson, whose The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is not only the best movie of 2003, but the crowning cinematic achievement of the past several years. According to the movie release schedule, it's December 17. According to the calendar, Christmas is December 25.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |