The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (I) (2003 Video Game) User Reviews (25)

Improves On Some of the Flaws of The Two Towers, But Is Still Equal...

[fearfulofspiders · 9/10 · 24 September 2008]

If you enjoyed The Two Towers game back in 2002, then there's no doubt you will like The Return of the King. With more advanced gameplay, more characters, and great graphics, this gaming-sequel fixes some of the predecessor's flaws, but is still equal overall.

Much like the prior game, The Return of the King follows the storyline/time-line of the films. However, unlike the theatrical cut, the Black Gate of Mordor level includes the Mouth of Sauron -- which can be seen in the extended cut. The Minas Tirith levels are grand -- a more expansive map would've been spectacular. However, with even some of the more epic levels, the ones including Frodo and Sam are rather disappointing, as they're the easiest of the bunch; these levels require a sense of direction, rather than strategy.

If I had to point out the hardest level, it would be a tie between the Crack of Doom -- as defeating Gollum is harder than expected -- and the Battle of the Pelennor Fields where you have to duel the Witch-King.

There's more combat moves for each character, which improves on the stiffness of the ones incorporated in The Two Towers -- however, once again, they're ninja-like, even for Gimli.

Overall, this is definitely worth your cash. It's fun, and can be beaten in about five hours -- which is both a pro and con. I recommend it to fans of The Lord of the Rings, and to those who enjoyed the previous game.

Tense and sweaty action.

[swedzin · 7/10 · 3 September 2013]

First time I played it, it was extremely hard, I was so confused. And I hated this game and I still do. Because it can be real pain the ass, when it comes to gameplay. For instance, camera angles are freaking weird, most of the time you can't run in straight line, opponents are sometimes horrible to beat down and you need to be extremely intense to finish a level and some characters are just… like hobbits for example, most of them are weak, small and slow. There's also a timer on some levels, but first you must go through a bunch of enemies and to enter a different camera angle that simple confuse you, it is so… tense… and sweaty, after one level, you smell like a pig. There are some special ways to defeat your opponents… boring… why not just hack and slash the f**k out of them? But, for most of them, you can. And cut scenes… damn, you can't exit them, that's terrible. I don't understand, who the hell wants to watch those scenes again? We already saw the movie, please, proceed. Now, for some good things… graphics are good, they could be even better, the sound effects are great, straight from the film, to the game, they are just great, the action can be very rage releasing for you, I like the combos too… interviews are good. When it comes to the characters… my favorite is Pippin. I'll explain. While the Gandalf is perhaps, the most playable, he can do very extraordinary things, he has a great magic power and strong fluid attacks. Aragorn and Legolas are great in their own way, while Gimli, Merry, Sam and Frodo are slow, with the exception of Gimli, he can be good on occasions. Frodo is the worst. Faramir… is a badass, he can cut strong, without stopping him. Now, when it comes to Pippin, he is small and slow (when it comes to running), but in fight, he is surprisingly powerful, he can take out even 5 time bigger opponents than him in just a few blows and he can destroy the enemy shields with one fast attack, but first you need to power him up. Overall, think before you take this game, because it's really tense, sweaty and tiresome.

Gazilion years later this game is still fun

[nikolaibg · 10/10 · 12 February 2016]

Recently the nostalgia got the best of me and decided to give this game a nice rerun. I remember how much fun i had when was kid and how much i struggled till i learn how to push the ladders down :D

Mind the fact that i played this game on PC , i know on consoles it had terrible camera but i still gave it 10.

But lets begin .this game "follow" the story of the movie and in my option it follows it good for game . Most of the games based on movies are terrible fast cash and grab . But not this game . There was some nice love put in here. Is your basic hack and slash, but the levels are nice made, the difficulty is set well and there have been put some extra work overall . Especially the graphics which have aged quite well .The only problem i had with this game , is to short you can finish it in 4-5 hours . But for reward for finishing a level you get a nice interview with few of the cast of the movie, which in my option fix the issue

Any way if you came here by nostalgia give it another go is still awesome . And if your thinking to try this old game same ,you wont be disappointed especially if your LOTR fan :)

One of the best videogames ever

[ElvenRangergrl · 30 January 2004]

The video game is awesome. The graphics are great and it follows the movie which is good too. Plus, you get bonus footage of the Return of the King movie too. It's all good in my book. I give it 2 thumbs up. It's a game worthy playing.

