And yet, it suffers from some of the things that make Return of the Jedi and others who are afflicted with the similar disease (which I trademarked). It has some downright strange and even silly decisions regarding the plot, character development and pacing of story. It has the most meme worthy ending of any film I have ever seen. And above all, it's both subtle and full of itself simultaneously.
Before anyone gets their knickers in a bunch, yes I still love this movie. It's warts and all. But to be fair to the other two films, I am going to be looking chiefly at the Theatrical Cut and not the Extended Editions. And the Extended Cut of Return of the King does in fact answer some of these issues the original film had. But as I judged both Fellowship and The Two Towers by their Theatrical releases, I will do the same with the third installment of this ambitious trilogy. Return of the King. Here we go...
Plot: The victors of the Battle of Helm's Deep descend upon the ruins of Saruman's fortress of Isengard, discovering his abandoned Palantir (a tool used to communicate directly with Sauron). After returning to Edoras, Pippin becomes transfixed with the Palantir and tries to use it, unintentionally letting Sauron believe that he was the one with the Ring. Aragorn and Gandalf take the device from him, but not before they learn from Pippin that Sauron means to obliterate the Kingdom of Gondor with one final assault on mankind. Gandalf and Pippin ride for the Capital of Gondor, Minas Tirith, to call upon the Steward of Gondor (John Noble) to rise to the occasion and seek the aid of his allies. But Denethor, mistrusting of Rohan and Gandalf, refuses to light the beacons even as Sauron prepares to destroy the last defenses of the Kingdom. Pippin, upon learning that Denethor was Boromir's father, pledges his fealty to the Steward. When the gates of Sauron's most horrifying fortress, Minas Morgul, opens to reveal Sauron's host, Gandalf has Pippin light the beacons and call upon aid, which Rohan answers, but they are unable to prevent a distraught Faramir from being nearly slain in battle after his father orders a suicidal attempt to reestablish their defenses.
Frodo and Sam continue their quest to Mordor with Gollum, though the creature is deeply mistrustful of them and schemes to have the two slain and eaten by Shelob, a massive arachnid monster in the caves outside of Mordor. He also splits Frodo and Sam apart, by making Frodo believe Sam craves the Ring and that he's been eating all of their food. Frodo sends a broken Sam away, but is too late to recognize the betrayal of Gollum and is stabbed by the poisonous barbs of the monster. Sam fends off the creature, but not before Frodo is taken by Orcs to a watchtower. Sam must then brave his own worst fears to save his friend from the bowels of Sauron's henchmen.
Théoden, Aragorn, Gimli, Eomer, Eowyn, Legolas and the rest of Rohan's armies ride for Gondor with all of their strength, but can only muster six thousand men. Compelled by Elrond to become the leader he was born to be, Aragorn takes up the sword of his fallen ancestor Isildur to contact an army of the dead to fight along with Rohan, but Rohan is forced to ride for battle without him. With Gondor in tatters, Rohan riding on a suicidal mission, Denethor losing his mind, Aragorn nowhere to be found and Frodo presumed dead, the quest reaches it's darkest hour, where hope falls upon the edge of a knife.
What's Wrong?: I am not going to make a big stink about the Eagles not flying to Mordor with the Ring and dropping it into Mt. Doom. There have been plenty of videos and essays written about why that was an impossibility, so I'm not going to count it as a plot hole. What I will say doesn't sit right with me is the victorious forces of Rohan flat out disregarding Saruman as a potential threat. The only explanation we get for why Saruman did not have his ending in this movie was because his power was gone when he was defeated. But did Gandalf and the others forget that Saruman was a friggin wizard? Capable of having power comparable to Gandalf? Christopher Lee didn't, which was why he made such a fuss over his character being written out. This isn't even because of the removal of the Scouring of the Shire chapter from the original book. This is because we have no proof or anything regarding Saruman other than one throw away line. It's a very steep plot hole that could have been fixed if they simply left the scenes they shot in the film. What would have happened to the length of the film if they allowed one of the franchises biggest villains to have his sendoff? It's not only an insult to Tolkein, but a firm insult to Christopher Lee as well.
