X
- 2003
- PG-13
- 3 h 21 m
- 2003
- PG-13
- 3 h 21 m
Summary Sauron's forces have laid siege to Minas Tirith, the capital of Gondor, in their efforts to eliminate the race of men. The once-great kingdom, watched over by a fading steward, has never been in more desperate need of its king. But can Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) answer the call of his heritage and become what he was born to be? In no sm...
Directed By: Peter Jackson
Written By: J.R.R. Tolkien, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson
- 2003
- PG-13
- 3 h 21 m
- 2003
- PG-13
- 3 h 21 m
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
8.9
Where to Watch
Summary Sauron's forces have laid siege to Minas Tirith, the capital of Gondor, in their efforts to eliminate the race of men. The once-great kingdom, watched over by a fading steward, has never been in more desperate need of its king. But can Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) answer the call of his heritage and become what he was born to be? In no sm...
Directed By: Peter Jackson
Written By: J.R.R. Tolkien, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 41 Critic Reviews
94
98% Positive
40 Reviews
40 Reviews
2% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 41 Critic Reviews
94
98% Positive
40 Reviews
40 Reviews
2% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
The invisible wizard Peter Jackson makes use of every scene to show us the meaning of magnificence. Never has a filmmaker aimed higher, or achieved more.
A phantasmagorical slab of epic entertainment that satisfies on every conceivable level.
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 3,052 User Ratings
8.9
92% Positive
2794 Ratings
2794 Ratings
2% Mixed
58 Ratings
58 Ratings
7% Negative
200 Ratings
200 Ratings
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 3,052 User Ratings
8.9
92% Positive
2794 Ratings
2794 Ratings
2% Mixed
58 Ratings
58 Ratings
7% Negative
200 Ratings
200 Ratings
The third movie in the best trilogy of all time. There will never be, nor has there ever been a series of movies this legendary.
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This is the best Lord of the Rings movie in my book it has some of the highest highs of any of them Who movies and the one-liners just keep coming from the cast to keep being memorable.
This is my favorite because it just closes all the plot threats throughout the last movies it always has the best conclusion. It's just so heartwarming and said to see the journey all the characters took and all the sacrifices for a doomed undertaking but they had to do it because it was the only thing they could do because there was still hope.
And eventually fixed just looks amazing in this movie there sometimes you can see some bits here there, but it keeps the charm up. I think because you know they kept every special effects tricks to make this movie and it shows.
This movie is so Earnest I love it and because the actors also good. They can say the corny dialogue and it doesn't sound corny it sounds good. Maybe even great. It makes me rise from my seed and just like layer. Let's ride to our Doom
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As completely real on the psychological level as its up-to-the-moment visual effects have on the physical.
Those who have walked beside these heroes every step of the way on such a long journey deserve the emotional pay-off as well as the action peaks, and they will be genuinely touched as the final credits roll.
All in all, it's a fitting conclusion to the series, and yet there are disappointments built in. For one, Jackson has opted not to film Tolkien's downbeat "Scouring Of The Shire" epilogue.
In short, this Krakatoa is at once exhausting and riveting. It's a technological marvel, and for those not with the program, a bit of a bore.
Add a lot of dull acting -- except Sir Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis -- and you have an uneven movie with yawns aplenty.
All 3 of these were a poor interpretation of the books.
Take the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, for example. In the books it's basically a showdown between the forces of Sauron with the Witch-king leading them, and the forces of good with Gandalf in command. The destruction of the Witch-king is a pivotal moment in the story, and greatly cheapened in the movie. It's impossible to know why a hobbit stabbing the Witch-king would have any great effect because they left out the Barrow-blades. They might have at least explained it afterwards, even if they just used "Elf magic" as a lame excuse.
And there's no dramatic showdown between Gandalf and the Witch-king like in the books. In the movie, Gandalf's staff breaks and that's about it.
Anyway, it's somewhat enjoyable overall, even if it's like "The Lord of the Rings" for the mentally disabled.
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It's absurd that the most acclaimed Lord of the Rings movie is the weakest one (at least to me). Return of the King lacks the tightness of Fellowship of the Ring and the emotional touch of The Two Towers. The formula it uses is- Build up to battle - Battle - Build up to battle - Battle - Half a dozen endings. This may be one of those rare examples of an adaptation being too faithful. An extremely accurate adaptation doesn't always qualify as a good one. A film stands on its own. It can't justify its flaws by leaning on the book. Return of the King blends in its enchanting score with its pitch-perfect cinematography, but it lacks the focus of the previous 2 film.
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Production Company
New Line Cinema,
WingNut Films,
The Saul Zaentz Company
Release Date Dec 17, 2003
Duration 3 h 21 m
Rating PG-13
Tagline The eye of the enemy is moving.
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 11 Wins & 11 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 4 Wins & 4 Nominations
Online Film & Television Association
• 16 Wins & 22 Nominations
