Lord of the Rings: Return of the King DVD Review:

The battle of Helm’s Deep is over but the war for Middle Earth is about to begin. As Aragorn (Mortensen) rallies the remaining soldiers of the Rohan to come to the aid of Gondor, Gandalf (McKellen) rides to Minas Tirith to prepare the city for the first attack of Sauron’s forces. Meanwhile Frodo (Wood) and Sam (Astin) are getting closer to Mordor but unbeknownst to them, Gollum (Serkis) is leading them into a trap.

As the trilogy comes to an end, Peter Jackson and his cast and crew deliver another a truly astounding piece of cinema.

After setting new standards with Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, the team have given us The Return of the King and it surpasses all expectations. This is an astonishing movie to complete the story of the battle for the future of Middle Earth. Usually the third movie of a series can be a let down, just look at The Godfather Part III, Alien 3 and even Return of the Jedi but The Return of the King is the highlight of trilogy. Cinematic history has been made, as these three films will be heralded for years to come as the best trilogy of films ever to grace the sliver screen.

The look of movies gets progressively better as the story continues. The filmmakers are on a learning curve that has culminated in the most technically advanced and astonishing looking film of the series. If you thought you were impressed by the battle of Helm’s Deep in The Two Towers, wait until you watch the fight for Minas Tirith, it makes Helm’s Deep seem like a schoolyard scrap. This is the biggest battle scene ever put to film and your jaw will be constantly on the floor for the entire sequence. From the charge of the Rohan warriors to the fight with the Witch King, each scene will amaze and astound you with their sheer technical brilliance. Hats off again to the team at WETA Digital, who have now raised the bar again in the special effects field. Each shot is pure perfection and an absolute feast for the eye. From there seamless special effects to the extremely detailed set and costume designs, the team has now set the standard in every field of effects filmmaking.

The performances of the cast just get better and better. We have got to know these characters really well over the last two movies to the point that you really care for their welfare and live every moment of their ordeal. Sir Ian McKellen excels as Gandalf as his power and presence grow, having a major influence on the powers of good. McKellen exudes class and dignity, making you believe that he has the respect of everyone he comes into contact with. Viggo Mortensen makes Aragorn one of the great hero characters of cinema history. This is a man who you would pledge your life to as he exudes passion and belief in what is right to the point that you know that he will triumph over evil, even with insurmountable odds. Orlando Bloom and John Rhys-Davis as Legolas and Gimli might not have as much screen time as in the previous adventures but there presence is felt in key scenes and their contest for the most kills in a battle continues. Bernard Hill and Miranda Otto shine King Théoden and Éowyn, the pride of the Rohan with both characters showing courage and strength that is an example to all. Andy Serkis gets his chance of onscreen recognition as we find out how Smeagol became Gollum in the pre-title sequence. His performance as the obsessed coveter of the Ring sets the standard in the performance of virtual characters. He doesn’t just provide the voice, he provides the actions and facial expressions for the wizards of WETA to create Gollum. This is a complete new form of acting that really does deserved to be recognised.

It is the Hobbits that have the biggest transformation however. They have transformed from the timid, scared young halflings from the Shire we met in The Fellowship of the Ring into warriors for good. Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd show the true courage of Merry and Pippin. The happy go lucky pair we first met now know the meaning of what they are fighting for and give there all to the cause, with the two actor’s performances reflecting the friendship they have made both off and on screen. Elijah Wood comes into his own as Frodo by showing the all consuming influence of the Ring. His character has really grown through the series and Wood has depicted Frodo’s deterioration with great skill. Sean Astin’s Sam takes centre stage in the final chapter by becoming the hero of the piece. Astin’s performance is exceptional, as Sam shows sheer determination and no thought for his own safety as he helps Mr Frodo complete his task.

What sets the Lord of the Rings apart from any other adaptation or big budget movie for that matter is its major emphasis on story telling. The trilogy could have been so easily a collection of action set pieces with minor filler to get you to the next explosive sequence. These films are different because of the sheer respect given to the source material, leading to a fair amount of character and development. This is what makes the films so superior to other big budget Hollywood fair because you actually care about these characters and their situation. You feel Frodo pain, you understand Sam’s loyalty, you want to be as courageous as Aragon, Legolas and Gimli and you want to be as wise as Gandalf.

