Revisiting...Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003)

Poster Description: Smoke and ash roll in from the right side of the poster, revealing Aragorn wearing full armour and holding up his sword. (Right) Gandalf wields his white staff. (Left) Beneath a yellowish sky, Sauron's eye glowers from his black tower. Arwen stands to the side, wearing a gown with a round neckline and long, white sleeves. Below, Frodo and Sam are covered in dirt and grime, surrounded by rocks. Frodo holds the light Elendil so the glow shines beneath his fingers. Gollum skulks, smirking, on a rock.

As with my reviews for Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, I covered Return of the King back in 2012. I only wish my excitement for An Unexpected Journey had endured half as much as it has with this trilogy, but oh, well. My thoughts from 2012 will be highlighted in blue.

2012: I must warn you first of all, because this film is about three hours long, so you might want to get comfortable before it starts. I recommend a squishy sofa, and a packet of dried mango, myself, but meh, it’s totally up to you.

2024: What a weirdly specific snack. Anyway…

2012: As Gandalf so rightly says, “We come to it at last. The great battle of our time.” But while him, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and almost everyone else sets out to give Sauron hell, it is Frodo and Sam who still have the hardest task of all: getting that damned Ring into that damned volcano.

2024: First, we get a prologue about how Sméagol (Andy Serkis, Rise of the Planet of the Apes) became Gollum. When I saw it at the cinema in 2003, for the briefest moment, I thought we were watching the wrong film because the sequence was so different from the previous movies. It starts innocently enough, apart from Sméagol’s intense face, as he spears a worm with a hook for fishing (definite foreshadowing). His friend Deagol falls overboard and finds the Ring…or does the Ring find him? What follows is fast, brutally claustrophobic cinematography as the men try to kill each other over the Ring. Also, the pounding beat and squealing chorus make it even more oppressive. Let’s just say the look on Sméagol’s face as he puts the Ring on for the first time would be better suited for a romantic partner. Suddenly, “my precious” has a whole other meaning to it…

When you find the last crisp in the packet…

Image Description:

Sméagol is pale and greasy-haired, holding the Ring with both hands. His expression is sly and victorious.

Sméagol is cast out as punishment for his crime, and here we see Peter Jackson’s experience with horror back in action. The lighting could not be more in contrast to the previous scene, and the makeup department transforms Serkis from river folk to a skeletal creature. Serkis is pitiful and grotesque, and that final “my…prrrecious…” sends collective shivers down the spine. We’re barely ten minutes into the film at this point and ten-year-old me was genuinely worried she wouldn’t be able to get through the rest of it out of fear of monsters to come.

2012: Gollum…is completely and utterly hell-bent on reclaiming [the] Ring for his own…is leading [Frodo and Sam] to Mordor via the scenic route, via a secret stairway, where some new foe is lying in wait for them.

2024: Oh, we’ll get to her. Don’t you worry.

2012: But it’s not all about Frodo and Sam; Pippin (Billy Boyd) gets a much larger role in this part of the story.

2024: Up until this point in the story, Pippin provided most of the trilogy’s comic relief. Nevertheless, his decision to steer the Ent, Treebeard, towards joining the fight against Sauron showed some unexpected metal. Following their victorious battle, Pippin and Merry (Dominic Monaghan, Star Wars: Episode IX – Rise of Skywalker) finally reunite with Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. Imagine my sigh of relief with the happier shift in tone! The scene also introduced me to salted pork – because it wouldn’t be my review without mentioning food. In the film’s theatrical release, Saruman (Sir Christopher Lee) does not appear and his absence is palmed off as being trapped in his tower. While I haven’t seen the Extended Version yet, I know we get a better, albeit more violent, answer to Saruman’s fate. It also explains how his Palantir (or Seeing Stone) ends up in the water, but more on that shortly.

It is warm and sombre in Rohan through its lighting and acting. The late Bernard Hill as King Théoden raises a toast to their “victorious dead,” and you feel like you’re part of it all. Later, Merry and Pippin entertain with cheerful antics, singing a Hobbit pub song, and you may even find yourself struck by a yearning for a fictional place, too.

