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Movies / On DVD / The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

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Reviews Counted:232

Fresh:218

Rotten:14

Average Rating:8.6/10

Consensus: A moving and satisfying conclusion to a great trilogy.

Runtime: 4 hrs 10 mins

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Synopsis: THE RETURN OF THE KING, the third and final film in Peter Jackson's THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, finds Middle-earth on the cusp of great change. Weary hobbits Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean... THE RETURN OF THE KING, the third and final film in Peter Jackson's THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, finds Middle-earth on the cusp of great change. Weary hobbits Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) venture further into the dark realm of Mordor, guided by the increasingly desperate Gollum (Andy Serkis), the two-faced former owner of the Ring that Frodo must destroy in the fires of Mount Doom. Meanwhile Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) contend with the deranged ruler Denethor (John Noble) at the once-mighty city of Minas Tirith, as Merry (Dominic Monaghan) joins Éowyn (Miranda Otto) and the Riders of Rohan to hold back the forces of Sauron. Amidst the chaos, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) must rise to his destiny, aided by Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) in assembling allies for a massive battle that will decide the fate of Middle-earth. With RETURN, Jackson brings J.R.R. Tolkien's world-renowned tale to a stunning conclusion. As with THE TWO TOWERS, the director deftly weaves various storylines together in one remarkable scene after another. Spectacular visuals complement Jackson's sharp focus on the characters and their emotional battles. While the special effects help to create huge battles and frightening creatures on a previously unseen scale, they never outshine the excellent ensemble of actors who bring the heart of the story home. A truly astounding work of filmmaking, THE RETURN OF THE KING skillfully concludes one of the greatest trilogies in cinema history. [More]

Starring: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Sean Astin

Starring: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Miranda Otto, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Andy Serkis, Bernard Hill, John Noble, David Wenham, Liv Tyler, Hugo Weaving, Karl Urban, Cate Blanchett, Marton Csokas, Ian Holm

Director: Peter Jackson

Director: Peter Jackson
Screenwriter: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson
Producer: Barrie M. Osborne, Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson
Composer: Howard Shore
Studio: New Line Cinema

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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No flabber has been left ungasted by Mr Jackson's mighty battle sequences, nor no gob unsmacked.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment 1 Comment
01/27/07
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Some story strands are crudely abbreviated; others fail to develop elements that were already well-established.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment 8 Comments
02/09/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Peter Jackson and his team pull through once again and turn in the best film in a terrific trilogy.

Full Review Source: FilmFocus | comment Comment
07/20/04
Joe Utichi
Joe Utichi
FilmFocus

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Independent | comment Comment
01/24/04
Independent

The resounding climax to a landmark in cinema history.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
01/15/04
Alan Morrison
Alan Morrison
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Ultimately this journey has been about the endgame, and now that we're here, we get a shattering sense of all that is at stake.

Full Review Source: UK Critic | comment Comment
01/04/04
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
UK Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Scotsman | comment Comment
12/17/03
Alastair McKay
Alastair McKay
Scotsman

Amazing, stupendous, jawdropping and overwhelming.

Full Review Source: Daily Mail [UK] | comment Comment
12/15/03
Christopher Tookey
Christopher Tookey
Daily Mail [UK]

Majestic, moving and immense, The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King is about as awesome as cinema gets.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
12/15/03
Nev Pierce
Nev Pierce
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A very fine achievement, moving, involving and, to many people, even inspiring.

Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
12/15/03
Philip French
Philip French
Observer [UK]

For three hours and 20 minutes, Jackson has made fantasy become reality.

Full Review Source: Daily Telegraph | comment Comment
12/13/03
John Hiscock
John Hiscock
Daily Telegraph
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The third part of Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy delivers everything we have been led to expect: stunning battle sequences, glorious scenery, jaw-dropping special effects and wonderful performances.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
12/12/03
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

So impeccably and artfully done that we can hardly breathe, immobilised by emotion, suspense, the sheer spectacle, the intimate drama.

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

You could open an entire can of hyperbole over this film, and still run short of adjectives to praise its majesty.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
05/24/03
Matthew De Abaitua
Matthew De Abaitua
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

All hail to the King.

Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | comment Comment
05/12/09
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

A lot of it is just hacking and slashing on a mammoth scale, which is still just hacking and slashing.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment 1 Comment
08/13/07
Rob Gonsalves
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

This is a filmmaker in the grandest tradition of the word.

Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | comment Comment
07/14/07
Joe Lozito
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound

An absolutely absorbing finale which establishes the trilogy as perhaps the best mythic fable ever brought to the big screen.

Full Review Source: Princeton Town Topics | comment Comment
04/22/07
Kam Williams
Kam Williams
Princeton Town Topics
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 >> >|
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