Note: This is an edit of the review I wrote on the same movie earlier. It was my first review on MS. I am rewriting it as a continuation of my previous two reviews on the first and second parts of this trilogy. If you want to understand the story below you have to read the first two reviews.
Story
After Rohan is saved the King Théoden along with Eomer, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Gandalf set out towards Isengard to hold talks with Saruman only to find it utterly destroyed by the Ents (angered by Saruman?s merciless tree-cutting); they also find Merry and Pippin (the two hobbits captured in part-1) enjoying their time. Saruman?s power is broken; Pippin finds a Palanthir - a magical, ?seeing stone? ? through which they find out that a HUGE army has set out from Mordor to attack the Kingdom of Gondor. Gandalf and Pippin set out for Minas Tirith (the capital of Gondor, a.k.a. The White city, City of Guard and City of Kings). In Minas Tirith they find Denethor at the helm (Denethor is the Steward of Gondor who is ruling in the absence of a king and is the father of Boromir and Faramir) who, driven to near insanity by his son?s (Boromir?s) death, has done nothing to protect Gondor, so Gandalf and Pippin stealthily light up the main beacon of Minas Tirith which is a signal for help ? beacons are lighted in mountain tops in all directions successively to signal for help.
Meanwhile Gollum leads Frodo and Sam into what they believe is a secret passage to Mordor (which is true) but it is also home to Shelob a giant spider which incapacitates Frodo with its deadly bite. Sam injures Shelob and sends it scurrying back into the cave. Taking the fainted Frodo to be dead Sam takes the Ring from Frodo?s neck and is about to continue in his quest but then many Orcs come (Sam hides) and take away Frodo as a prisoner (knowing he isn?t dead). Sam finds out he?s made a mistake and follows the orcs into their tower where the orcs have killed each other fighting over Frodo?s Mithril coat. Sam kills the few orcs left and freed Frodo, they set out towards Mount Doom - this time in Orc gear to avoid being discovered.
In Rohan Théoden, upon receiving news of the Beacons of Minas Tirith (?Gondor calls for aid?, says Aragorn) orders that the armies of Rohan assemble at Dun harrow where they have an unexpected visitor - Elrond (Remember? The king of Rivendell, the place where the council was held and ?The Fellowship of the Ring? was formed). Elrond warns Aragorn of another army (of Mordor?s allies) that has set out in ships and will attack Minas Tirith from the river.
Having forged back together the shards of Narsil (Remember? Elendil?s sword which was broken by Sauron and the hilt shard of which was used by Isildur to cut the One Ring from Sauron?s hand.), the re-forged Narsil is now called ANDURIL, FLAME OF THE WEST. Elrond asks Aragorn to ?become who you were born to be? and that he should now seek the help of the ancient oath-breakers (people who had once sworn allegiance to Isildur but had deserted in the hour of need and were hence cursed not to be free until they help an heir of Isildur ? Aragorn, in this case ? save Gondor). Aragorn (along with Gimli and Legolas) leaves Dun harrow towards the Path of the Dead where the oath-breakers reside.
In Gondor, Faramir is fighting to save Osgilliath but is forced to retreat to Minas Tirith due to the Orcs? overwhelming numbers. Denethor obstinately sends him back to regain Osgilliath but this time Faramir is badly injured, taking him to be dead and seeing the huge armies of Mordor outside the walls of Minas Tirith ? the Battle of Pelennor fields has begun. Denethor becomes totally insane ? Gandalf takes over control of the city?s defenses and tries his best to save the city but the main gate is soon felled by the orcs.
Just when the city is about to fall Rohan?s army arrives and the city is saved temporarily but soon even Rohan?s army realizes that they are about to be overwhelmed. At this decisive moment Aragorn arrives in the ships (that were to reinforce Mordor?s army) with a great army of ghosts (of oath breakers) and completely destroys the armies of Mordor ? Minas Tirith is saved.
A debate is held in the city where it is decided that an army set out to attack Mordor so that Sauron?s attention is drawn away from Frodo and his quest. The plan works and Frodo, unseen by Sauron, goes into Mount Doom to destroy the ring but, at the last moment, is overtaken by the Ring?s will and decides to keep the One Ring for himself despite Sam?s protests. Gollum, who has been following them ever since he deserted them at Shelob?s lair, fights with Frodo for the Ring and takes it from him but during the fight Frodo pushes him into the volcanic crack of Mount Doom ? along with the One Ring. The Lord of the Rings is destroyed and so is Sauron.
The movie continues a little after this but I am sparing you the details.
Direction and Screenplay
Oscars for both! The screenplay does a fantastic job of squeezing the long story into three hours. Also, many parts of the story from the book have been subtly changed both for faster progress and also make the move ever more interesting.
Cinematography and Visual effects
Another Oscar for visual effects! The sfx shots count goes up to more than a whopping 1400 (540 and 800 for the first two parts)!! The very many creatures like the Nazgul birds, trolls, Oliphant, mumakil etc have been shown in very high detail and many other situations in the movie show some mind blowing special effects.
Acting
The only new important character is perhaps that of Denethor played by John Noble. The others continue with their good performances. However, the movie hasn?t won any Oscars in this category.
Music
The background score composed by Howard Shore is, needless to say, excellent. The one composed for the city of Minas Tirith is especially good. A thoroughly deserving Oscar.
Mention must be made of the excellent song ?Into the West? by Faith Hill. The song won an Oscar too.
Oscar race
Did the movie deserve any Oscars? ? Of course, yes! But, eleven Oscars? ? Perhaps not. The eleven Oscar win of this movie is widely seen as a proxy ? a kind of making up for the ?lesser than they deserved? number of Oscars garnered by the first two films.
Conclusion
One of the most ambitious projects in the history of film-making comes to a heart-poundingly thrilling conclusion in ’’Return of the King, ’’ the last episode in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
This is an epic to satisfy not only the most devoted fans of the books but also viewers who are new to Middle Earth. In its own way, it is as thrilling an adventure in story-telling on film as the quest it portrays.
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