It’s hard to pick a “worst” film from a series of such high quality as The Lord of the Rings trilogy – they’re all exceptionally well made, compelling films. That said, The Return of the King, in my estimation, is probably the least of the three films. On the one hand, it’s the culmination of an unbelievable amount of setup – hours and hours of film that are paid off, moment after great moment. On the other hand, it’s certainly the most flawed of the three, the most bloated. The battle scenes are, at times, problematic, and with so much territory to cover, director Peter Jackson had to make certain sacrifices.
The film is so filled with epic moments, though, that you can’t really knock it down too much for its flaws. My best advice? Fast forward through some of the slower parts, and you’ll have a fine time.
RonAckner.com 