December 21, 2003

At Long Last, After Three Years...
Bob Praz

I have finally seen it. Thus, inevitably, I have much to say. Although first I’ll just say that ROTK did not disappoint. Alright, here I go (obviously, many spoilers hereafter).

Ok, first, things I liked. Minas Morgul was amazing, it felt very creepy and it was just as I imagined it (which doesn’t happen quite that often in the movies). The giant signal was both cool and freaky. The stairs of Cirith Ungol were also great; it really gave you a feeling of vertigo. The invasion of Osgiliath was well done also; it looked like Sauron’s version of D day, and really showed how it was the beginning of a horrible war that Gondor had no chance of winning. I’m sure the scene of Shelob’s Lair probably terrified anyone who was remotely or greatly arachnophobic, and it fitted well into Gollum’s plot. Just the lair itself was also very scary. The Paths of the Dead were GREAT. I was afraid it might all look cheesy, but it was quite the opposite. Finally, the whole climax and ending of the movie was immensely powerful and moving.

Ok, now the things I didn’t like, although nothing weakened the movie in any real way. The only thing that actually disappointed me was Denethor’s story, because I found it was rather weak. Although John Noble is a good actor, I felt his character was undermined in the movie. PJ replaced the dignity and pride of Boromir’s father with simple madness, and the sequence of the pyre of Denethor nearly felt meaningless, because the audience had little respect for the character and also since we never even saw Faramir after that scene; we don’t even know if he recovered.
Anyhow, that is the only main flaw. Although many people complained about the length of the ending - which was, verily, anti-climactic - I think us fans would agree that it was essential to wrapping up three gigantic films such as these.
There were a few other things that I would have loved to see, but whose absence did not hinder the movie’s quality; so keep in mind, this is just my opinion and preference, and a lot of it might be mended in the EE. I would have like to see a bit more emphasis on the importance of the vial of Galadriel. In the movie it just pops up out of the blue and doesn’t look that significant. Also, I was hoping there would be a scene about the Silent Watchers at Cirith Ungol, with Sam struggling to walk through the gateway and then using the vial, but I guess we might see it in the extended cut instead, assuming they shot that material at all. There are other parts that could have made use of some transition, like the Ride of the Rohirrim and the Captains of the West marching on the Black Gate. I would have liked to see a bit of the Rohirrim’s journey towards Gondor, and perhaps some of the gloom and tension that lay upon the riders’ spirits. As for the last march upon the Black Gate, it was showed somewhat too hastily. Gimli says "let’s go", then we immediately cut to the host marching out of Minas Tirith, without any preparations, and then, after a minute or two of Frodo and Sam, they arrive at the Black Gate. It almost felt like the Morannon was just around the corner from the Pelennor Fields. Other than that, it would have been cool to see more of the Haradrim and Easterlings. Although the Mumakil were amazing, it would have been interesting to see more fighting with the footmen of Rhûn and Harad. Also, I hope that in the EE we’ll see a battle scene at Pelargir where Aragorn takes over the Corsair fleet.

So, in conclusion (for now): I loved the movie, and I’m even more excited than ever to see the Extended Edition, because it’s already obvious that there will be much to be put back in. We might enjoy the first four-hour version of a LOTR film.

Thank you for enduring my lengthy movie review. Give me a few days and I'll be ready for a second viewing. Actually, I think I could go tomorrow...