One of the best movie tie in video games ever!

[jay_amer · 10/10 · 9 March 2022]

Wow! Is all I need to say. Perfection, outstanding, and phenomenal. I cannot get enough of this game. I will always play this over and over and over again. It will never bore me, and will always be such an entertaining video game of my childhood. Easily one of the best movie tie in video games. 100/10. Beyond perfect!

Did it made the promised goal?

[sander_linssen · 15 June 2005]

Well in one word yes. The goal was to make a LotR game that would be true to the movies and they did a great job. The levels are well recognized from the movie architecture. Even the characters movements have been taken from the movie into the game. Butt now for some fine details.

You start the game, and well well the THX logo appears. This means you will have a nice listening pleasure waiting up ahead. And its true, the sound/music is terrific. Just think of it, you playing with you're favi character and the tension moves up with the well known music from Howard Shore. Great hah?!! :-) When it comes to the graphics I must say that except from a incident with a low frame rate on the PS2 and NGC its all well done. Even though some details are made of low quality graphics they do give a life feel to the surroundings.

Voiceacting? One word. Superb! The gameplay is nice, not excellent but its higher difficulty than "The Two Towers" game makes it more fun. Interactive elements. Such as throwing spears, pouring boiling oil over enemies give an extra feel of freedom. It will take you at least 10 hours to complete all levels for the first time. So you won't be bored soon cause.....

The cinematics give extra variety and when you finish the game you get three characters, plus extra bonuses after finishing a mission.

Has the game got flaws? Yes one big one, the camera angles are sometimes a pain in the ass. But don't let that ruin the fun cause this war has just begun!!! :-)

The strongest title in the Lord of the Rings video game franchise.

[TomiusJ · 26 May 2005]

If you think of the EA Lord of the Rings games as members of the Action/Adventure genre you are in reality wrong. Since the dawn of video game history, there has always been a genre known as Hack 'n' slash. The Hack 'n' slash genre is basically meaning that the game does not necessitate much mental input, but instead requires the player to use a certain amount of button bashing. Button bashing games however have always had the tendency for getting dull very easily, with this game however, that doesn't seem to be the case. With 9 characters to play with, all wielding their own unique weapons and special moves, this game doesn't get tedious for a long while. Fun-wise, the Return of the King keeps the action velocity up long enough to constantly keep you interested. Should it be fighting an assemblage of fierce Urik-hai, or spear throwing at some nearby goblins, this game succeeds in the keeping-the-player-interested section. As for the upgraded features from the previous Two Towers game, you can now fully interact with the scenery around you. Characters can now pick up spears and fire catapults, as well as lower drawbridges and cutting roles holding up huge chandeliers (Ah… memories.) As for warfare, it is much swifter. You get the Lord of the Rings fighting style in a much more stimulating and further moving perspective.

For me and of course many others, sound is one of the most important aspects of a game. Without a first-class main theme, or an exhilarating and heroic character melody, a game is, in essence, pointless. Being the licensed movie game, Return of the King was therefore given the rights to use the soundtrack from the movies, composed by Howard Shore. This was a huge excitement for me, as I worship the Lord of the Rings soundtrack, especially the main theme. Should it be the Shire melody, or the terrifying Nazgul tune, the soundtrack from the Lord of the Rings is truly amazing, and of course, fits this game perfectly. My only disappointment however, was that the main theme is only played briefly once, during the after-level screen. I feel that inserting it into some major battles would keep the player's morale up, just as the Legend of Zelda overture would keep a Zelda fan happy if it was played during a conflict or Ganon battle. (Heh, wouldn't it have been nice if the overture was played in a final Ganon battle…?) Sound effects are taking from real weapons, which I learnt whilst watching a bonus movie having completed the game. This adds to the whole experience and only makes the sound better.

