Yesterday, I took in my sixth viewing of
Return of The King. I can not even begin to find the words to describe how much I love this movie. Easily, it has become my Favorite. Movie. Of. All. Time. Each time I see it, I love it even more. Obviously, if I've endured sitting in a theater for over three hours six different times. And the sad thing is, I could still go back and see it again and again and again.
I was one of those sitting at home on February 29, screaming and hollering each time it won an Oscar. I was nearly in tears when Peter Jackson captured the Best Director award. Tears did fill my eyes when Steven Spielberg announced it was a clean sweep and it won Best Picture. Never in my life did I feel that a movie deserved the award. In my opinion, it is a cinematic masterpiece. I was sucked in on President's Day 2001 when I saw
Fellowship of the Ring for the first time. The rest is history. I went to it, not knowing what to expect. I had just finished reading
The Hobbit and had just begun reading FotR. I remember when the movie ended I sat there dumbfounded and disappointed it had ended. In no way did it seem three hours had gone by, and I knew it would be a long ten months until
The Two Towers was released.
I saw TTT on opening day as our company Christmas party and I went again on President's Day to see it for the second time. I was sucked in even more. I had finished reading the trilogy over Christmas and was anticipating
Return of the King even more than I had been TTT.
I went and saw RotK with my cousin the Friday after it opened (December 19). There have been movies that have moved me before, but nothing on this scale. I cried like a baby at the end. It had far exceeded my expectations. After six times, I don't cry anymore, but I get goosebumps in all the same places. Here are just a few of them:
* Shelob's Lair
* Pippin and Merry saying goodbye when Gandalf leaves for Gondor
* The lighting of the Beacons of Gondor
* The Riders of Rohan set out for Gondor
* Rohan arrives for war
* Pippin sings
* "I am no man!"
* Theodon's "motivational" speech before charging into battle
* Sam says "I can't carry it, but I can carry you!"
* Before charging the Black Gate, Aragorn looks back and says "For Frodo"
* "My friends, you bow to no one."
(Ok, so I spend most of the movie in goosebumps!)
The only part that brings tears to my eyes now, (and you're going to laugh) is when the words "The End" appear on the screen (sheesh, I've got goosebumps right now!). And aside from the Legolas/Mumakil scene, this one is probably one of my favorites....
PIPPIN: I didn't think it would end this way.
GANDALF: End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it.
PIPPIN: What? Gandalf? See what?
GANDALF: White shores, and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise.
PIPPIN: Well, that isn't so bad.
GANDALF: No. No, it isn't.
Gandalf has the best lines in the entire trilogy, my favorite being
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
I've come to adore all the actors in this trilogy. Some I loved before, some I discovered during, some I've become "OBsessed" with. Everyone involved did an amazing job, and although none were individually recognized by the Academy
coughSEANASTINcough, I'm glad they were awarded the SAG award for best ensemble. That's truly what it was, and I'm glad they were recognized for it.
The music from all three movies has become part of my usual rotation (I'm listening to RotK soundtrack as I type this), and "Into The West" has moved itself onto my Favorite Songs of All-Time list.
As I said earlier, I've seen it six times now. It's sitting tied with
Interview With The Vampire and
Speed for most times seen in a theater. I mentioned to Brooke, as we were waiting for the movie to begin yesterday that I just can't have it sit tied, so if it is still playing next weekend, I will have to go see it for the seventh time, just to break the tie. Now, before you go thinking I'm nuts for seeing that many times, a friend of a friend has seen it 34 times. Yes, 34 times. I don't feel quite so silly with my six, going on seven.
Bah, I could go on and on ad nauseum about this movie, but I'll stop. Peter Jackson is a cinematic god in my book and will forever be one of my favorites. He solidified his place at the top, in my book anyway, by bagging off the New Line Oscar party and heading to the fan run TORn party first. And, not just to make an appearance, but by hanging around for quite some time. It said a lot to me about his (and the rest of the cast and crew) appreciation to the fans.
This movie has already become a classic and is something I hope my children will enjoy as much as I have. Congratulations to Peter Jackson, the cast and crew for all the praise, accolades and success these movies have brought. It is well deserved.
