Return of the King - 3rd review

[The Last Word]

Seen earlier this evening (apologies for stylistic appropriation, Terry):

STORY
Frodo, ring, wizards etc..

PROS
Deeply involving, with Jackson's narrative powers at their peak. Never once are you aware you're just watching a film.
I know these days saying the FX are stunning is like saying they remembered to put film in the camera, but these are something else. As with the other two, the mixture of raw locations and painterly visuals create an astonishing 'other world' far superior to G.Lucas' smudgy digital pedantry.
Awesome to behold. Just when you thought it couldn't get any more grandiose, it does.

CONS
Saruman isn't really missed, all told, but I could've done with a bit of Brad Dourif's wonderful Grima Wormtongue again.
One or two wobbly FX shots in Mordor.
Do we really need to see yet another single tear trickle down Liv Tyler's porcelain features?

VERDICT
Take the grace of the first, add it to the might of the second, and you'd have this; the best yet. If anything the film drags at the start, but it's never less than ravishing to look at. I know there's been some concern over the multiple endings, but they're all needed and piquantly done; a reminder of how fables should be treated. Who'd have thought after all the splendour and muscle the best moment of the whole trilogy is Frodo smiling sadly at his hobbit pals. And the very final shot is genius.

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"Let's do it..."

[Deuce Bigolo]

Thanks for taking the time to post your reviewi

The one thing that will I think will always undermine today films is the behind the scenes shows

I truly believe that if we were't told about the use of technology used the film would have more impact...like a Magician Tricks

The simple fact that past films had casts of thousands is more exciting than a film today using computer technology IMHO

Lord of the Rings had everything in its favor but having seen the first 2 instalments I'm yet to be convinced that it will become as Star Wars(not the sequels) has.

Star Wars real appeal IMHO is the fact that is in Space-mankinds last frontier...Lord of the Rings however is set on Earth-Middle earth..a deeper meaning for sure but one I'm sure that is lost on most

Far too much faith was put in technology

Then again maybe I'm just a 37 year old going on 90 Old fart

cheers
B....OZ

[mart]

What has spoiled Part3 for me, specially in recollection, are the unforgiveable changes PJ has made. If a book is worth filming why, o why, do scriptwriters/directors make alterations.
In particular the complete excision of the Saruman/Shire despoliation.
I havn't followed the Christopher Lee criticism but was the Scouring of the Shire element filmed then ditched?
I won't be an anorak and list other changes.

Mart

[Deuce Bigolo]

Couldn't have said it better myself

Unfortunately LOR is about making money not about making a film that is true to the book

A friend of mine(a purist if you will) who studied LOR in depth refuses to watch any of them...just the outline of the story was enough to say how much had been changed for the big screen

I think the Saruman scenes are being held back for the 4 Disc DVD

I wonder in Year four wether the 4 Disc Sets will be released on the big screen...makes sense if all your after is Money

cheers
B....OZ

[The Last Word]

I wouldn't dream of starting an Art versus Commerce debate as I've heard it all before and it never ends. However, only an idiot or someone who sets out to despise these films purposely could fail to notice the sincerity with which they're made, and, as with every single other film ever made, only money can allow that, of course. All cinema is industry, but from it art can emerge. As for the changes - to paraphrase David Cronenberg, to be true to a book, you must first throw it away. The scouring of the shire was never even considered for filming. In cinematic terms - those which this trilogy should only be judged, it could be seen as a relatively needless distillation of much of what has gone on before.

Doubtless Hollywood heads (especially those that turned LOTR down flat) are already planning grander follies, but they will whiff of marketing men rather than the instinct of mavericks. And so it goes. The general consensus seems to be George Lucas did it first, but Peter Jackson has done it better. A result, then.

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"Let's do it..."