Official BMG Return of the King discussion thread

[Fig]

Well, people will start seeing it now (in fact I was at the Montréal premiere just hours ago - yes, I have seen it). So, I figure we might as well have an official topic for it now.

And since it's related to writing or writing-based movies , I'm putting this here.

So, what are your thoughts, questions or expectations regarding the conclusion of the trilogy?

(Personal comment : It's better than Two Towers and Fellowship put together. By far. Sam is outstanding, Pippin works great, the others all turn out well. And my god, the (final location, name not mentioned)...I thought they couldn't have a location more beautiful than Rivendell. I was wrong. And the Pelennor, god...what to say? It makes Hoth, Yavin, Endor, Geonosis and Naboo put together seems like tiny skirmishes by comparison.

My favorite moments :

Ride of the Rohirrim. Just breattaking.
Do not come between the Nazgul and his prey. We all knew it would be a kickass scene - and it doesn't fail to live up to the promise.
The choices of master Samwise. It's so heartbreaking
The final scene. Same.

 

[GeneralStar]

Ooh, intriguing. Well, suffice to say that I also have seen the movie, last Saturday (meaning the 6th) to be exact. As I told Blackjack I was lucky enough to be able to attend a very special advanced screening, that boasted some other perks as well. Here's a cut-and-paste post on the subject I wrote on Serebii, since I'm not in the mood to bother typing it all up again right now:

I actually went and saw Return of the King last Saturday with my eldest sister, who's a rabid fan of the books and who introduced me to them some 11 years ago. It was a special premier screening in Palm Springs, with a bonus wine and cheese soiree beforehand and an *actual* special guest appearance by Sir Ian McKellen (no joke--the guy wore brown leather pants and a velvet burgandy jacket *_*). The tickets were $50 apiece, but I got to see the movie early, Gandalf in person (and it was for KCET charity besides), plus I was able to show off in a fabulous red outfit that I sported (^.^), so it was well worth it.

That being said, I'm planning on driving all the way back out to the high desert tomorrow after my classes so I can see it with my aforementioned sister again at midnight. Even if I've already seen it, it feels like I haven't so I'm all hyped up for it again (that, and the two of us are already planning the Starbucks and Irish Bailey's drinks we're going to be mixing up for this thing). Trust me, to those of you looking forward to it: it is an EXCELLENT movie, though without spoiling anything I'll just say the first ten minutes creeped me out thoroughly... XP

Mm, yes; one of the highlights of my year, definitely. The KCET president who was presiding over the event even managed to talk Sir Ian Mckellen into quoting a bit of Shakespeare for us (from what I'm not sure exactly, since I never read much of the guy's work before). But let me tell you, when you can actually see the man going through his motions on the stage only feet away from you, and hear the resonance of his voice as he performs he is simply riveting. A thoroughly satisfying experience!

 

[BenRG]

Originally posted by Damian Silverblade
And the Pelennor, god...what to say? It makes Hoth, Yavin, Endor, Geonosis and Naboo put together seems like tiny skirmishes by comparison.

How would you compare it with, say, the opening battle in 'Gladiator' or the two-hour-long battle in the film 'Waterloo'. I think that those are more realistic comparisons than to Lucas' "Saturday-Morning Serial"-homage.

 

[Fig]

Haven't seen either of those, so I can't quite compare (I stuck away from Gladiator over it beating CTHD in the Academy Awards), so the Star Wars comparison was pretty much what came to mind. But it's certainly one hell of a battle.

 

[Barb]

I just saw the film today and I am still stunned. That masterpiece will be shown to film students for decades. Peter Jackson could write a film school textbook on How to Film an Epic or even How to Adapt an Epic for the Screen.

Since I know the Academy will not properly honor the filmmaker and his crew, I announce my own awards:

Best Supporting Actor (tie): Billy Boyd as Merry.
Best Actor: Sean Astin as Sam. He was the true hero of the film.
Creepiest Actor (tie): any Orc; Gollum; and Shelob, the giant spider.
Best Battle Scene: Pick any one, from any of the three films. My favorite is still the Ents taking Isengard in "The Two Towers".
Best Heroics During Battle: Eowyn killing the Witch-King; Legolas climbing the Oliphaunt and bringing it down; Merry preventing Faramir's death.
Best Line: So many to choose from. "I'm glad I'm with you, here at the end of all things." Sam to Frodo at Mount Doom. Heartbreaking and touching.

This trilogy is proof that to adapt material for the screen you first and foremost must be a fan. Jackson and his crew loved Tolkien's work and it showed in every frame of every film.

Can we hope that Jackson dusts off "The Hobbit" or "The Silmarilion" sometime soon?

 

[TRF-chan]

I just saw it yesterday with my dad. I agree with you guys, it was simply amazing! The other people in the theater bugged me slightly, though. Whenever Gimli said something, they all started laughing hysterically. Ok, so he was funny some of those times, like when he told Legolas, "That still only counts as one" after Legolas took down the Oliphaunt and all the people on it, but come on, what's so funny about when he says to Aragorn, "Let's get something to eat"? Maybe I wasn't listening properly and I missed something that made it funny, but I sort of doubt it. Ok, rant on odd crowd over.

I thought Minas Tirith was breathtaking! I wish I could live there. But Faramir's father (Mind's fuzzy on his name right now) really got on my nerves. I know he was going a bit crackers and all, but still:

Faramir: So you wish our places were reversed? That I had died and Boromir had lived.
His Father: Yes.

THE HELL?! I wanted to whack that guy >_<.

I also felt the need to strangle Gollum, especially when he convinced Frodo that Sam wanted the Ring for himself, so they left Sam behind. I did everything short of cackling with glee when he fell into the lava with his 'Precious'.

The ending was really sad for me. I hate endings with a passion, I really do. That's part of the reason I like fanfiction: When you make a fic, you continue the arc, the series isn't over anymore until you want it to be, and you can bask in the glory of that (for me at least, and I figure I'm a bit loony, so...yeah). Then I went home and read the timeline in the back of my LOTR book, and basically, it followed the characters through...the end of thier lives. Which depressed me, and I was having mood swings the rest of the night. Happy, to sad, to hopeful, to morbid, to wanting to write a LOTR Mar Sue, to happy, ect. But I'm not scarred or anything, I just hate endings.

My dad thought 'The Two Towers' was better than 'The Return of the King' (he thought the ending of the ROTK was girly -_-), but I must disagree with him.

 

[Fig]

Barb - Billy Boyd's character is Pippin. Merry is played by Dominic Monaghan, and he's the one who was with Eowyn during the battle ;-).

 

[Barb]

Originally posted by Damian Silverblade
Barb - Billy Boyd's character is Pippin. Merry is played by Dominic Monaghan, and he's the one who was with Eowyn during the battle ;-).

D'oh! I'm already mixing up my hobbits! :embarass:

Originally posted by TRF-Chan:

Faramir: So you wish our places were reversed? That I had died and Boromir had lived.
His Father: Yes.

THE HELL?! I wanted to whack that guy >_<. ].

That is called favoritism and I've seen it up close in families. I have literally seen parents pick and choose which children they give their love to, and for the unfortunate ones who don't receive it.... It's just not pretty. It's abusive and evil.