>>> Spoilers <<<

Things I loved:

1. The lighting of the beacons. What a superb sequence, mostly thanks to Shore's score.

2. The opening sequence. Great to see Andy Serkis in the flesh.

3. Shelob's second attack. The first confrontation was as expected, but the second part, where she creeps up on Frodo, had the audience gasping. Great stuff.

4. Gandalf riding through Minas Tirith on arrival. The seqence was great at showing off the city, as well as the Gondor theme.

5. The Minas Tirith courtyard.

6. The Wilhelm screams!!
I heard at least 2 - one when a fell-beast picks up a Gondor rider on ther plains and throws him down (as they try to reclaim Osgilliath) and one when Legolas knocks someone off an Oliphaunt.

7. Gimli's lines.
I wasn't too keen on the Gimli humour in TTT, but in ROTK I thought it worked brilliantly - especially his "what are we waiting for?" line.

8. The Palantir sequence with Pippin, and his bonding with Gandalf from then on.

9. The climax. I think Jackson managed to add a great sense of urgency to the climbing of Mount Doom, and Shore's music really added the edge to the climatic scenes. The choral version of the Fellowship theme was great.

10. Samwise. Great acting from Astin, and the scene where he carries Frodo was brilliantly done.

11. "For Frodo". Aragorn's best line, and I loved the way everything went silent before he said it.

12. The Gondor catapults - especially that shot that follows a boulder from catapult all the way down to the plains.

13. Gandalf warding off the Nazgul - another great scene.

14. The charge of the Rohirrim - that great curve of charging horses on the plain, whcih then breaks up as some riders go faster than others.

15. Merry and Pippin charging first at the Black Gate.

16. The way the Witch-King crumples and dies.

17. The vision of Galadriel urging Frodo on.

18. The way the ring sits on the lava and the runes light up before it eventually sinks.

19. The whole sequence inside Mount Doom, inteructting with the battle at the Black Gate.

20. Legolas single-handedly taking out an Oliphaunt + crew, and Gimli's comment afterwards.

21. The sketches during the end credits.

Minor complaints:

How come Frodo and Sam were wearing Orc-gear, but halway across the plains of Mordor they suddenly switch back to their old clothes (which in Frodo's case had been taken by the orcs)?

I like the importance given to Sam, but maybe the grey Havens was a better (and more beautiful) scene on which to end the trilogy...

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Can't wait for my next viewing, and now off to listen to some of the score before some much-needed sleep...glad I took the day off tomorrow.

But aside from that, it was very good, outstanding in parts. And I don't doubt the Extended Edition will give it the final kick, like what happened with TTT. ROTK feels even more rushed than the theatrical TTT in parts, and I'm sure it will flow much better in the long version.

I didn't like how much they reduced Denethor after his great appearance in TTT...in ROTK, he wasn't a stewart anymore, just a madman (though I found the "eating scene" absolutely brilliant). But perhaps that will improve in the longer version as well.

They had a break in the middle of the film, right after Frodo seemingly escaped from Shelob's Lair. At this point, I was really disappointed, because i thought they'd left out the tower of Cirith Ungol. But of course that came first thing after the break. And in general, aside from some tiny little bits (like the Legolas/Mumak thing I mentioned above), it was brilliant. From the point where they were climbing Mount Doom, I couldn't get my cheeks dry from tears.

So: Very good, all in all, and probably truely fantastic when the long version comes out.

Oh, and did I really hear TWO Wilhelms this time?

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Originally posted by Marian Schedenig:

(though I found the "eating scene" absolutely brilliant)

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Yup I loved that too. And the whole idea of scoring the charge on Osgilliath with Pippin's song worked wonderfully IMO.

1. The lighting of the beacons. What a superb sequence, mostly thanks to Shore's score.

When it started, I loved it, but then I became a little uneasy with it...basically, it was great, but just a bit too much: Those high peaks, peeking (no pun intended) out of the clouds - I seriously doubt anyone would live there and wait for the signal to light the beacon.

2. The opening sequence. Great to see Andy Serkis in the flesh.

Absolutely.