Here, EA have really proved what they can do. This game is graphically beautiful and amazing to look at. The character models have been created with amazing detail. Just look at Sam's face and see what I'm talking about. Another thing I thought was pretty cool, which has been improved drastically from the previous game, is the way that the game graphics flow into movie clips from the actual film. Those who have played it will know how awesome this actually looks.

J.R.R Tolkien is the master of fantasy writing, and having read the Lord of the Rings book after I watched the first film, I was gripped by his extreme ability to write. The world of Middle-Earth is indeed an amazing and fantastic place; full of adventure, monsters, beauty and of course heroes. The game focuses on the warfare aspects of the film mostly, but for knowing that there is a much more detailed and epic tale inside of it all, it truly makes the experience worthwhile. Hands down to you Mr. Tolkien.

In conclusion, the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King isn't the best game of all time, nor is it the worst. By far, it is probably one of the best Hack 'n' Slash games yet. With a memorable cast of unique and wonderful characters, a plot to die for, and of course one of the best soundtracks to grace the video game industry, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King is truly magical.

Unprecedented and Inspiring

[guamfab · 21 December 2003]

The comments here and everywhere else speak for themselves and words cannot descibe the magnitude of influence that such a film, nevertheless triolgy, filmmaker can have on history, art, the world. Return of the King draws you in further and beyond by having the absolute power to keep you engaged with the characters and this epic sotry. You'll leave the theater pondering its magnificence and perhaps saddened that Peter Jackson's mastperiece series has come to an end. For me it reminded me of the potential for the resilience of mankind and the genuine sadness of the brutality of war yet the hope for something better. My admiration and apprciation for the fruition of the literary masterpiece into this movie has only grown and will continue to do so. To be awed, seeing Return of The King on the big screen is one that should not be neglected.

yo, buy the game for the GBA (SLIGHT SPOILERS)

[stanclimbfll · 29 November 2003]

Dude it is absolutely awesome for the GBA. The music on the game is hot and now you get to play as Gimli. And you also get to play as Sam a little when Frodo gets stung by Shelob. I thoroughly enjoyed playing as Frodo because he can weild certain types of axes. He never was able to do that before--all he could use was a wimpy knife or crap. But know Frodo kicks some major butt. So does Gimli. The weapons and armor and items you can use are much more complex and fun than on the Two Towers game. I like ROTK game better than Two Towers. 10 out 10 stars.

Overpriced, overproduced, and overrated

[mentalcritic · 19 December 2003]

It seems a common malady of modern video games, but what we have here is millions of dollars worth of voice actors, graphical rendering, sound engineering, and licensing in search of any level of fun. To its credit, the game finds it for the first few levels, but once it tries to recreate any complex aspect of the novel or the films, it falls flat. The battle through Osgilliath is a good example of this. Video games are meant to be entertaining, relaxing, above all fun. Osgilliath stops this game from being fun. Instead of having fun, we're constantly running blind through the ruins, unsure of which way to go, trying desperately to get somewhere before the time runs out and the Ringwraith takes Frodo.

Needless to say, if it were possible to save the game at any point and return to a viable moment just before the cock-up, it might have been possible to overlook this. Unfortunately, the ridiculous system of only saving at checkpoints that plagues console games is in force here, and there are one or two such points in the levels, if that. So if you should happen to die just before the end of the level, and I garantee that you will, you lose all the work you did in the last half-hour and have to repeat everything you just did once more. Such repetition is exactly what is killing video games in this era. Would it have been too much to ask for a Resident Evil style of game saving, which does the great job of combining gameplay elements with keeping the game playable?

Another thing makes the whole affair annoying is that the game offers no control whatsoever over the camera. Some of the positions we see the heroes and their targets from are so annoying that it's a wonder people played this game fast the first few levels. A close tracking shot behind the character, or even through the character's eyes, would have been nice options to start with. Maybe the people at Electronic Arts should have taken a look at Silver, possibly the best console game revolving around small-party adventure. While that style isn't strictly a good one for a game in this frantic setting, they still could have learned things like keeping a clear view so that the player can see which direction he is meant to swing his sword in.

