The third and final chapter of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King broke records
both financially and critically. It became only the second film to surpass $1
Billion at the box office and received a record equalling eleven Academy Awards
having won in every category it was nominated for. It also became only the
second sequel to win Best Picture and the first to win when its predecessor
hadn’t. Much like The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, I loved
the film upon its initial release and also like the first two; my affinity has
waned in the subsequent years. Personally I don’t think it is much better than
the other two films and have a feeling that its huge awards haul has more to do
with the series as a whole than the individual film.
While Frodo, Sam and Gollum edge ever closer to Mordor,
Gondor’s capital Minas Tirith comes under attack from an even larger Orc force
than was present at the battle of Helms Deep. Gandalf sends word to Rohan and
an old alliance is rekindled as the two nations of men stand side by side one
final time. Even with help, Gondor looks set to fall unless Aragorn is able to
muster fresh troops and Frodo is able to destroy the Ring.
