A Film That Bows to No Other
Every so often, film audiences are graced by a movie of such a visionary and epic proportion that it literally transcends film itself. You know those movies, the ones that you feel bad calling a movie because they're just too good to be true. Of course, films like these don't come along very often, maybe three or four in an entire decade. Well, don't look now, but we've had three of these films in three years. The Lord of the Rings has come to an end, with a crowning achievment in The Return of the King, easily the best of the three. I'm going to warn you right now, this review contains spoilers. I can't justify my passion for this movie without revealing so many of the plot elements that I loved in the book.
After The Two Towers, hobbits Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) were following the creature Gollum (Andy Serkis) into the wilds in search of another entrance into Mordor. The three hunters had destroyed Saruman's army, who is now imprisoned and powerless in his tower. With this knowledge intact, we can continue on with the story. After Pippin (Billy Boyd) stares into a Palantir, Gandalf (Ian McKellen) takes him to Minas Tirith, where the great battle will be fought. Minas Tirith is beautiful, a seven layered city built on a mountainside with large rolling plains all around it. The Orcs of Sauron overwhelm Osgiliath, and begin to make their way across the plains to the city. Meanwhile, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas Orlando Bloom) and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) must go through the Paths of the Dead to summon an ancient army, or all hope is lost. And of course, Frodo and Sam must make their way through Mordor to finally destroy the Ring. But I digress. I'll go in order.
The first spectacle we see is Faramir's (David Wenham) men retreating from the overrun Osgiliath. Their retreat is hampered by the Nazgul on their fell beasts, not a single man seems to be able to make it to Gondor. But there rides Gandalf the White upon Shadowfax over the plains, and with a magnificent flash from his staff, he blinds the Nazgul and leads his men to safety. There is plenty of fighting to be had before the Orcs move in, done once again by Faramir. Denethor (John Noble), Steward of Gondor, wishes Faramir had died instead of Boromir, and sends him on a mission to retake Osgiliath, which will certainly result in his death. This is one of the most moving scenes in the movie, as it depicts Faramir charging while Pippin sings to Denethor.
The warning beacons are lit, and Rohan must answer. While Aragorn goes away to find an army, Theoden and the Rohirrim ride for Gondor and the great battle. And what a battle it is. Hordes of Orcs crawl across the screen, with huge trolls covered in black armor and beating on hideous drums. Catapults launch heads of humans, and soon the Nazgul dive upon the City. Gandalf does his best to hold the walls, but all seems lost. That is, of course, until the Rohirrim arrive. The ride of the Rohirrim is perhaps the most spectacular scene in the history of cinema. This is where I'm going to stop describing the battle scenes, although I will say that the Shelob fight is very cool. For it's not within the big battles that the audience will find their emotions, it's within the characters.
They've come so far since we met them in Fellowship of the Ring, and some haven't changed at all, which is a very good thing. Frodo is merely a shell of the hobbit we first met, and Aragorn seems poised to "become the man he was born to be." And of course, Sam is still the best friend anyone could ever hope for, something you'll have to remember in the end. It doesn't matter if Frodo picks Gollum over Sam, his devotion to Frodo won't get him down. The final scenes in this movie are meant to break your heart. The coronation of Aragorn is perhaps the most beautiful scene in the trilogy. Unless, of course, you consider seeing the Shire again. Or perhaps the Grey Havens. Or maybe it's the single solitary final line, the one that Sean Astin delivers with stunning perfection. Or maybe it's the Eagles. Whatever your favorite scene is, I've never been hit this hard by any form of art, and I can say without a doubt in my mind this is the best movie I have ever seen.