There is also an endearing interaction between Aragorn (Viggo Mortenson, Captain Fantastic) and Gandalf (Sir Ian McKellen, The Critic) that brings the situation home. It’s the first time Gandalf appears vulnerable as he expresses concern about hearing no news on Frodo and Sam. Being the epitome of soft masculinity, Aragorn asks:

“What does your heart tell you?”

Gandalf takes a moment to reply, but his face relaxes into a small smile:

“That Frodo is alive…yes. Yes, he’s alive.”

McKellen could have left it there, and it would have been remarkable enough, but as he turns away, a flicker of uncertainty really polishes off the beautiful scene. If Gandalf is afraid, we should all be fearful about Frodo and Sam.

Who else should we worry about? Pippin.

2012: After a rather traumatic experience leaves [Pippin] uncertain for his safety, Gandalf takes him to The White City of Gondor.

2024: That traumatic experience comes from young Peregrin Took's endless curiosity. By touching Saruman's Palantir, he accidentally connects with Sauron and sees the Dark Lord's plans. Also, I'm sure Gandalf had to bring Pippin back to life! The young Hobbit survives, and we get a particularly rousing score from Howard Shore as Merry and Pippin are separated for the first time in the trilogy. The uncertainty is palpable. What will Gondor have in store?

2012: Here sits Denethor... a steward of the throne who is stricken by the recent death of his son…Boromir. Naturally, Pippin, being rather foolish (but, nonetheless, well-meaning, bless him) offers to serve Denethor, as it was Boromir who died to save him and Merry in the first film.

2024: You feel every bit of Gandalf's weary resignation at that moment. It's particularly ironic since he told Pippin it was better he "didn't say anything at all" to Denethor mere minutes before.

The costume designers tell us not to like the steward from his first scene. Enveloped in black furs, and he is slumped on his throne, so Denethor (John Noble, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It) appears complacent and self-centered. Noble makes him like a cornered animal, jowls quivering and prone to sudden growls in rage. Also, Denethor has no table manners!

In The Two Towers, Jackson made out Faramir (David Wenham, Australia) as something of a bad guy. True, he did try to steal the Ring as did his brother, but he doesn’t outwardly hate Frodo and Sam. Denethor, on the other hand, resents his remaining son – he even says to his face he’d rather Faramir died instead of Boromir! Thus, in a (desperate) attempt to please him, Faramir goes out into battle. The scene is chillingly juxtaposed with Pippin singing for Denethor’s entertainment.

That’s a lotta tomatoes for one man.

Image Description:

Pippin and Denethor are in a hall of white marble with black pillars. A tall statue of a king stands behind Pippin, who wears a black tunic with a white tree on the front and chainmail. His expression is cautious as Denethor sits at a large table full of plates of food and a flagon of drink with a silver goblet. Denethor wears black and grey-trimmed fur and holds bread in both hands, decorated with heavy rings.

2012: Now with this being the ultimate show-down between good and evil, you can guarantee there are to be a few battles to be had, but the great thing is you don’t get tired of it.

2024: The Battle of Pelennor Fields and the Battle of the Black Gate (officially called the Battle of Morannon) happen within minutes. From this moment on, I’m going to abbreviate them. TBoPF is a sheer, glorious spectacle from Bernard Hill’s speech and the spine-tingling shout of “DEEEEEATH!” to my favourite Badass Female Moments. It would be many years – over two decades - before I found myself rooted to the edge of my seat in the same way again.

2012: It’s not all about gratuitous violence, because you don’t actually see anyone getting stabbed, or shot by an arrow, and yet you know a hell of a lot of people, orcs, and mutant elephants get killed.

2024: Not true. Eomer throwing a spear at an Oliphant rider is violent. Satisfying, too. Likewise, there is the dawning horror on that puffy orc’s face when it’s clear the Rohirrim aren’t stopping their charge. Another bonus fact: that orc was stylised after the disgraced scumbag Harvey Weinstein.

They could be twins! Hideous, awful twins.

Image Description: (Left). The orc is pale, puffy-faced on one side, with the tissue nearly covering one eye. He wears thick armour up to his neck and has black lips open to reveal buckled fangs. (Right) Harvey Weinstein is balding, thickly wrinkled, with an eye that sags down and grey stubble. He wears a baggy suit.

