The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - **RotK

doug*platypus · 12-18-2003, 04:18 PM

Judged on its own, without any unfair comparisons to the book, this was an excellent movie. Worthy of having a place in my favourite movies of all time, although having only seen it once that may change. After all, I loved TTT the first time round! This movie goes now to join its fathers (such as Excalibur and The Empire Strikes Back), and even in their mighty company it shall not now be ashamed.Cheers to everyone who advised me to check the spoiler threads. Changes from the book could well have distracted me from enjoying what was an amazing event, although I have to say for the most part that the changes were few and well done. I'll go into much, much more depth on other threads, for years to come!It really did feel as though the journey had ended. I am really happy to have the wait over, to have finally seen the last installment of the Lord of the Rings movies. Wow, I do actually feel privileged to be saying that. They could never have lived up to the books, but Return of the King is just about as close as you could get in three hours. The Grey Havens alone was worth the $650 million, but it wouldn't have meant anything without all the incredible work done to build up to that point.I was crying my little heart out when Frodo had to leave, and I was very close to it many other times. The theme of friendship was superbly played. If ever a group of actors deserved to win an award together, it was the four Hobbits. Bless you laddies, your off-screen bond really shone through.Return of the King in general was done so well, I sometimes wondered whether the same director had made the last two films. Everything up until Pippin climbing the beacon was just exceptional. The movie had its bad moments, of course, but these were fewer and further between than before. Whatever gripes I will come up with, most of which will stem from my knowledge of the books, The Return of the King is an excellent movie and a credit to anyone that had anything to do with it. Especially Alan Lee!!I think that in a lot of ways, this movie really redeemed flaws that we had seen in the previous episodes. Characters in particular. Elrond, Arwen, Éowyn, Samwise and Aragorn were characters that from time to time (Aragorn) or every single time (Elrond!) I had cringed at. But they were all treated marvellously by the writing team, which I notice contained about six dialogue editors (is that new for the last installment?). The quality of acting in the film was absolutely superb, led by Ian McKellen, although hampered by Bernard Hill... grrr...Alas, all too many scenes were missing, and once again I think that Peter Jackson's priorities were sometimes askew. It will be a long wait for the extended edition! But unfortunately we still live in a time where even 3 hours is generous for a movie. I am so glad that DVDs are here so that we can enjoy some of the scenes that were, regretably cut. I also noticed a general tendency by the movie to go too far sometimes. For example, the prologue. Peter Jackson had it perfect right up until Déagol was murdered, and I felt he should have stopped there instead of droning on about the transformation into Gollum. He had already gotten his point across. Similarly, Théoden's speech before the charge at the Pelennor was a standout piece in the movie (and the only time that Hill lived up to my expectations). The Rohirrim were truly the most frightening thing on the battlefield. That aspect of them could not have been brought to life more skilfully. But after the chants of: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> Death! Death! Death! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Jackson continued to lay it on, a bit too thick in my humble opinion. More talking from Théoden and a pitiful yell from Éowyn (it's in the eyes, Miranda, act with your eyes) took away from the impact of the moment.Lastly I have to say that no punches were pulled when dealing with the theme of death. Peter Jackson bravely took it on, bringing it out of the book superbly, and that's not something that most popular movies will have the nuts to do.Bravo Peter, you've finally done us proud, grown as a director, and even in your characters! Who would have thought that the belching yokel from Bree would one day rise to become captain of a Corsair ship? Kudos.

12-18-2003, 04:18 PM	#61
doug*platypus Delver in the Deep Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Aotearoa Posts: 960	Judged on its own, without any unfair comparisons to the book, this was <B>an excellent movie</B>. Worthy of having a place in my favourite movies of all time, although having only seen it once that may change. After all, I loved TTT the first time round! This movie goes now to join its fathers (such as <I>Excalibur</I> and <I>The Empire Strikes Back</I>), and even in their mighty company it shall not now be ashamed.<P>Cheers to everyone who advised me to check the spoiler threads. Changes from the book could well have distracted me from enjoying what was an amazing event, although I have to say for the most part that the changes were few and well done. I'll go into much, much more depth on other threads, for years to come!<P>It really did feel as though the journey had ended. I am really happy to have the wait over, to have finally seen the last installment of the Lord of the Rings movies. Wow, I do actually feel privileged to be saying that. They could never have lived up to the books, but <I>Return of the King</I> is just about as close as you could get in three hours. <I>The Grey Havens</I> alone was worth the $650 million, but it wouldn't have meant anything without all the incredible work done to build up to that point.<P>I was crying my little heart out when Frodo had to leave, and I was very close to it many other times. The theme of friendship was superbly played. If ever a group of actors deserved to win an award together, it was the four Hobbits. Bless you laddies, your off-screen bond really shone through.<P><I>Return of the King</I> in general was done so well, I sometimes wondered whether the same director had made the last two films. Everything up until Pippin climbing the beacon was just exceptional. The movie had its bad moments, of course, but these were fewer and further between than before. Whatever gripes I will come up with, most of which will stem from my knowledge of the books, <I>The Return of the King</I> is an excellent movie and a credit to anyone that had anything to do with it. <B>Especially</B> Alan Lee!!<P>I think that in a lot of ways, this movie really redeemed flaws that we had seen in the previous episodes. Characters in particular. Elrond, Arwen, Éowyn, Samwise and Aragorn were characters that from time to time (Aragorn) or every single time (Elrond!) I had cringed at. But they were all treated marvellously by the writing team, which I notice contained about six dialogue editors (is that new for the last installment?). The quality of acting in the film was absolutely superb, led by Ian McKellen, although hampered by Bernard Hill... grrr...<P>Alas, all too many scenes were missing, and once again I think that Peter Jackson's priorities were sometimes askew. It will be a long wait for the extended edition! But unfortunately we still live in a time where even 3 hours is generous for a movie. I am so glad that DVDs are here so that we can enjoy some of the scenes that were, regretably cut. <P>I also noticed a general tendency by the movie to go too far sometimes. For example, the prologue. Peter Jackson had it perfect right up until Déagol was murdered, and I felt he should have stopped there instead of droning on about the transformation into Gollum. He had already gotten his point across. Similarly, Théoden's speech before the charge at the Pelennor was a standout piece in the movie (and the only time that Hill lived up to my expectations). The Rohirrim were truly the most frightening thing on the battlefield. That aspect of them could not have been brought to life more skilfully. But after the chants of: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> Death! Death! Death! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Jackson continued to lay it on, a bit too thick in my humble opinion. More talking from Théoden and a pitiful yell from Éowyn (it's in the eyes, Miranda, act with your eyes) took away from the impact of the moment.<P>Lastly I have to say that no punches were pulled when dealing with the theme of death. Peter Jackson bravely took it on, bringing it out of the book superbly, and that's not something that most popular movies will have the nuts to do.<P>Bravo Peter, you've finally done us proud, grown as a director, and even in your characters! Who would have thought that the belching yokel from Bree would one day rise to become captain of a Corsair ship? Kudos. __________________ But Gwindor answered: 'The doom lies in yourself, not in your name'.