Speaking of the opening, it was lovely how Shore segued from one theme into the next all the time.

3. Shelob's second attack. The first confrontation was as expected, but the second part, where she creeps up on Frodo, had the audience gasping. Great stuff.

My heart was pounding during the whole sequence.

5. The Minas Tirith courtyard.

When reading the book, I never really could imagine how the architecture worked. When seeing Minas Tirith in the first two films, I found it looked great, but not really like a city.

But now I've seen that it definitely is a city.

6. The Wilhelm screams!!
I heard at least 2 - one when a fell-beast picks up a Gondor rider on ther plains and throws him down (as they try to reclaim Osgilliath) and one when Legolas knocks someone off an Oliphaunt.

Those are the two I noticed as well.

I wasn't too keen on the Gimli humour in TTT, but in ROTK I thought it worked brilliantly - especially his "what are we waiting for?" line.

I disagree. Particularly the line you mention, I'd like to see that scene a bit longer and serious in the EE.

8. The Palantir sequence with Pippin, and his bonding with Gandalf from then on.

Yes. Though I missed the bit of Aragorn looking into the Palantir; one of the most important bits in the book, and something that has always impressed me a lot.

9. The climax. I think Jackson managed to add a great sense of urgency to the climbing of Mount Doom, and Shore's music really added the edge to the climatic scenes. The choral version of the Fellowship theme was great.

Yes.

10. Samwise. Great acting from Astin, and the scene where he carries Frodo was brilliantly done.

The first sequence that really made me feel absolutely stupefied.

19. The whole sequence inside Mount Doom, inteructting with the battle at the Black Gate.

And more great acting by Wood, as mentioned above.

20. Legolas single-handedly taking out an Oliphaunt + crew, and Gimli's comment afterwards.

As I said, I didn't like that at all. It's like the shield-surfing thing in TTT.

21. The sketches during the end credits.

Yes.

How come Frodo and Sam were wearing Orc-gear, but halway across the plains of Mordor they suddenly switch back to their old clothes (which in Frodo's case had been taken by the orcs)?

The scene where they are nearly captured by Orcs was cut from the theatrical version, perhaps that explains it. Though honestly I didn't even noticed it.

I like the importance given to Sam, but maybe the grey Havens was a better (and more beautiful) scene on which to end the trilogy...

I was absolutely delighted that they gave Sam the importance he deserved. I had hoped they'd end the movie the same way the book ends, though I didn't believe they'd really do that. But they did.

Just remembered one more thing I found really nice: How Arwen suddenly looked more "human" after making her choice.

The score (as heard in the film) is, far and away, the best of the trilogy. There is simply no way to describe every moment of grandeur since there are so many of them. What are probably most sorely missing from the album (with regard to past scores) are a few really great renditions of the "reclamation of nature" theme and a great choral version of the fellowship theme. I also noticed the journey theme from the first film making a return (I don't remember it showing up in The Two Towers), and the Rohan theme gets a few really powerful statements that didn't make it onto the CD.

Of course, being such a gargatuan work, there are loads of great moments that didn't make it onto the CD. People have said here that while the complete scores will be nice to have, the regular CDs are fine listening experiences in their own right and a good representation of the scores. In the case of Return of the King, I'd have to disagree. It's a good collection of the new material from the film, but this will be the portion of the complete set that will get the most play time from me when I finally buy it. This is the score that will benefit the most from being fleshed out to its entirety. It's incredible.

As for the movie itself...well, I've said some pretty hyperbolic things in my day, but I assure you the statement I am about to make will crown them all....

This is one of the most spectacular things I have ever seen in my life. And I'm not talking just about cinema...I mean everything. I mean the sight of my first love; the vastness and expanse of the open sea; seeing Edward Hopper's Nighthawks in person and realizing what a difference it makes to be looking at a painting and not just a reproduction of one; watching the northern lights dance above the mountains of Alaska...The Return of the King is on the same level as experiences such as those. I'm still trying to decide if last night was real, because it doesn't seem possible for this film, for any film, to be so staggeringly majestic.