It's also worth noting that Silver was a lot more fun to play in combat, in spite of being noticeably slower. The reason for this is that slow, deliberately paced combat allows the player to make tactical decisions, accept the consequences of those decisions, and even learn from their mistakes. ROTK as a video game borders dangerously on being one of those "mash the buttons to win" games where the player frantically wiggles sticks around and bashes the buttons in the hope that the outcome might be favourable. This takes the control of the player's gaming experience out of their hands and makes it even more annoying. Considering that ROTK is one of the most, if not THE most, expensive games in Australia at $110 in Australian funds, this is just adding insult to injury.

Small wonder, then, that sites which post walkthroughs and cheat codes for video games are still so incredibly popular. Being that I was a child during the Intellivision days, I can remember when video games didn't need to be cheated on or hacked in order to be fun. The proliferation of sources for information to do these things in the modern era is probably the saddest indictment of all against modern video games.

A fitting conclusion to a wonderful Tolkien story, that Philip Jackson brought to life!

[bigkingtut2000 · 1 January 2004]

What a grand conclusion to this wonderful story...told to us by Philip Jackson. Three and half hours worth of pure enjoyment. I am not a huge fan of computer enhancements, but in this case, without question, brought to life the dreams of J.R.R. Tolkien. Just a wonderful work, powerfully told and acted. Bravo.

ps..the only complaint I might have is that the length of the film should necessitate a five minute intermission...to allow nature to take her due...and maybe reload on the necessary popcorn and soda, which you SHOULD be reluctant to purchase if your doing a three and half hour marathon!

Everything

[Tim4554 · 24 December 2003]

Fantasy meets epic. The 80's was full of medievil fantasies, and those of us who loved them, fantasized that they were this good. It is everything you want it to be and more. People who aren't avid fans of the series might think the last 15 minutes drag, but its a small price to pay for the rest. For those who are avid fans, the last fifteen minutes is necessary closure.

A great game overall (Slight Spoilers)

[EonBlueTriad · 24 November 2003]

The Return of the King is right around the corner and what better way to further my anticipation than a release of the game. Made by the same people who brought you The Two Towers (VG), I ensured it to be a great game.

The game starts off with the ride of the Rohirrim into the final onslaught of Helm's Deep where you begin as Gandalf. Once beaten, you now are able to play with many characters. Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Sam, Frodo, Merry, and Pippin. The next level is played with Aragorn and with Legolas and Gimli, you must travel to the paths of the dead. This level's setting is a dark, misty cave and the spirits (Whom you have to fight) are very well done to look foggy phantasms.

As you progress, you encounter many new settings with new characters. Though, a lot of the events depicted in the game had to be out of sequence or completely changed to cooperate with the game's fighting aspect. But it is still very well done. Shelob's Lair, Cirith Ungol, Pelennor Feilds, Escape from Osgiliath, The Black Gate are all wonderfully done.

The music is the same as it was in the movies, but different music is used for different scenes, obviously. The voice-overs are fairly believeable, although some you can tell were hastily done, but nevertheless...

The clips from the actual movies are nothing we haven't seen already, but still very captivating. They are all used at the appropriate time and succeeded at progressing the storyline. A thing I did like about the game is the inclusion of interviews and special features in the game once you beat a certain level.

The difficulty of the game was very hard for me when on normal, so I set it to easy (typical, I know). It proved to be difficult especially during the seige of Minas Tirith, which has the same style gameplay as the battle for Helm's Deep in The Two Towers. Also, Isenmouthe became difficult because of the constant onslaught of the Mordorian forces.

So, as far as 'Is it worth buying?' I can say that any fan would truly appreciate it's mark on the trilogy. It gives a chance for a fan to become a part of Middle-Earth itself and to further understand the story's meaning. A great game overall. 9/10

This film really works!

[guanoJohn · 17 December 2003]

This film really works for me. The expectations were high, and it came through on many levels. I read the books 30 years ago, and it made me feel like I have come full circle now to see it transferred so brilliantly to screen. Gollum is so perfect, the battle scenes so rich, the faithfullness to the original masterpiece very true.

