RETURN OF THE KING - 1st review
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 5:39 pm
Saw this yesterday so thought I'd drop you all a short review.
STORY
Frodo & Sam attempt to finally destroy the ring before sauron and his forces finally take over Middle Earth and Viggo Mortenson (ot at least his character) takes his rightful place as King.
PROS
Impressive effects
Battles as stunning as we saw in The Two Towers
A moving love story
If you're scared of spiders watch out for the squirm inducing Shelob!
CONS
Too long
Where's Saruman
VERDICT
This is epic story telling at its best if you can remember who's who , what's what and why who's doing what! This is hugely enjoyable even at 3 hours and 20 minutes but I've 2 complaints. Sarumen (Christopher Lee) was such a strong character and its a shame they wrap up his story in the way they so ( though no doubt this will all be on the extended DVD).
But secondly and perhaps more importantly it's too long but only by 10 minutes. After the climax and the obvious end point in the denouement it just goes on and on to such a degree that you begin to think there's another film on its way. This is a major fault and could well cost it its much desreved Oscar next year.
Despite all that I would urge you to see this. After the disappointment of the Matrix sequels here finally is a sequel worth waitng for. Although I would add that after watching all 3 epics I certainly don't intend to sit through them all again (unlike The Godfaher trilogy) but they are definitley worth catching for the first time on the BIG screen with a good sound system.
STORY
Frodo & Sam attempt to finally destroy the ring before sauron and his forces finally take over Middle Earth and Viggo Mortenson (ot at least his character) takes his rightful place as King.
PROS
Impressive effects
Battles as stunning as we saw in The Two Towers
A moving love story
If you're scared of spiders watch out for the squirm inducing Shelob!
CONS
Too long
Where's Saruman
VERDICT
This is epic story telling at its best if you can remember who's who , what's what and why who's doing what! This is hugely enjoyable even at 3 hours and 20 minutes but I've 2 complaints. Sarumen (Christopher Lee) was such a strong character and its a shame they wrap up his story in the way they so ( though no doubt this will all be on the extended DVD).
But secondly and perhaps more importantly it's too long but only by 10 minutes. After the climax and the obvious end point in the denouement it just goes on and on to such a degree that you begin to think there's another film on its way. This is a major fault and could well cost it its much desreved Oscar next year.
Despite all that I would urge you to see this. After the disappointment of the Matrix sequels here finally is a sequel worth waitng for. Although I would add that after watching all 3 epics I certainly don't intend to sit through them all again (unlike The Godfaher trilogy) but they are definitley worth catching for the first time on the BIG screen with a good sound system.