Thoughts from the Other Side

Hail to the King baby!

Shameless reference to Army of Darkness, I know. I couldn't resist. I think its fitting that my 100th blog should also coincide with my review of Return of the King. Somehow it just works.

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm slightly fanatical about this stuff (consider yourselves warned). I read the trilogy for the first time when I was 7 or 8 and I've read it at least 5 or 6 more times since then. My dad and I have been known to have discussions of the books and/or movies that last for hours... Ever since I first read the books I've waited to see the movies, because of this, what I witnessed last night was the culminating cinematic experience of my 20 years on this earth. It was amazing...perhaps even beyond amazing. If I were never to see another movie, I would still be content.

But I won't force spoilers upon those who haven't seen it yet. Continue at your own risk.

When I came out of the theater after seeing The Fellowship of the Ring, I felt kind of euphoric. Seeing Tolkien's vision come to life for the first time was an incredibly powerful experience for me. I proceeded to see that movie four more times before it left the theater, with each viewing bringing some new aspect of the film to light (I love it when that happens...). Then last year I saw The Two Towers and left feeling a bit disgruntled. As amazing as it was to see Rohan, resplendent Edoras sitting on the hill, and as lifelike as Gollum was, why did they have to 'kill' Aragorn? Why did Faramir have to take Frodo and Sam to Osgiliath? I left with the image of Gandalf charging down the hill to Helm's Deep with all of the Rohirrim following him, an image that still gives me chills, but I also left with a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. I was afraid that after all my anticipation, I was only setting myself up for disappointment. Repeated viewings and many intense discussions with various people have since made me appreciate at least some of the changes Peter Jackson et. al. made to that story. The scenes with Arwen and Aragorn actually ARE in the book...you just have to check the appendix. And as appalling as Faramir's decision was at the time, how else was Jackson going to portray Sauron's acceptance of the belief that the Ring was going to Gondor? I still don't like it, but I understand why it was done.

With that said, Return of the King makes up for ANY and ALL adaptational liberties that Jackson may have taken. For the past year everyone has been hearing him and the actors talking about how this third film is better than the other two together. Obviously I met these statements with a healthy degree of skepticism, but in the end they were most certainly correct. Return of the King is, for lack of a better description, a masterpiece. I know that statement is going to be met with cynical replies from some, but I will hold to it. The story manages to create the largest, most complex battle ever displayed and then meshes that with all the individual character stories that make the trilogy so amazing. Finally we get to see the hobbits take the center stage and they never really leave it. There's a scene at the end immediately following the crowning of Aragorn that really moved me. Finally, the hobbits are shown as the heroes, even saviours that they are.

The whole film is full of images...scenes that I want to rewind over and over again so I can soak up all that is there. Gandalf coming to the aid of the fleeing defenders of Osgiliath... The charge of the Rohirrim is awe inspiring...there's no other way to describe it. Shelob comes to life and scared the hell out of me...and everyone else in the theater. Grond battering down the gates of Minas Tirith...beautiful, yet so disturbing for it signals the fall of the city. The final stand of the men of the west at the black gates... The eagles... The destruction of the ring... The crowning of Aragorn and honoring of the hobbits... The farewells... Its all there, everything I read growing up. How can one movie mean so much?

I truly respect what Jackson did with Gollum. Moving past the visual spectacle that he is (and the CGI is amazing), Andy Serkis deserves a raise. Anyone who was worried about the almost cutesy way he was portrayed in TT need not fear. From the very beginning of ROTK we are shown a very different Gollum, going all the way back to the beginning when his friend/brother found the ring. He's treacherous, ruthless, and pitiable, all at the same time. The way he interacts with Frodo and Sam is amazing, more than once I had to remind myself that he's not actually there.

Aragorn's journey into the Paths of the Dead was chilling...for the first time do we see him take up the mantle of the king. Any misgivings I had about Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn dissolved during the movie. He really came into his own. The same with Theoden. I was fairly impressed with him in TT, but I felt something was missing. Not anymore. He has a scene with Eowyn towards the middle of the film which is truly wonderful. Gandaf also works perfectly. People who see this movie are going to laugh at seeing Ian McKellen running into battle and wielding a sword like a warrior, but they have to realize that Gandalf is not an old man. He's a spirit, one of the Istari (like Saruman) and the body he inhabits is merely a shell. The dialogue between Gandalf and Pippin alone should be enough to warrant some sort of award nomination. Speaking of Pippin, he and Merry really come through in this movie. I would say Pippin more so as I feel Billy Boyd is the better actor, but both leave the goofiness of their former selves behind and grow up tremendously in a very short time. Frodo and Sam are also amazing. As much as I love these movies I always felt that Elijah Wood was a bit of a weak spot as Frodo, but again ROTK puts those thoughts to rest. But contrary to what most people believe, he is not the hero of the story. That title really has to go to Sam. For everyone who keeps chanting Rudy in their heads, Sean Astin has officially adopted a new persona. He truly does become Sam...in every way. I can't really explain it better than that without quoting lines and that would spoil too much for certain people who haven't read the books... :)

Bringing this long-winded discussion to a close, I really think this movie accomplishes what Tolkien would have wanted. After a long journey, each and every character arrives at the destination set out for them. The king is crowned, evil is destroyed, homecomings are made, a ship leaves, and a hobbit goes home (two very emotional scenes too). As I look back at these movies as a whole, something I was unable to do until now, I am amazed at just how effective Peter Jackson actually was at telling this story. At the end of the books, one thing that always runs through my mind is the amazement at how much everyone has changed from their original personae. This same thing is accomplished almost perfectly by the end of ROTK. Yes, there are more 'adaptational liberties' taken in this film and yes, people will be upset by them. But everyone has to remember that this is not 'J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.' This is 'The Lord of the Rings'...directed by Peter Jackson. People who are upset because he changed certain features of the story need to understand that a perfect conversion would have been nearly impossible. What Jackson set out to do was tell an abridged version of the story...to convey the emotions of the story...to take his audience on the same journey as his characters. And he did that. What he accomplished through these three films is something that has never been done before...by ANYONE. He's certainly not a hack, anything but that. Jackson had a vision, and he showed the world that vision in a way which should earn him the respect of all.