The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Review: An Epic Finale
9/10 — The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Pros
- Spectacular battle sequences
- Powerful emotional payoff
- Shore's magnificent score
Cons
- Multiple endings
- Occasionally sentimental
The final chapter of Peter Jackson’s trilogy sends Frodo and Sam into Mordor while Aragorn, Gandalf and the armies of Gondor and Rohan face Sauron’s forces at Minas Tirith. It swept the Oscars, winning all eleven categories it was nominated in.
What works
The Battle of the Pelennor Fields is an astonishing spectacle that still looks superb, and the Frodo and Sam storyline provides the emotional core, with Sean Astin’s loyal Sam the film’s heart. Howard Shore’s score, the production design and the sense of a world fully lived-in make Middle-earth feel real.
Where it falters
The film has several false endings and runs long, and some of the fan-pleasing moments are a little syrupy.
Verdict
Not perfect, but a monumental, moving conclusion to one of cinema’s great adventures.
