Viggo Mortenson, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies's , Elijah Wood
Speaking a someone that never read the books, I am sort of at an advantage with the films. I have nothing to reference them with and can't be disappointed during the film because they left out some vital part of the story line. As it happens, I know they left bits out because I have been told numerous times by those that have read the books. Still, it wasn't going to stop me seeing the concluding part of this trilogy.
It was a roller coaster ride of war, death, emotion, more war, more death, more emotion, jumping back and from story to story, between battles and back again. Certainly a film requiring concentration. If you needed to go to the bathroom during the epic, you were afraid to in case you missed something. I suspect many people in the auditorium just crossed their legs and hoped they would last...
The beginning confused me a little as it brought everyone up to speed with how Smegle became Golum. I was expecting to to carry on from the end of TTT. It didn't, I was momentarily confused. The confusion past and my brain caught up with the film.
Throughout the film, there were scenes that both baffled me and had me riveted to my seat. After the Ents had conquered Isengard, where was Saruman? I know he was locked in his tower, but it would have been nice to see it, rather than just hear about it. When Aragorn jumped off of the ship with the dead army from Anduin river on the way to Minas Tirith, there was nothing to show how he got there. One minute in the mountain recruiting the dead army, then next jumping off of the ship. Something I expect will be in the extended DVD no doubt. Putting that aside though, The battle on the
Pelennor Fields was awesome. A few CGI anomalies were evident, but nothing to detract from the sheer scale of the battle. The charge of the Rohan against the Orcs was stunning and sent goose bumps down my spine. Eowyn's slaying of the Witchking after King Theodin was brought down by the Nazgul, was, I'm told, exactly as it is in the book. The siege on Minas Tirith was colossal and was edge of the seat stuff. You could see that the audience at this particular screening were physically moved by some of the scenes from the film. Frodo's departure at the end of the film had many people crying their eyes out. The guy just up the row from me was certainly bawling!
There is far to much in the film to comment on. It is an epic in every sense of the word and no doubt there will be better reviews than this one. Probably by someone that has read the book more than a few times. Personally, I found the trilogy a rewarding experience. Something I don't think will ever be repeated in cinematography.
