11 out of 10. And yes, I cried during “Into the West.” Do you fast-forward through the endings, or do you sit there and suffer with Frodo like a good fan? Let me know in the comments. Suggested Tags: #LOTR #ReturnOfTheKing #Tolkien #MovieReview #WhyWeCry
It’s not about the crown. It’s about the scar.
That line destroys me every single time. Lord of the Rings Return of the King
First, let’s give credit where it’s due: Minas Tirith. Even by today’s CGI standards, the siege of Gondor is terrifying. The grinding of the Grond battering ram. The Nazgûl screeching over a white city. The charge of the Rohirrim—that screaming, suicidal sunrise—remains the greatest cavalry charge in cinema history.
You’ve just watched Aragorn be crowned, you’ve bowed to the Hobbits, and you think, “Perfect. Time for bed.” Then Frodo wakes up. Then they go back to the Shire. Then there’s the Grey Havens. Then you look at the clock and realize it’s been forty-five minutes since Sauron actually fell. 11 out of 10
But here’s my hot take after my annual re-watch last weekend: The Return of the King doesn’t have too many endings. It has exactly the right number. Because what Peter Jackson, Howard Shore, and J.R.R. Tolkien understood is that the hardest battle isn't throwing a ring into a volcano. It’s learning how to live after you’ve thrown it in.
Let’s be honest. We’ve all made the joke. First, let’s give credit where it’s due: Minas Tirith
The Return of the King is messy. It’s long. It asks you to sit with sadness long after the credits should have rolled. But that’s why it’s a masterpiece.