I generally don't mind the multiple fake out endings the film has. Sometimes it's a pain in the rear end, chiefly in the Theatrical Cut, which is what I'm reviewing. This is because the film has almost six or seven different places it could have ended:
1. After the Ring was Destroyed as Frodo and Sam rest on the molten riverbank
2. After the Reunion of the Fellowship
3. After Aragorn's Coronation
4. After returning to the Shire
5. After Frodo finishes his Uncle's Book
6. After Frodo takes off for the Undying Lands with the Elves, Bilbo and Gandalf
I wouldn't have minded as much if these scenes were in a montage as the final scenes of The Two Towers were, but these endings are all between 2 and 4 minutes long each. Once Sauron is stopped for good, the movie still has another 20 or so minutes left. No other film had this many types of endings like this. Most Video Games and Films know to end once the big baddy was beaten. But this film felt the need to stroke it's own ego in places and has multiple endings for reasons unknown.
I also feel that (as these are all answered in the Extended Editions) there is a great deal set up from the previous two films that goes unanswered. Saruman isn't the only character with things left unanswered. Faramir's release of the Hobbits goes unpunished, despite how his second in command reminds him that if he were to let the Hobbits out of his custody his life would be forfeit. Also left out of the film is the fate of the Dwarfs, who rules Rohan after Théoden's tragic death and several other aspects. We are left to ponder those questions ourselves, but a film that feels the need to have so many endings should have answered some of these things, right? Well, like I said, the Extended Editions do answer most of these questions, but I'm not reviewing those ones, am I?
What's Good?: It might be a cop out answer to say that everything beyond those flaws is excellent in quality, but it's the truth. But there's only so many ways I can keep saying all that works in these films as I have since the Fellowship review. The acting is still phenomenal, the musical score by Howard Shore is stupendous, the battle scenes still look superb to this day and the effects and visual storytelling is probably at it's best here.
There are so many excellent cinematography examples I can choose from in this film, but my personal favorite sequence in the film is after Denethor sees Faramir's mortally wounded body and fears his end is coming. He then madly wanders off, screaming about how his line has ended and then sees the look of utter terror on his face when he sees the might of Sauron right outside the gates of Minas Tirith. It not only shows just how deep Denethor has fallen, but also how hopeless the situation will be for Gondor. Gandalf then hilariously pummels the crap out of him with his staff, giving both a bit of levity to the scene while also allowing Gandalf to take command when Denethor would have otherwise had his people and his men flee.
While everything else in the film is excellent, I would like to talk about the greatest scene in cinematic history. Fantasy Movies are not without their great and bold speeches. Aragorn gets one near the end, as did Sam in The Two Towers and many others in various forms of Fantasy Literature and film. But Théoden's speech to his men as they are about to attempt a Cavalry Charge that will no doubt end in the obliteration of their forces is the most awe inspiring scene in motion picture history. Despite the fear, the knowledge of death and the hopelessness of their situation, he is prepared to ride, fight and die to protect the people of Gondor and of all of Middle Earth. If you haven't seen this movie ever or in a long time, please do yourself a favor and upon up this scene on YouTube. It will either be named "Ride of the Rohirrim" or "Théoden's Speech". Truly some of the most powerful moments in the history of motion picture, right up there with Mufasa's Ghost from The Lion King, the interrogation scene from The Dark Knight and Yoda's teachings to Luke in The Empire Strikes Back.
Overall: As a send off to one of the greatest trilogies of anything to ever grace our media filling minds, Return of the King is about as perfect a sendoff as you can ask for. Is it flawless? No. But is it engaging? You bet it is. It has all the powerful moments, dramatic upticks and fever pitched action that one could ask for in a cinematic achievement like this. No one has or probably ever will come close to replicating what this film did for both Fantasy and for Mass Media. Not even Endgame could match these lofty goals. Sheer Cinematic Brilliance.
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