2012: But it is Frodo and Sam who provide us with the real emotion to the story. They are feeling the strain of their journey, and the Ring is clearly taking its toll on Frodo.

2024: I disagree that Frodo and Sam exclusively provide us with the story’s heart. Emotion and character development run through other characters, just look at Aragorn! Commanding a disgraced army of ghosts to fulfil their oaths. The CGI is a bit dodgy here, but I enjoy the shift between gaunt zombie faces and skulls, depending on how the ghosts turn their heads. That’s a fun touch. Also, Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) continue their kill-count competition, which offers some levity in the battle. You know, if killing a giant elephant and sliding down the trunk as it collapses is what you’re into…?

There’s a side-plot where Arwen (Liv Tyler, Ad Astra) is growing weaker while Sauron’s evil strengthens. Desperate, Elrond (Hugo Weaving) sends her away to the safety of the Grey Havens, but not before he has a vision of Arwen and Aragorn’s son. There is no dialogue, only Shore’s ethereal score, which is absolutely haunting. As for Arwen’s plight, it’s not really explained, but that’s easy to forget when she reunites with Aragorn at the end. It’s so sweet and wholesome!

As I write this review, I think about Season 2 of Rings of Power. Naturally, that series would need a review of its own, so no spoilers here. Like The Hobbit trilogy with the Amazon show, the difference is that you don’t necessarily care about all the plots, despite familiar characters appearing. In Return of the King, we don’t have that problem here. These films remain a labour of love, and the stakes are high. The closer Frodo, Sam, and, by extension, Gollum get to Mount Doom, the weaker our Ring-Bearer gets. Covered in dirt and grime, Wood and Astin’s performances make the audience feel every bit as hopeless as them. It’s not helped by Gollum/Smeagol’s schemes to lead the Hobbits straight to her. Who? We don’t hear her name in the film, but Shelob’s slow reveal is an arachnophobia nightmare. Oddly, she didn’t scare me half as much as Aragog in Chamber of Secrets, perhaps because Jackson created her with CGI rather than practical effects. Nevertheless, my anxiety when Frodo gets stuck in her web has never left me!

Similarly, Sean Astin is especially moving in his performance as a brave, heartbroken Sam. I’ve seen it so many times it’s easy to forget he simply walked into Mordor because Frodo needed him. Armed with nothing but a sword and frying pan. Not to speak ill of the dead, but Boromir could never!

Frodo…you might want to look up? Or not!

Image Description: The sky swirls red and black. Shelob, a gigantic, hairy spider, is spread across two rock walls, looming over Frodo. Covered in webs, Frodo looks ahead of him, completely oblivious. The camera angle reveals the dirt around his jaw and matted clothing. Nonetheless, the Elven clasp on his cloak shines bright.

2012: My one criticism is that there are too many parts which could have been the ending to the film, though they are all significant to the final conclusion.

2024: I still uphold this common criticism but don’t mind it as much now. There are loose ends to tie up, and they come with an interchangeable but ultimately bittersweet tone. As all endings to a magnificent trilogy should have.

As you can tell by now, I could talk about the Lord of the Rings all day. Having grown up watching the films, it surprises me, nonetheless, how well Return of the King has aged and how moved I still feel by the acting and Howard Shore’s spine-tingling score. Those three hours pass by as you are caught up in the characters’ journeys and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. It's spectacular cinema at its best.

My Rating:

2012: 4 STARS OUT OF 5

2024: 4.5 STARS OUT OF 5

My Sources:

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King poster - https://www.ukposters.co.uk/posters/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-return-of-the-king-v75001

Image: Smeagol - https://ew.com/tv/2017/11/14/lord-of-the-rings-gollum/

Dominic Monaghan’s filmography - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0597480/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_4_tt_0_nm_7_in_0_q_dominic%2520

How do I spell Palantir? - https://lotr.fandom.com/wiki/Palantíri

John Noble’s filmography - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0633604/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_1_nm_6_in_0_q_john%2520n

Image: Denethor & Pippin - https://engelsbergideas.com/notebook/in-defence-of-denethor/

The Battle of…what now? - https://lotr.fandom.com/wiki/Battle_of_the_Pelennor_Fields

https://lotr.fandom.com/wiki/Battle_of_the_Morannon