Return Of The King

(out of five)

Last night I was witness to one of the greatest feats in motion picture history. The Lord Of The Rings:The Return of The King is perhaps one of the greatest films ever made, and is in fact the best film of the last fifteen to twenty years.

Peter Jackson and crew deserve every accolade that is being thrown upon them. If he does not win best director at this year’s Oscars, the Academy should be disbanded.

The final chapter of the Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, “Return Of The King” follows our heroes as they continue on their separate journeys in the quest to save Middle Earth. Frodo and Sam continue to press on into Mordor in an effort to destroy the “One Ring.” Gandalf heads to the white city of Minas Tirith, with Pippen in tow, to warn the steward of Gondor of an impending orc attack on the city. Meanwhile, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Merry, join the forces of King Theoden of Rohan in preparations for the coming war to save Gondor.

The genius of the film is not only apparent in the special effects and amazing battle sequences, but - in an even more profound manner - in the ever present themes of human existance that are woven into the film. Courage, despair, ever-lasting love, unrequited love, joy, honor, duty, reponsibility, determination, hope, sorrow, fear, pain, rejection, deception, greed, friendship; little moments featuring quiet exchanges between characters coupled with triumphant overcoming of incredible odds.

All of these are on display, and more often than not, I felt the emotions right along with the characters. It’s one thing for my girlfriend to become uncomfortable while watching a sitcom character go through a sticky situation, it’s quite another for me to be brought to tears while watching what is ostensibly an fantasy-action film.

But, then, that’s just it; “Return Of The King” is more than just another fantasy film, it is the ultimate allegory for life itself. To do the best with the time we’re given, however trying they might be. To accept our responsibilites, however daunting or scary they might be. To fight oppression in whichever form it takes. To celebrate the things that matter most in this life. And having the wisdom to figure out exactly what those things are.

If you haven’t yet seen this film, then stop reading, and head to the theater immediately. We’ve been quite fortunate these past several Christmases, enjoying an annual gift from our friends in New Zealand. I for one will miss the family tradition that has sprung up over the last three years. It will most likely be some time before another film requires the amount of pre-planning among my family members that “Return Of The King,” and it’s predecessors, “The Fellowship Of The Ring,” and “The Two Towers” had made necessary.

All hail “The Return Of The King,” a reminder (as well as the justification) of why we all go to the movies in the first place.