Return of the King

by Marc Wiener

Words cannot describe the impact of this film. A three year journey, and what seems an eternity before that following the progress of its creation, has come to an end. Lets face it - after rabidly eating up everything associated with the first two films, I knew I was going to enjoy the third. But nothing could have prepared me for the emotional impact. I knew I might shed a tear or two, but I didn't expect to openly weep for an hour.

The third film in a flawless trilogy, Return of the King hammers home the themes and ideals of the saga. It is a story first and foremost of friendship. The sacrifices friends make for each other in this film are heartbreaking. Sean Astin as Sam is the embodiment of every good quality you could ever want in a friend. His performance in this film is immensely powerful, and Sam is the anchor to this film. Domincic Mohaghan and Billy Boyd truly shine in this one as well, as Merry and Pippin really come into their own. And Elijah Wood's eyes are windows into Frodo's struggles and losses. In fact if some people felt that the middle film did not focus enough on the Hobbits, they will see all is redeemed in ROTK.

Bernard Hill is a brilliant Theoden. With few words he expresses so much. You can see in his eyes his honor and determination to rally and inspire, but you can also see his resignation that time is short and the end is near. On the opposite end of the spectrum, John Noble depicts Steward Denethor's descent to madness and despair in subtle, yet disturbing ways. His relationship with Faramir (David Wenham) is developed as deep and complex, yet streamlined to its finest points. (This relationship is very much developed in the extended cut of The Two Towers, by the way.)

Andy Serkis's Gollum is a tragic villain. In the final trilogy he is completely horrid, full of cunning and evil. Yet you can feel the decay and destruction the ring has wrought upon him, and so you still pity him while you hate him. On a technical level, Gollum is a marvel, and you completely forget his digital origins. He is simply there, a character like the others.

What more can be said of Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn? The reluctant King ascends, but you can feel him doing not for his own sake, but out of necessity to save those around him. He casts aside his fears and doubts not out of pride, or desire for power, but to save his friends and loved ones. And Ian Mckellan IS Gandalf-nothing more needs to be said.

People have mentioned the fact that there may be too many endings to the film. I say each one was not only justified, but necessary. After spending all this time with these characters, they are like friends, and each characters arc needed to come to its proper conclusion. And yes, each one caused me to shed a tear (or more).

In conclusion, all I can say is thank you to the cast and crew of this trilogy. Their time and devotion has paid off in spades. ROTK king is the epic conclusion it needs to be. But it is also so much more. It inspires me to want to better myself. Can you ask anymore from a film?

--released in the January, 2004 issue of The Great Hoboes of New York