“Certainty of death. Small chance of success. What are we waiting for?”
In December 2003, New Line Cinema released the triumphant culmination of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy saga, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. The ambitious trilogy, which began with The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, spanned eight years, with each installment filmed consecutively.
In this concluding chapter, the fate of Middle-earth hangs in the balance as the forces of good and evil clash in an epic battle for dominion. We return to the journey of Frodo, his loyal friend Sam, and Gollum as they inch closer to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring. Meanwhile, Aragorn, who is the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor, rallies rather unconventional allies for the final confrontation against Sauron’s armies.
Peter Jackson, alongside his dedicated cast and crew, poured their hearts and souls into this monumental project, forming a bond as unbreakable as the Fellowship itself. The culmination of their efforts is evident throughout the film, showcasing their unwavering commitment to bringing Tolkien’s world to life.
What The Return of the King Means to Us
Return of the King is a bittersweet end no matter how many times I watch it. It somehow seems to go on forever while being over before you’re ready to leave this magnificent world. The Lord of the Rings trilogy has been a prominent member of my family for many, many years. Too much turkey at Thanksgiving? No problem! Just flop down on the couch and watch Gandalf fight a Balrog. Need some background music while we open presents at Christmas? Nothing says holiday spirit like Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and a mountain’s worth of ghosts slaughtering an armada full of pirates. Maybe it’s not your average family tradition, but to me watching these movies makes me feel like I’m home. Return of the King wraps up our heroes’ tales well and yet leaving us still wishing we weren’t done. I’ll never not have to brush away a few tears when Gandalf comforts Pippin as the hordes begin to overrun Minas Tirith, or when Sam carries Frodo the last few steps up the mountain. Maybe it doesn’t do everything perfectly, but it brings magic to life. And that’s enough for me.
– R.J. Mathews
Return of the King is the film of the trilogy I’ve re-watched the least, not because it’s bad, but because goodbyes are so hard. How do you say goodbye to companions that have been with you for three years? To places and events that touch your heart? If you’re Peter Jackson you do it by saying goodbye multiple times at the end of an epic trilogy. I can’t blame him. I didn’t want to let it go, either. I know The Return of the King was the movie Peter Jackson finally won a directing Oscar for, but for me, it’s always been the weakest of the trilogy. That being said, I still loved it. Yes, parts of it were over the top and cartoony (something that would plague The Hobbit series as well), but it also contained some of the best scenes of the series. The Paths of the Dead. Sam carrying Frodo. The lighting of the beacons. Eowyn destroying the Witch King (my favorite moment). Pippin’s song (that somehow broke my heart). It was a fitting end to an epic fantasy trilogy that got me through some tough years. That still lights the way in dark times. If I somehow can’t always bring myself to finish a re-watch, to once again say goodbye to friends and companions true (if fictional), can you blame me?
– Bob Cram
The Epic
“From the ashes, a fire shall be woken. A light from the shadow shall spring. Renewed shall be blade that was broken. The crownless again shall be king.”
It’s impossible to pinpoint one remarkable moment in The Return of the King. When I think of The Fellowship of the Ring, I see Arwen summoning the river to wash away the approaching Ringwraiths, or perhaps Boromir’s heroism and sacrifice. The Two Towers? Why, the Battle of Helms Deep, of course. But when the subject of The Return of the King is broached, my mind goes in so many different directions: Aragorn, now reunited with Andúril, the sword forged by the elves, calling the disgraced spirits of former soldiers to fight with him, regain their honor, and be freed from their tormented existence. Samwise, armed with the Phial of Galadriel, and Frodo’s sword Sting, fighting off the monstrous Shelob in order to rescue Frodo. Pippin, so beautifully singing Edge of Night for Denethor while Denethor’s own son charges into what is essentially a suicide mission. The Battle of Pelennor Fields. Eowyn striking down the Witch King, revealing that she is NO man. Frodo and Samwise’s last push to Mount Doom and their final confrontation with Gollum. The charge at the Black Gates, led by, of all people, Merry and Pippin. For Frodo!
Shall I go on?
So often, the last film in a trilogy is the weakest, and you will find plenty of people who believe the same about The Return of the King. But isn’t that more or less calling Fellowship and the Two Towers relatively perfect films, considering the critical and commercial success of The Return of the King?