The Lord of the Rings movies are pure cinema. It is what going to the movies is all about, complete escapism. These films take you to a different world but a world we recognise and a fight we can identify with. Good vs. Evil, plain and simple but the storyline and characters draw you in to their lives and make you care. This is a rarity in film and should be treasured.

The Return of the King completes the epic series in stunning style. It is the highlight of the trilogy but is just part of an amazing tale of courage, endeavour and fellowship. You can now watch The Lord of the Rings in its entirety and realise watching something very special, made by a devoted cast and crew who love and adore the material on which it is based.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy is a cinematic masterpiece.

Star Rating = * * * * *

PICTURE & SOUND
Presented in 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the transfer is absolutely superb. The picture quality is first rate, as it has been with the entire trilogy. Peter Jackson’s epic vision jumps out of the screen as you become consumed with the riveting story and titanic battles. The sound is also brilliant, especially during the battle of Pelennor Fields as Minas Tirith bears the brunt of Sauron’s Orc army. Those of you with dts will have to wait for the extended version however.

BONUS FEATURES

The Quest fulfilled: A Director’s Vision (22.59 mins)

Cast members Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Virgo Mortensen, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Sean Astin and Miranda Otto talk about making The Return of the King and what is was like to work with director Peter Jackson. The man himself reflects on starting out on his long Lord of the Rings journey after getting involved with the project in 1995, the casting process and how he pitched the movie to all the major studios until New Line took the risk.

A Filmmaker’s Journey: Making The Return of the King (27.19 mins)

Director Peter Jackson and the cast talk about making the final movie in the epic trilogy. The featurette takes you from J.R.R. Tolkien’s book, through the numerous different attempts to bring the story to the screen including one by The Beatles. It also takes you behind the scenes taking a look at the fight preparation, the costumes, music, the script and the ending of a trilogy.

National Geographic Special: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (51.43 mins)

Narrated by John Rhys-Davies (Gimli and Treebeard), this documentary looks into the possible historical figures that influences Tolkien’s moulding of the characters. Aragorn, Gandalf, Faramir, Wormtongue and Sauron are related historical figures that Tolkien could have drawn from such as William Wallace, Benjamin Franklin, Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth I, Rasputin and Adolf Hitler. It also talks about how the First and Second World Wars influenced the story’s epic battles.

Lord of the Rings.net Featurettes (21.38 mins)

Originally available on the Lord of the Rings website, here is your chance to watch the six informative featurettes. Entitled “Aragorn’s Destiny”, “Minus Tirith: Capital of Gondor”, “The Battle of Pelennor Fields”, “Samwise the Brave”, “Éowyn: White Lady of Rohan” and “Digital Horse Doubles”, with each one either looking into a character or taking you behind the scenes.

Theatrical Trailers (3.35 mins)

Your chance to watch the two theatrical trailers used to promote the Return of the King at cinemas and on the web.

TV Spots

Thirteen TV Spots entitled “Heart/Frodo”, “Every path”, “Test”, “Aragorn”, “Time”, “Every step”, “Sword”, “Decided”, “Time Review”, “Decided Review”, “Step Golden Globes”, “Globe Noms” and “New Epic Globe”.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Supertrailer (6.20 mins)

An extended trailer covering the entire epic trilogy that takes you from the forming of the Fellowship to the Return of Aragorn as the King of Gondor.

The Battle for Middle Earth Continues: Video Games from EA Games (3.01 mins)

An extended advert for The Return of the King and The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth narrated by John Rhys-Davies.

OVERALL

The major problem with the two-disc theatrical version of the Lord of the Rings movies is that you know that the definitive four-disc version is going to be a lot better. You cannot argue with the quality of the transfer but the extras just don’t compare to the ones on the extended version. The National Geographic Special is good however but the two making of featurettes do tend to repeat the same things. With no commentary track, no dts or even an advert for the extended version, this is only for collectors or people who just don’t want to watch the full versions of the films.

DVD Star Rating = * * *

Jamie Kelwick

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