Highlights of ROTK -- SPOILERS HERE! (WAS Re: ROTK - First Impressions

[thomasmwall at yahoo.com]

June:
One watching will not be enough for me.  In fact, I can see me going 
4 or 5 times at least just to catch every visual and nuance.

Tom:
Yep, I'm going to see it again on Friday! ;-)


June:
Wise critics have called it a fantasy masterpiece.  I don't disagree 
either, but just take out the qualifying adjective.  It is a 
masterpiece, pure and simple.  

Tom:
Hear, hear!


June:
The battle scenes were even better than Two Towers. Pelennor Fields
is just awesome. The special effects raise the bar yet again.

The destruction of the Witch King.

The horrible atrocity of catapulting heads into Minas Tirith. I had
wondered if they'd actually do this. Personally I'm glad they did
because it showed just what the enemy was capable of.

The enemy host issuing from Minas Morgul (which looked horribly
spooky).

The muster of the Rohan troops.

The lighting of the war beacons along the mountains.

Shelob and Shelob's lair. And Shelob really was horrible.

Gollum – of course.

Mordor looked absolutely hellish./END QUOTE

Tom:
Ooh, ooh!

Sean Astin's acting. Where did *that* performance come from? Outta 
*nowhere!*

Minas Tirith and the bucolic and stately citadel at the top. The 
miniatures for that set were just (I normally hate using this word, 
but it works here) GRAND!

Denethor's madness was horrifying, almost - I might dare to venture -
 moreso than in the book. Faramir's hurt at what his father says was 
very, very compelling and replete with resonant emotion. Ooh, and 
what about that scene with Denethor eating while Pippin sings? It 
was like poetry.

Legolas' acrobatics atop the Oliphaunt. Wow! That was done so well, 
as though it was a dance! Another big crowd pleaser.

Gandalf riding out to save the troops and the light from his 
staff... yeah, I know it was in the trailer, but it was still an 
image that is stamped on my memory.

Gandalf's ambidextrous battle-prowess. Man, does he kick ass or 
what? ;-)

What was up with that deformed Orc that seemed to be in charge? He 
was bizarre, and kind of, well, scary but in a very realistic way 
that I can't quite articulate. Such malice.

The *look* on Theoden's face when he realizes that Eowyn is at the 
battle. At first, he just looks at her, but then he does 
this 'furrowed brow' thing that is just hilarious!

Anyhoo, I'm sure there's more, but I gotta split.

-Tom