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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. Please make The Hobbit, Mr Jackson – you know you want to… Winter 2004 is going to feel very bleak without a Lord of the Rings movie to look forward to. Peter Jackson’s masterful adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is finally at an end, some seven years after work first began on it. The result is everything the first two films have led you to expect and, even if he misses out on the Oscars again this year, Jackson can at least console himself with the creation of three of the best fantasy films ever made. Straight Into The Action Like the previous film, The Two Towers, The Return of the King just assumes that you remember where it left off and jumps straight into the action, pausing only to give us a brief flashback to how Gollum became the way he is (generously allowing Andy Serkis to appear as ‘himself’). After that, the plot strands resume: Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) continue on their quest to Mordor, to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom, unaware that they’re being led into a trap by the devious Gollum. Meanwhile, Gandalf (Ian McKellen), Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Gimli The Wise-cracking Dwarf (John Rhys Davies) ride to the defence of the city of Minas Tirith, ahead of a ferocious attack by Sauron’s dark forces. However, Aragorn has a Cunning Plan, involving a Zombie Army and an ancient curse… |
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