Several critics have said this already, but it's well worth repeating. Long after we are all dead and buried and our lives have been all but forgotten, Return of the King will be mentioned in the same sentence as Birth of a Nation, Citizen Kane, The Seventh Seal, and Lawrence of Arabia, and it will proudly and boldy hold its ground. It is one of the greatest films there has ever been, and one of the greatest there ever will be.

Kirk
NP - take a wild guess

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Originally posted by James:
a few really great renditions of the "reclamation of nature" theme

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Though I honestly didn't see much of a connection to nature this time. It seemed to me that Shore simply used it together with the Rohan material because that combination already worked in TTT...but perhaps I missed something.

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I also noticed the journey theme from the first film making a return

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Originally posted by James:
What are probably most sorely missing from the album (with regard to past scores) are a few really great renditions of the "reclamation of nature" theme and a great choral version of the fellowship theme.

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I get goosepimply at these statements. A Fellowship choral version, can't wait! Thanks for your eloquent input on both the music and the movie.

H

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Originally posted by JeffBond:
Gandalf hits Denethor with his "stuff"? I can't seem to recall that scene...

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Score:
Can't see why Shore used the 'Nature' theme on 2 occasions - first when the Rohirrim ride out of Rohan, and 2nd when Theoden hypes them up on the battlefield. The 3rd use is more fitting - when Gandalf notices the moth and the arrival of Gwanhir et al.

>> I've only arrived to track 12 of the CD (was xmas shooping today) - and I had naturally assumed the choral rendition of the Fellowship theme was on the CD

Could it be that Shore included mostly original themes on the CD to try and get an Oscar nod?

The Film:

Gets much better on 2nd viewing. Loved the little pause Aragorn makes before drinking his toast to those who fell in Helm's Deep (?thinking of Haldir?)

Also - love the way Gandalf sleeps with his eyes open. It adds to his 'weird old man' aura.

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Originally posted by JeffBond:
Of course, I've read a few bitter Matrix fans who are sure the LOTR movies will be totally forgotten in ten years and I sure don't see that happening.

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Bad/Could have been done better:

Sauruman (This could have been touched on a bit. :P)
Pyre of Denathor...so Gandalf hits Denathor and he falls in the fire by accident....sounds like Boba Fett. Also why did he run off the edge of the big....thing?
Gollum bouncing on the invisible Frodo, this was just goofy I heard an audible guffah from the audience....IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE GOOFY YOU MORON'S!!!!

Good/Great:
Just about all of it....
The intro with Gollum, nice and gross, hehe.
The trick ending when Frodo and Sam are surounded by lava. When it was black for awhile I was almost thinking it was over. Great stuff!
And yes many a gasp and scream during the Shelob Scene. It just makes the scene's better hehehe.
On the slopes of mount Doom, especially when Sam carries Frodo. The most emotional point in the film IMO, the only point of the film I had actual tears.

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Originally posted by John Zimmer:
Pyre of Denathor...so Gandalf hits Denathor and he falls in the fire by accident....sounds like Boba Fett. Also why did he run off the edge of the big....thing?

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Agreed.

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Gollum bouncing on the invisible Frodo, this was just goofy I heard an audible guffah from the audience....IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE GOOFY YOU MORON'S!!!!

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Disagreed. How else would you depict the sequence so it is understandable what's happening? I WAS afraid that the audience would start giggling, like they had done during some earlier serious scenes. But apparently they were caught in the plot well enough to forget about that.

I just didn't have words when it ended, I was so overwhelmed. I knew I would tear up at certain points, or at least get a lump in my throat, and it happened with the charge of the Rohirrim, then stampeding over the orcs. After that, most anything that happened in the film choked me up without effort. It all worked like gangbusters for me, even when I know what was edited out.

I have to agree that whenever the expanded ROTK CD is out, that is the one I will really look forward to. I know there is good stuff missing from both FOTR and TTT albums, but after listening to the albums many times and re-watching the films I really feel like I have the best highlights on those 70+ minute albums (thank goodness "Farewell To Lorien" was released as well).