Peter Jackson has taken an epic saga and somehow managed to trim the fat, so to speak, and still provide the audience with an emotionally charged journey that gives proper attention to everyone involved. We cheered, we laughed, we cried, and we felt that profound sense of loss when it all came to an end. Three years of taking this journey beside these characters. Did we really have to say goodbye to them? Thank goodness The Return of the King is an infinitely rewatchable film. It’s so masterfully done that its runtime does not bother me in the slightest – in fact, I’m more likely to start the extended edition than settle for the theatrical. Four hours of the battle for Middle-earth? Yes, please.
Samwise the Brave
“I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you.”
There are several characters within the Lord of the Rings saga that I could label heroes for varying reasons, and I am not here to take credit away from any of them, but for me, it’s Samwise Gamgee who emerges as the most prominent and probably the most underrated hero of the entire trilogy. He lacks the traditional hero traits often seen in fantasy films such as this and enters the story as nothing more than a humble gardener. But he is unflinchingly loyal to Frodo, and it’s his determination and strength that helps propel Frodo to Mount Doom so that the One Ring can be destroyed.
When Frodo falters, it’s Samwise who lifts him onto his back -literally! – to carry him into Mount Doom. He does this without hesitation, despite his own mental and physical exhaustion, despite Frodo’s heart-wrenching Gollum/Ring-induced rejection of him, despite the knowledge that they are likely never to make it home to the Shire. He, like Frodo, willingly carries the burden of the One Ring. It affects them both differently, but Samwise never desires the ring except when he hopes that taking it will somehow diminish the strain it places upon his friend. His selflessness and heroism often go unrecognized, but at the end of the day, had it not been for Sam, the One Ring would have prevailed, and Frodo and Middle Earth would have been lost. Yes, all of the hobbits contributed to the battle for Middle-earth, especially in this third installment, but when I hear Galadriel’s voice say, “Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.”, I think of Samwise.
The Never Ending Ending
If there’s one criticism I hear more than any other regarding The Return of the King, it’s the prolonged ending after Aragorn is crowned King of Gondor and the four hobbits are honored for their bravery. In any other film, this scene alone would be a fitting ending before the credits begin to roll. However, we’re soon taken back to the Shire, where Sam, Pippin, Merry, and Frodo gather for a pint. Over the course of their journey, they’ve all yearned to return home, yet now that they’re back, it’s quite clear that nothing is the same, nor will it ever be the same again. The profound question arises: how could they possibly return to their former selves after everything they’ve seen and endured?
“Thirteen months to the day since Gandalf sent us on our long journey… we found ourselves looking upon a familiar sight. We were home. How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on… when in your heart you begin to understand… there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend… some hurts that go too deep… that have taken hold.”
Understanding now that life is far too short to hesitate, Sam makes a play for Rosie, the barmaid he’s loved from afar. As Sam builds a life with her, Frodo continues to struggle, and it becomes clear he can never return to the life he once had. Soon, we say goodbye to him and Bilbo as they prepare to leave Middle-earth and go to the Undying Lands. The story that began with Bilbo so long ago will never conclude with Sam. Some believe this epilogue of sorts was unnecessary, but I’ll have to disagree. We began this journey with the hobbits, and it makes sense that we would also end it with them. As bittersweet as it may have been, Frodo and Sam both received endings fitting for their own personal journeys, and there is something rather emotional about this trilogy ending on the image of Sam returning home to his wife and children. “We have come now to the end…” indeed.
Legacy
The Return of the King embodies what an epic ought to be. So many high fantasy films have attempted to re-create The Lord of the Rings’s magic, but they always fall short. As I say, with so many films that cannot be replicated, The Return of the King is one of those lightning-in-a-bottle movies. One misstep and it could have been a disappointing conclusion to an otherwise remarkable film trilogy, but Peter Jackson maintained the astonishing upward momentum of the first two films and gave us an exhilarating conclusion worthy of… oh, 11 Academy Awards.
There is a reason all three films in this trilogy now belong in the Canon. It’s difficult enough to film one movie destined to become a classic, let alone three, but with the excellence that is The Return of the King, Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy has become a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with audiences twenty years later.
What are your thoughts on The Return of the King? Favorite moment? Favorite character or quote? Sound off in the comments below!
