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Times Record News
Category: Next
Published: 12/26/2003
Page: G10
Byline: Daniel Bartel, Times Record News
Rating: A
What a long, hard road it's been.
After nine hours of director Peter Jackson's operatic "Lord
of the Rings," Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) finally makes it to Mount
Doom.
And you thought he'd never make it.
A lot of things come together this time around for "Return
of the King," part three in the series: Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen)
claims his birthright as king, the race of men join forces in the epic
showdown for Middle Earth, Gollum and Frodo finally duke it out for the
ring.
Jackson empties the entire bad-guy drum of goblins, orcs,
giant trolls and demons for the climactic battle of Minas Tirith, the
stronghold facing Mount Doom.
It's easily the most amazing sequence
in the movie - the entire series for that matter. For those familiar with "The
Two Towers," the second in the series, imagine the battle of Helm's
Deep only bigger, better: whereas before there were 10,000 screaming
orcs, now there are zillions. Instead of shooting flaming arrows, they
now catapult boulders the size of mini vans.
The camera swoops, dives and pans on a roller-coaster ride
of sight as good and evil forces collide by land, sea and air. Check
out Legolas (Orlando Bloom) nimbly defeat one of those giant gnarly-tusked
elephants during the battle.
It's just too awesome for words.
Audiences were reawakened to JRR Tolkien's realm of rings
and hobbits when "Fellowship of the Ring" premiered in December
2001. The film was something apart from what we expected: stripped of
its nerds-only status, Lord of the Rings was made palatable for all audiences.
Jackson had taken the blueprint of the story and clothed
it in a world so engrossing and eye-catching, it's a wonder if Tolkien
could have imagined it. There was excitement and suspense. There
were cool actions scenes. There was humor. There was romance and tears.
And with each installment rolling into theaters each December,
the plot thickens, the characters broaden and the scope widens.
Visions of grandeur are fitting considering the themes:
good against evil, courage in the face of overwhelming odds.
As he's done throughout the series, Jackson is a master
of contrast. The lair of orcs and goblins is twisted, menacing and sharp-toothed.
Elves and hobbits are smooth, attractive, inviting. Who could resist
a vacation in the idyllic Rivendale?
Riding the fence of good and evil are the race of men, among
the more fascinating characters. The best new addition is Denethor (John
Noble), king of Minas Tirith. His apparent madness would have his injured
son Faramir burned alive and see the city go up in flames - Middle Earth
along with it.
Thankfully, he ends up setting himself ablaze and plummets
over the edge a steep wall. The enemy within is conquered, time to finish
off those oily, green-faced baddies.
"Return of the King" is the grand finish to a
monumental series. Everything hidden before is now beholden; everything
unanswered, resolved. We see Gollum in his pink-cheeked days as a hobbit
named Smeagol before the ring takes hold of him. Find out why he calls
himself a "murderer."
Jackson has a handle on all things grandiose and even those
minute details. Gollum is a step up in computer-generated effects. His
face is riddled with liver spots and wrinkles this time. Apparently,
the drive for the ring takes its toll on everyone.
"Return" is unquestionably brilliant filmmaking. It's
sturdy, durable - able to withstand any critical litmus test.
But it's easy to call a film this spectacular one of the
year's best. Whether it can reserve a spot in the pantheon of all-time
great movies, that's a ring for future audiences to bear.
Return of the King is rated PG-13 for strong violence and
intense action scenes.
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