The Return of the King – Film Review

Posted by Samuel Walters

Overview

The Return of the King is Epic. In size and scope, the film far surpasses both of its predecessors. And in terms of quality, only Fellowship of the Ring fares any better thanks to its much more streamlined narrative. But of the three Lord of the Rings films, it’s little wonder that The Return of the King is often listed as a favorite. Just about every aspect of this movie operates at an exceptionally high level. And the final thematic point, driven home by Frodo’s ultimate fate, is both truly profound and a natural evolution of thought from The Two Towers.

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Review & Analysis

At stake in Return of the King is nothing less than the fate of Middle Earth, which hangs in the precarious balance of whether or not Frodo, Sam and Gollum can complete their quest into the heart of Mordor to destroy the One Ring. All else is, essentially, a diversion – no doubt necessary to the ultimate quest, but a diversion nonetheless. The exploits of Rohan and Gondor as they strive to fend off a ruthlessly overwhelming foe are worthy of great renown. And their successes buy precious time for Frodo to grapple with the slow deterioration of his soul, thanks to the ever-present evil of the Ring.

In the film’s final paces, Frodo reflects:

How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on when in your heart you begin to understand, there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend, some hurts that go too deep, that have taken hold.

When taken in conjunction with Samwise’s speech, the costs of conflict and sacrifice become clear. While there are often high and noble goals to such acts, the price of change can often be high. Put simply, though some may make the sacrifices for the sake of all, those who do so run the risk of not being able to partake in the renewal of the world around them. This can be in cost of sacrificing one’s life, as Théoden King does on the fields of Pelennor, or it can be the cost of one’s spirit, as Frodo does on the slopes of Mount Doom.

This tale is, of course, told with exquisite craft and care. Once again, the film is beautifully presented both in terms of its visuals and its music. This is without a doubt one of the “Tales That Really Matter” and the dedication and skill with which this movie was created is evident in nearly every frame of its nearly four hour runtime. There are some minor pacing and sequencing issues – such as having Aragorn arrive at Pelennor before Éowyn’s conflict with the Witch-King is resolved (and the subsequent non sequitur of the Houses of Healing – but these are minor quibbles in the grand scheme of things.

Still, it is enough to say that The Return of the King is not quite as well presented as The Fellowship of the Ring. This doesn’t mean, of course, that Return of the King wasn’t deserving of its accolades. In truth, it is easy to see why some prefer it to Fellowship:

There are any number of truly memorable moments in the film.

There is, of course, the resolution of Frodo’s quest, with Gollum playing his critical role. Pippin’s beautifully tragic song is piercing. The assault on Minas Tirith gives way to Battle of Pelennor Fields and The Ride of the Rohirrim – one of the best moments in film history. And Aragorn’s battle cry of “For Frodo!” perfectly conveys the spirit of fellowship which is a constant thread throughout all three Lord of the Rings films … just to name a few.

Overall Grade: A

The Return of the King is a film which challenges its audience to come to terms with the consequences of war. Sure, the battle scenes are a great deal of fun to watch. But it is the price that is paid, both on the field of battle and afterwards, which drives the film. Without this emotional center, its greatness would be greatly diminished. And make no mistake, this is a great film.

And do not forget the contributions of Howard Shore whose score for these three films has been compiled in the Complete Recordings. For a brief introduction to three of the most prominent themes from each film, make sure you click on the “audio” link following each film review. These tracks are a mixed compilation of the Fellowship, Rohan and Gondor themes but they are, by no means, all-inclusive and they serve only to provide listeners with a taste of the size, scope, power and emotion of what Shore has managed to create. By all means, if you enjoy these tracks, head off and purchase the Complete Recordings. They are more than worth the investment.

The Realm of Gondor (8:56):

lotr-gondor