IMHO, this trilogy is simply a labor of love that brought the best out of everyone involved. I am 50 years old, and it made me feel those old emotions. There were some youngsters next to me weeping through the end, and I confess it brought a tear to my eye as well. JRR would have loved it. Truly a modern classic.

This belongs in that realm of my all-time top ten, with Dr. Strangelove, Schindlerâ?Ts List, and Itâ?Ts A Wonderful Life. Please let them film the Hobbit as well, just to give us the proper sense of completion. To add my personal note, I encourage everyone to actually READ the books. And you can re-read them without ill effects. A complimentary novel to read is the Harvard Lampoonâ?Ts â?oBored of the Ringsâ?, which is a satirical joy.

My rating is 9 out of 10. I would rate the three as a set, also 9 out of 10. Simply magical!

ROTK Did Not Work For Me

[fred-367 · 28 December 2003]

I must be one of the few people who have not enjoyed these 3 LOTR movies. They just did not work for me.

I found ROTK to be very self indulgent by it's talented director. More tourist scenes of N.Z than ever.

The women dressed in the most elaborate dresses which would be impossible to make during the set period and their eyes are heavily made up with eye-mascara?

A bullet goes right through a ghost, but then the ghost is held tight by it's neck...how could this be?

A well made movie. Credibility ratings very low. I give it 2/10

And the saga goes on

[valadas · 3 January 2004]

Yes it goes on portraying the everlasting fight between Good and Evil in gorgeous images and breathtaking scenes. However in my opinion this 3rd part is not so imaginative and creative as the two previous ones. It's even a bit recurrent in that matter. Well but the fantastic scenery is captivating enough to rivet your attention permanently. This whole story recreates an atmosphere of Middle Ages in some planet other than Earth since it has no references to history or geography of this World even in what concerns legendary events. It combines a bit of science fiction with the atmosphere of King Arthur-like legends. The names of places and people have sometimes a Welsh or Gaelic resonance and flavour but that's all. But at least one hollywoodesque kiss lips to lips could not be avoided anyway. This movie's wonder also arises from the contrast of beauty and ugliness (the elves and the monsters for instance). As a matter of fact according to aesthetics the horrible can also be beautiful sometimes. The question that arises now is if this saga is still to continue or if we have seen the end of it.

One of the finest movies ever created.

[FraserHart · 2 December 2005]

The Lord of the rings is a saga underlining the importance of the very basic qualities like courage, loyalty and friendship.The Return of the King is but a fitting ending to the greatest trilogy of all times. The lord of the rings is a tribute to cinema. ROTK shows Peter Jackson's insight into the book. He deserves an applaud. The most impressive scene is that of the lightning of the beacons. This movie has an amazing cast, all of them performing at their best. The heart of the Rings is but Gandalf, performed to perfection by Sir Ian Mckellen. Andy Serkis and the Weta digital corp. deserve a standing ovation for bringing Gollum to life.The war at Pallenor fields is a masterpiece. The movie deserves 11 out of 10!

Peter Jackson continues to get it right

[aubreyp · 25 December 2003]

I really liked it. Even though it is the third movie of a trilogy, I thought that the movie does a good job of catching the viewer up so that one doesn't have to have seen the other two to know what's going on and get right into the story, if such a person exist.

And much like the books, this third movie has a pace and feel that is all its own. I did think the first 20 minutes or so were a little slow, but found that like any huge object, once it got going it was unstoppable. Think of anything from the first two movies and there is more. Battles? More. Heartbreak? More. Impending doom? More. You get the idea.

All in all, The Return of the King is the movie that I really wanted it to be. It covers all the bases, it has the right tone, and I agree with the choices of what to leave in and what to take out. This movie could very well turn out to be to all movies as the book is to all books. And in the end, the big question for me is, is this movie worthy of it's distinction of being the movie of this book, and can it bear the weight that has been put upon it by us all. And the answer is yes. Yes to everything.

Just saw the first showing in the cinema and.......

