[Thulorongil]

Return of the King was an amazing movie and a fine interpretation of the book, despite all the problems I have with it. <P> <UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>The beacons!! The entire breathtaking sequence through the mountains with equally breathtaking music. Howard Shore has once again outdone himself!<BR><LI>I think that John Noble did an excellent job as Denethor. Faramir's mission, its accompanying song, and the events that led up to it were very sad, and retained the emotion of the original story.<BR><LI>"Go home, Sam." One of the few scenes in a movie that leaves me close to tears. Gollum's "sneaking" is well done, as is Frodo's slowly siding with him. Once again, Sean Astin plays an excellent Samwise and really makes the whole movie!<BR><LI>I was very worried about the Paths of the Dead when I realized that Peter Jackson would most likely show scenes inside of them. I must admit, though, that he did a good job. I don't think that Aragorn really should have tried to strangle a ghost and as someone said before, there was "the green virus," but the rest made up for it. Just the little details like the dead king's changing face; first you see his expression and then it looks like a skull, and you aren't sure which one you're really seeing.<BR><LI>The Grey Havens was beautiful and another tear-jerking moment. Annie Lenox's "Into the West" is wonderful, as well.<BR><LI>We got to see Bilbo again! I don't know what I was thinking, as there had to be a Grey Havens scene, and Bilbo has to go to the Grey Havens, but for some reason I wasn't expecting him back. His asking Frodo if he could see his old ring again was a good moment, too. Ian Holm's great.<BR><LI>Shelob was awesome! I must have had a little senior moment when I invited my two arachnophobic friends to come see RotK with me! Oh well, the expression on their faces and the bruises on their hands from gripping the seat are just more evidence that She was well done, from her realistic body, to the disturbing tunnel, to Frodo's gruesome face afterwards.<BR><LI>All the scenery in this film was spectacular. I am very pleased that they recruited Alan Lee; he's one of my favorite Tolkien artists. Everyone at Weta, Amin mela lle!<BR></UL>There are so many other things, also, but alas, there are not enough hours in the day!<P>Of course, I did have many problems with the movie, too.<BR><UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Théoden's death was not sad enough! If I was sobbing when I read it, I should have been at least in tears in the theater. I think what happened was that there wasn't enough Merry involvement. In the movie it barely seemed like he did anything to defeat the Witch King, and he never even pledged himself to Théoden. Peter Jackson should have at least put in, "Tell me of the Shire." I am eagerly awaiting the Extended Edition, as I've seen a spoiler pic of Merry kneeling before the king.<BR><LI>Why was Arwen's life bound to the ring??!! I vexed everyone around me by bursting out laughing after that line! Just, why?!<BR><LI>The Witch King's new fashion accessory, that weird mask/crown thing must have affected his thought process. One would think that he'd see the hobbits when he flew right over them! Can't he always sense when the ring is near? Also, what were Sam and Frodo thinking, stopping to rest and watch the gigantic army march past? I know that we need to see how scary and big the army was, but please...<BR><LI>All I have to say is, "A diversion!" Hmm, ya think?<BR><LI>Did Déagol really need to be pulled along through the water by that fish? I understand him falling out of the boat to see the ring, but was that whole bit of getting tugged along necessary?<BR><LI>Denethor really should have just died the way he did in the book, instead of running off the cliff. You'd think that it would be kind of tough to run that whole distance while your body's on fire.<BR><LI>I was upset that we didn't get to see the planting of the sapling of the White Tree! Once again, eagerly awaiting the EE.<BR><LI>I was hoping that at least one of the three movies wouldn't have Gimli as just comic relief. Alas. At least it wasn't as bad as it was in Two Towers.<BR><LI>I was also waiting for Gandalf to battle the Witch King. It didn't seem like he did enough in the movie, other than order a bunch of soldiers around.<BR><LI>Sauron was disappointing, too. I thought that the filmmakers did such a good job with him in the first two movies, that it would stay just as good in the movie that focuses on him. The Eye is not his whole being! Why did it look around and look confused as the tower was collapsing? And the whole spotlightish thing was dumb. [You stole my idea, Arcuwen!] I had said to Arcuwen and my arachnophobic friends that it reminded me of the setup of a video game. Avoid the beam of light or you lose a life! It wasn't really the menacing and powerful evil being that he should have been. <BR></UL><P>I'm sure I'll be back after thinking of more and seeing it for my third and fourth times!<p>[ 6:25 PM December 23, 2003: Message edited by: Thulorongil ]