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Movies / On DVD / The Return of the King
The Return of the King

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The Return of the King (1980)

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67 %
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Reviews Counted:12

Fresh:8

Rotten:4

Average Rating:5.7/10

Runtime: 1 hr 38 mins

Genre: Childrens

Synopsis: Continuing the story they began in 1978's THE HOBBIT, directors Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin present THE RETURN OF THE KING, the close to J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series. As hobbits Frodo... Continuing the story they began in 1978's THE HOBBIT, directors Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin present THE RETURN OF THE KING, the close to J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series. As hobbits Frodo and Samwise head to Mount Doom to destroy the evil ring that brings plague to the land, they must overcome a number of obstacles--orcs, ring wraiths, the deadly Gollum, and the madness of the ring itself--while Gandalf and Aragon head an epic battle against the evil forces that threaten to destroy all of Middle-earth. THE RETURN OF THE KING ends the cycle started in THE HOBBIT and continued in Ralph Bakshi's THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Viewers get to see an aged Bilbo Baggins contentedly smoking his pipe and listening to his nephew Frodo's tales. Orson Bean and John Huston reprise their roles as Bilbo and Gandalf. (Bean also lends his voice to Frodo.) And as with THE HOBBIT, there's plenty of thrilling action, masterfully painted backgrounds, and catchy Glenn Yarbrough songs. [More]

Starring: Orson Bean, John Huston, Roddy McDowall, Glenn Yarbrough

Starring: Orson Bean, John Huston, Roddy McDowall, Glenn Yarbrough

Director: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin

Director: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin

[See More Credits]

Reviews for The Return of the King

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1 - 15 (sorted by critic A-Z; UK critics are listed first)
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
12/11/03
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Works even less well than The Hobbit, which really is a children's story… overbearing folk-ballad soundtrack doesn't even gesture lyrically to Tolkien's poetry.

Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide | comment Comment
01/30/04
Steven D. Greydanus
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films Guide

The cartoon version isn't that bad, espcecially when they couldn't use the first two books in the trilogy.

Full Review Source: Greenwich Village Gazette | comment Comment
05/29/04
Eric Lurio
Eric Lurio
Greenwich Village Gazette

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: ToxicUniverse.com | comment Comment
01/27/02
Jeremiah Kipp
Jeremiah Kipp
ToxicUniverse.com

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
05/06/06
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Oregon Herald | comment Comment
09/04/04
Mark Sells
Mark Sells
Oregon Herald
N/R

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Full Review Source: Planet Sick-Boy | comment Comment
03/16/04
Jon Popick
Jon Popick
Planet Sick-Boy

McDowall is terrific

comment Comment
02/03/09
Clint Morris
Clint Morris
Moviehole

I love this. All of it. Although I adore what Peter & Co. did, I think this movie, for sheer atmosphere, slightly nudges out his Oscar-winner. Really.

comment Comment
08/14/05
Gregory Weinkauf
Gregory Weinkauf
ÜberCiné

No review available.

comment Comment
10/14/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

comment Comment
07/29/02
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

comment Comment
01/14/05
Audrey Rock-Richardson
Audrey Rock-Richardson
Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah)

No review available.

comment Comment
07/26/02
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com

No review available.

comment Comment
07/26/02
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
 
 
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