[rosie-leigh · 17 December 2003]

I am only just in through the door from watching the film in the cinema and I have to say that if it was not sold out, I would go right back out and watch it again!!!!!!

The action......excellent!!! The story......excellent!!!!! Everything......excellent!!!!

Needless to say I am no good at writing reviews of films but, I loved this one as much as the first two, and I really think it deserves the Oscar for best movie in the Academy Awards next year!!!!!!

The Best Trilogy in the entire world...EVER

[rosy_cheeked_cherub · 20 February 2005]

It is quite hard to explain in words how i feel about this movie, plus the other 2. All three are just beautiful, fantastic films and i love them all to death. In 2001, when i first heard they were going to do these movies, i wasn't that interested - as fantasy type films didn't really interest me, but the first time i saw that advert for the fellowship of the ring - i was gripped! I couldn't wait to go and see it in the cinema! And when i did, i couldn't wait until the the two towers..and the same for the return of the king!! The whole film is just amazing! The sets, costumes, music, directing and of course acting is just so wonderfully good! God i love it. I love love love the films. It also helps as i love Elijah Wood..who is just perfect for the part of Frodo, and i love Liv Tyler who is so beautiful - just like an elf! And i love Sir Ian McKellen...a great actor..ahh so much love! Strangely, i watched the 3rd one last night..and i love it. Heh heh. I have a friend who doesn't like them and finds them boring - HOW?! I really don't know! Anywho, i can assure you, these films are so fabulous, they seem so real, when watching them i almost believe Middle Earth is a real place! It is just such a marvellous achievement; to make a film quite bizarre seem so incredibly real! This might sound really crazy...but i am so sad its all over..i want to be a part of it! I LOVE IT! I'm not crazy. Just a big fan.(watch them all they rock) :) Good day

Best triology to the end

[nacky1 · 19 December 2003]

The last of the LOTR triology ROTK Most amazing movie I have seen I however have seen alot of great movies but nothing close to this, there was a beginning and a end, unlike all movies have but not an actual ending. Most great movies I have seen have a beginning then the viewer as ourselves have to think about end like predict it> I am so tired of thinking about an end to a movie. Peter Jackson as a director has shown a true book of LOTR maybe some things have been left out for all the dedicated readers BUT I am not disappointed at all with the Movie.

I actually donot wish to mention anything right now on the Movie I wish not to spoil it for anyone else But if you have followed the FOTR AND TWO TOWERS I promise you will not be disappointed. Oh and if you think I am wrong means your heart is not in the movie your only there to look for mistakes.

Completion of the best trilogy ever???

[pmt1ac · 18 December 2003]

Well this is a truly great film and in my opinion does complete the best trilogy ever, I am a big fan of the star wars trilogy but believe that the new ones (episode 1&2) have ruined the great first ones (4,5&6) and now i think that the LOTR trilogy is slightly better. The 3 films are the best adaptation of the book you could expect to see in a film but I'm still a little disappointed that the book could not be followed more closely (e.g. Tom Bombadil). Having said that this final film The Return of The King does follow the book closer than the other two and i think this makes this a truly great work. This film has a spellbinding storyline which grabs you and draws you into the world of middle earth, along with this comes plenty of action with outstanding panoramic fight scenes showing whole battle fields of thousands of fighters which all combine to make this one of the years best films. An emmense work.

Its Ok

[phmurphy · 4 January 2004]

I think that the only good thing about this movie is the directing. The story drags on way too much and the acting really is not that good. If this movie wins best picture then why dont we just give the new Star Wars movies best picture oscars. The only reason that it will win best picture is simply due to the fact that the other two didnt and the Acadmeny of motion pictures is like that. I find the LOTR movies to be annoying, however peter jackson is a fine director. But this movie is not one of the best ever made. Think about how much they had to digitally enhance and to me that isnt film making. Im happy the trilogy is over....but i will give the movie a 6/10 just because it was directed well.

So it ends

[robinanng · 17 December 2003]

(Possible spoilers-beware!)

