Movie Plot – Lord Of The Rings: The Return of The King: Gandalf and Aragorn lead the Human World against Sauron’s army to divert his gaze from Frodo and Sam as they approach Mount Doom with the One Ring.

Director: Peter Jackson
Writers: J.R.R. Tolkien, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens
Cast: Acteurs: Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Bernard Hill, Miranda Otto, John Noble, David Wenham, Karl Urban, Christopher Lee, Andy Serkis, Brad Dourif, Bruce Spencewq

Peter Jackson & Lord of The Rings

The books would be unfilmable. Any screenplay would sell the complex and detailed story short. Peter Jackson took up the challenge and succeeded in immortalizing the spirit of Tolkien’s work in what could be called one of the most ambitious and brave projects in film history. Jackson had no illusions of filming Tolkien’s book line by line. He called the film adaptation an interpretation. Now that the film trilogy is complete with The Return of the King, we can confidently say that it is a very successful interpretation.

It’s almost unimaginable, but “The Return of the King” has become a more than worthy conclusion to a masterful cinematic adventure. It’s also my favorite one of the three movies.

The Fellowship is still broken up

While Frodo and Sam are led to Mordor by Gollum, Gandalf and Pippin rush to Minas Tirith to warn Denethor, Stadtholder of Gondor, that Sauron’s armies are about to attack the city. Merry remains behind in Rohan with King Theoden and Eowyn. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli venture across the Paths of Death to raise an unearthly army. We follow the various storylines until they come together, in the final battle for Middle Earth, when the Black Gate opens.

Of course, for Frodo himself, it all becomes more and more dramatic and difficult. Not only is the Ring getting heavier and heavier, but he is still in danger of falling under the spell of the innocent-seeming jewel. Consequently, their guide Gollum becomes an ever greater obstacle. He leads them down a perilous road and slowly but surely drives a wedge between him and his loyal comrade Sam.

A battle for middle-earth

The Return of the King is a grim film, full of war and suffering. During the siege of Minas Tirith, Sauron’s armies seem inexhaustible and the Nazgul are more terrifying than ever. In Mordor, Frodo and Sam’s hellscape takes on more emotional depth. As a viewer, you experience the enormous burden of the Ring as Frodo, battered and soiled, crawls on all fours through the desolate landscape of Mordor.

You finally understand the immense power of the Ring when you also see in Frodo’s eyes the temptation to take the Ring for himself. And then there is ever the limbless eye of Sauron, towering over the mountains, eager and paralyzing. The whole film heads towards the final, heavy confrontation, in which the future of Middle Earth will be decided.

The visuals in “The Return of the King” are regularly breathtaking. Especially during the many battles or the beautiful white city of Minis Tirith.

The Orcs’ attack on Minas Tirith is one big adrenaline rush. The Nazgul swarm over the battlefield like vultures, and giant elephants take the soldiers of Gondor on their tusks. Terrifying also is the giant Shelob, who awaits Frodo in the dark depths of Mordor. The highlight of the film, however, are the beautiful shots in which the vastness of Middle Earth becomes clear. Only then do you realize what is really at stake.

Conclusion

Of course, there may be joking remarks about the close friendship bond between Frodo and Sam, the over-the-top moments in the film(s), or the many endings (“The movie just won’t stop!”) in ‘The Return of the King’ or the other films, but no one can ignore this incredible achievement.

‘The Lord of the Rings’ has become a film project where the love and enthusiasm for the source material and the cinematography in itself splashes off and has become such a spectacle, such an immersive adventure full of emotions, that one can only have deep respect for it. Just as everyone bowed to the brave hobbits at the end of ‘The Return of the King’, we should solemnly kneel to Jackson and his team of film artists: “You bow to no one.” Big kudos!

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