But with ROTK - well, I have been reveling in the CD since Nov. 25 and now suddenly I feel like I am missing disc 2 of a 2 disc set! It's all great music that is included, but we have so little of the Pelennor Fields battle music, Rohan material, Gollum's theme (though I only recall it being used once in the film), the nature theme and the Paths of the Dead sequence. Also, thinking back, was the CD track "Cirith Ungol" used at all in the film? It has the quote from the Caradhras theme that I was listening for and I never heard it. And now I realize how many shorter cues make up "Minis Tirith", "The White Tree" and "Anduril" and am impressed with how well they work together, just as when Williams always creates great mini-suites for the album of his shorter film cues.

I was the only one in my theatre to give the film a standing ovation.

"For Frodo."

Sweet, so you liked it eh?

Marian: I think it might have been better had the sequence been played more like Boromir trying to take the ring in other words it might have been better to have them both on the ground. Personally, now that I have thought about it. The way it was done was acceptable, and I'll probably end of liking after a few more views.

...and Marian, I liked Mithrandir bitch-batting Denethor (that's bitch-slapping with a staff). In the book, Denethor just loses all interest in everything. That is not a cinematic situation.

If you think about what a movie is supposed to be...this trilogy had it all, from visuals to acting, emotional highs and lows...you can't ask for more.

I won't both to highlight what I thought was great (almost everything)...but on the downside, most of the Denethor subplot did not work for me. My gut says that it suffered quite a bit on cutting room floor so I am looking forward to more on the extended cut. Also, while I liked the content of the first scene, it felt a little out of place from the standpoint of execution. I read that Boyens actually got to direct that sequence, and it felt a little out of sync with the rest of the visuals.

Both are minor gripes in what was a spectacle and event that will be difficult to surpass.

In closing, some morons in the theatre were starting to get impatient and talkative during the extended denouement. Many critics griped about the 20-minute wrap-up as well. Come on people...this is a 10+ hour film, why shuld it be wrapped in less than five minutes.

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Originally posted by Quill:
I read that Boyens actually got to direct that sequence, and it felt a little out of sync with the rest of the visuals.

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But as soon as the movie was over, there was a hesitant applaus (I kind of was still hypnosed and I didn't clap my hands, my eyes were just fixed on the screen and the sketches that appeared), when someone yelled: 'Boooooooo!'

The House of Healing was Gondor's 'infirmary'. Characters who were gravely injured in the book were healed there and in the process a prophecy regarding the King was fulfilled. Did you have a particular question about it?

Disliked :
- Deagol, Smeagol, this should have been introduced earlier.
- Saruman's missing scenes, as this is essential, as he is the second most important villain in the storyline.
- Of course it's like this in the books, but apart from Boromir and King Theoden, everyone survives.
- The 'Dead Army', some dodgy effects there, all i could see was green slime.
- And indeed Legolas' heroic taking down of the Oliphaunt was a little, ......well you know.
- Frodo's five minute puppy dog look at the Grey Havens could have been shorter.
- An explenation of Denethor's madness is also missing.

What is an "E.T"-moment?
Farewell scene:
E.T.: "come"
Elliot: "stay"...
Me: sheds a tear or two.

With LOTR: TROTK I experienced multiple... AAAARGGHHH man... I am 26, a grown man, an adult... WHY? WHY? WHY?

It does however.... point out that this movie : visual, dialogue, scoring, effects and directing is so high in emo-quality that it is able to move me beyond....

*urgh*

SPOLIERS!!!

I think the only part that would've been emotional is probably Frodo leaving. I think LOTR is very overated (don't kill me for that) but I even tried to be into this movie and I still didn't see anything to cry about except the length.

Clayton

However, if you do get enveloped in the story I think the emotion that it generates is quite an impact. For me the most emotional moment was Sam picking up Frodo and continuing up the mountain (thanks in part to a great scoring moment from Shore.)

I took my father to see it (a grumpy, 60-year old cynic), and he was blubbering at the point when all of the coronation attendees bow to the hobbits.

What can I say? Sorry that this story didn't grab you...but for most of us...it was a rollercoaster ride of emotion.