I have had this date circled on my calendar for probably a year. I adore the books, am a fan of Jackson's vision and have been excitedly awaiting the finale to the trilogy. So, I came into the ROTK with a wee bit of anticipation at what would be there or not there, if it would all work out to my fulfillment.

I attended the first showing in our area. Got home a little while ago and have been trying to put my thoughts in line about this movie. (I remember feeling equally befuddled about my feelings after 2 towers-it took me a second viewing to reconcile my thoughts).

I do know I am drained. There was so much to take in and many scenes where I was either climbing up steep mountains with the characters or had tears pouring down my face for their agony, that I am wrung out. I also believe that for those of us who have invested our hearts into Tolkien's books and our hopes into Jackson's films, the end may be a somewhat sad farewell to characters we have fondly come to know, a story so richly told. So, it is done. I guess I would like to be able to escape into a Middle Earth story every year. (Jackson-How about the Appendices?)

All that somber stuff aside, I did like the movie, very much. There was so much I liked, the best being:

The Beacon Fires-the mountain to mountain fire lighting really blew me away.

Gandalf and Pippin-when Pippin is afraid of dying and Gandalf comforts him with such a soothing thought and serene facial expression.

Eowyn on the field of battle-liked her much better this time around-her courage on the battlefield, especially when she and Merry are aghast at the great # of enemy before them on the Pellenor Fields, and she tries to be brave for him.

Faramir and his father-as Faramir visually shrinks and dissolves under the disgust and hurtful words of his father.

The Rousing Battle speeches given by Aragorn and Theoden.

And the actors above all else, not one of them performed poorly, most of them deserve awards for their portrayals, my favorites being: Gandalf, Aragorn, Gollum, Theoden. Indeed even little Pippin and Merry added such depth to their roles, as did most. Above all turn around performance: Samwise Gamgee.

Location-Although I hate flying, I am going to travel to New Zealand sometime soon-the scenery is that beautiful.

I thought the movie cut back and forth between each camp of players very well, I liked the shorter periods of time between each. I did like the opening with Smeagol. I thought the struggle on Mount Doom was done very well, even I was thirsty and exhausted by the time they got to the ledge! I liked the crowning of the king section, especially the bowing to the hobbits. I liked the scene with the Paths of the Dead. And so many things I can't begin to remember right now.

The only things I might have changed or altered slightly, if it were my movie, would be:

The Ships: When Aragorn arrives with his dead warriors, I would have liked to seen the ships come into view in a more impressive way, with the white flags unfurling.

The Battle Scenes: Although they were the most impressive battle scenes of all times and the foes were incredible, I might have cut them down by just a tad, so you could fit in two scenes I missed:

The Scouring of the Shire (Complete with Saruman) and The Healing of Faramir and Eowyn. The books devoted a whole section to these segments, which I think were important; how even the Shire was affected by the coming of evil and how both Faramir and Eowyn were wounded by broken bones and hearts and how they heal both these things together.

These slight flaws did not diminish my great enthusiam for the movie.

The only thing that still gives me pause is the end. While I am glad many things were covered, I just wasn't sure at what point the end was coming. Part of me thinks it should have ended right after the crowning for the most effect, or even after the ship sails off with the Elves and Co., part of me wanted to see it all and more, the book devotee I am. I guess it just made me uncertain and uneasy a bit the way it was done. If somehow he could have cut time off after the crowning, it may have served the movie as a whole better, but what part of the book story do you sacrifice for cinematic impact?

All together it works well. The entire 3 movies are a cinematic marvel. Bravo to Mr. Jackson for HIS courage and vision to undertake such a daunting task, and do it so devotedly well. I will miss the Adventure.

Excellent film, but...

[wunderstump · 31 December 2003]

Most people will agree that the Lord of the Rings trilogy is incredible - we are finally at that point where computer generated graphics blend almost seamlessly with real life. It is at this point where almost anything can be made believable. Plus the writing, acting, set design, and many other aspects completely blew me away.

I only have one problem with King. The plot moved very well to the climax and but then dragged. After the incredible rush of the war, it became difficult for me to sit still and enjoy the still shots and slow end. That part could have been edited better to provide an ending to the trilogy.