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LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING Send This Review to a Friend
The latest in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy is clearly the most spectacular production of 2003. How much more you will find depends on how you relate to the good versus evil tale. I have to acknowledge that the J. R. R. Tolkien saga as adapted for the screen hasn't done much for me as a story and "The Return of the King" still doesn't. But there is no denying the eye-popping visual extravaganza impressively directed by Peter Jackson.
The special effects, the battle scenes, the menacing but amusing creatures, the scenic splendor--all these ingredients are enough to command one's attention and sometimes amazement. The film is a visual feast even when the violence gets too much.
But the action visuals are interrupted periodically for the pretentious dialogue that delivers the content and that's where there is a great divide between those who eat up the stuff and those who find it all ridiculous and overblown. So there's not much point in arguing. Let's just agree that anyone, fan or not, should be impressed by the look of what modern technology, know-how and inventiveness can get up there on screen.
The screenplay is by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Jackson. The cast includes Elijah Wood as Frodo, Sean Astin as Sam, Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Liv Tyler as Arwen, Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn, Billy Boyd as Pippin, Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, Miranda Otto as Eowyn, and John Rhys-Davies as Gimli and the voice of Treebeard and Andy Serkis as Gollum/Smeagol. A New Line Cinema release.
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