RETURN OF THE KING is like that one moment stretched out for three straight hours, starting with the lighting of the beacons. From that moment, almost everything brought me to tears (even if it was just a few of them)...the arrival of the Rohirrim at the Fields of Pelenor, Sam's banishment, the moment Sam & Frodo are "reunited," Faramir and the soldiers of Gondor riding to retake Osgiliath, Smeagol's final scene....I could go on for quite some time.

What can I say? It just grabbed me, and I didn't want it to let go. I don't care what anyone says about the length. I would have gladly stuck around for another 3 hours. Heck, I wanted another 9. Even the much-complained-about ending(s) was the perfect length for me. When I've invested so much time and emotion in these characters, I want a long good-bye.

The score...I hardly see any reuse of TTT material here. Generally, the ROTK score seems to branch out in new terrain all the time. Though I admit that when I first heard it in the film, I didn't notice that much good music. My admiration for the score came slowly with repeated CD listenings.

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Originally posted by James:
There was that moment in THE TWO TOWERS when Gandalf and the Rohirrim scale the side of the mountain towards Helm's Deep and that gorgeous moment of Howard Shore's "Forth Eorlingas" cue bursts out. I always cry at that moment not necessarily because of its emotional impact (though that aspect is certainly there) but simply out of the sheer cinematic beauty of it.

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I get shivers running down my spine and watery eyes as soon as Helm's Horn is heard (along with Theoden's Now for wrath...now for ruin...and a red dawn...Forth Eorlingas). Gandalf's assault, with the boy soprano, is the peak of that sequence for me, the point where I'm simply absolutely stunned every time I see it.

Some of the stuff on the preview that was on the theatrical edition DVD of The Two Towers hints at what is to come, such as Merry swearing fealty to Theoden and Gandalf's face-off with the Nazgûl. I have also seen a publicity shot that looks like Aragorn leaning over Éowyn that may be from the Houses of Healing. There is a point in the film that this sequence would fit nicely. It will also be nice to see something go Faramir's way, for a change. Poor guy. He and Éowyn are standing together at the end of the film.

Oh, by the way, the reason I liked Denethor's smackdown is because it fits with the urgency that Ian McKellan has brought to Gandalf the White.

I have to say the score blew me away on my first hearing of it, but it has only grown seeing the film. The track "The Black Gate Opens" is something that puzzled me when I first heard it, but now I consider it to be one of the best cues in the series.

I find it interesting that so many people are complaining about the Denethor subplot. I thought it was handled well, but then again, in addition to having grown up with these books, there is that awesome scene in the extended edition of The Two Towers which introduced the character.

And regarding the finale of The Two Towers, I have written this...

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I was feeling very beaten down by life last November. It looked as though my job was in great jeopardy. I may have had to move back into my parents' house (eek!).

The only solace I found was the box set of the Harry Potter books, my interest in them fueled by how much I enjoyed the film of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Since that film was still out after having read the books, I felt that a nice way to escape my troubles for one eve would be to go see it again.

It was that night I saw the second theatrical trailer for The Two Towers. I was used to the footage seen in the 3 minute preview tacked on to the end of the first film after it had been in theatrical release, and the first theatrical trailer was drawn from that material. The new trailer featured footage of Gandalf fighting the Balrog, the armies at Helm's Deep and the Rohirrim. I was excited.

Not long afterwards, I began my leave of absence.

I went back to school and immersed myself in cinema and began working with an old friend of mine on a screenplay.

But that December, there was something really special going on in theaters for me. I had re-watched the extended version of The Fellowship of the Ring with my friend Raz on December 17th, and then, on opening day, we went and saw The Two Towers.

To see a film that is so satisfying to me on so many levels, the entertainment aspect, of course, but also from the point of view of a filmmaker and as a fan of film music... that is something that is truly special.

I have gone through some rough times. I may not be battling 10,000 Uruk-Hai or have Nazgûl chasing me, but I have been at some lows, lately.

I have found this film to be an inspiration that has gotten me through much. These moments have been ones that have truly kept my head up despite the many trials of this year.

Forth Eorlingas!

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