You don't have to be a Tolkienite or Hobbitan to applaud Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King, a true spectacle of epic proportions. It is great fun and indeed one of the best films of the year.

Even before watching the film you know you are letting yourself in for an amazing cinematic experience; it has been three years since Fellowship launched the saga and now the anticipated linger is over. Has it been worth waiting for? Absolutely.

Concluding director Peter Jackson's compelling journeys at the heart of J.R.R Tolkien's revered trilogy, a dark shadow is cast over the light of hope that was ignited in Fellowship of the Ring and glowed in Two Towers; the bonds that were formed are now splintered and crushed. The poisonous dark force of the Ring brings out the worst in the characters; the characters are torn apart and forced to reveal their true natures.  Heroic actions drive the characters on their perilous journey as they fight the evil forces that threaten the existence of humankind, resulting in an enjoyable experience filled with laughter and tears.

In this final instalment,  at a time of frightening uncertainty, amid an epic struggle between good and evil, a band of individuals reconcile their fates:
Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) struggles with his future role as king; Gandalf (Ian McKellen) faces the impossible task of taking on Lord Sauron's vast army;  the Hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) must each make great sacrifices to help; traveling across treacherous enemy lands, Frodo (Elijah Wood) must rely increasingly on his loyal friend Sam (Sean Astin), whom he ultimately casts out, as the Ring continues to test his allegiances and ultimately his humanity; and the conflicted Gollum (Andy Serkis) battles with his fate. 

peter jackson's mindscape is powerful and vivid
It is difficult to imagine that the magnificence of Fellowship and opulence of Two Towers could be equalled; Return of the King surpasses all preconceptions and pushes the boundaries of what we have experienced before.  Jackson is daring in his approach; his powerful mindscape is brought to life on a vast canvas of sound and image,  painted in rich, vivid colours.

Unbelievable visual grandeur dominates The Return of the King. What we see is almost embalmed perfection, what we hear is dramatically enhanced with abrasive sound effects; and Howard Shore's magnificent music score adequately underscores the emotions and fittingly reflects the different conflicting themes.

Jackson's brilliance lies in his ability to masterfully manipulate the different plots that drive the narrative; tension and suspense are created with the constant inter-cutting between contrasting scenes - Frodo and Sam's journey to the eye of Sauron beautifully plays off against the ensuing battle of thousands; Pippin watching Denethor (who is charged with watching over Gondor in absence of its King) gobbling his food as men prepare for war and bloodshed is equally impressive.

Co-producer Jamie Selkirk's masterful editing brilliantly enhances the significant differences between the different settings;  the stark contrast between scenes that are radiant and filled with bright light, and the shadowy and murky netherworld,  beautifully reflects the inner struggle and enlightenment of the characters.  The separate journeys play off against each other, creating tension that contributes to the conflict.

The greatness of the epical battle scenes (like you've never seen before), explode on to the screen; powerful sound design and magnificent visual effects add to the brutality and graphic violence.

The powerful blow instilled by the hardcore battle scenes are fortunately cradled in the gentle embrace of endearing characters, whose passion heightens the dramatic tension and saves the film from becoming a montage of overpowering action sequences. 

dark, gruesome and frightening
It is a dark and gruesome fantasy, crawling with horrific, monstrous beings and fearful creatures. There are scenes (without giving too much away) that are truly frightening and might  be daunting for sensitive viewers: there's the attack of Shelob,  an ancient, giant spider-like creature that lurks in a labyrinthine cave near the steps of Cirith Ungol, against Sam and Frodo; the unleashing of the souls of the Men of the Mountains at the Paths of the Dead is quire menacing;  and the Orcs are nauseating creatures.

Visually the film is astounding and awesome; it celebrates a dramatic unification between digital splendor and spectacular live action. The two units are seamlessly blended and miraculously transport the viewer into indescribable worlds of magic and allure.   

social relevance
Our perceptions are drastically challenged as The Return Of The King reflects the headlines of today. In a time of violence and mayhem the words of  Aragorn ring true when he says that "we have rebuild this world and will share in the days of peace".  The film clearly shows how important friendship is when the odds are high; that we should reconcile with the past. It shows how power corrupts, hope empowers, and despair strengthens the powerless.

The Return of the King perfectly exemplifies the power of the visual medium and the art of cinema.

What makes Return of the King powerful?  It is commanding viewing; every frame draws emotion from the audience and challenges our discernment.

The art of Jackson's creation lies in his ability to transport us to the outskirts of our imagination; he takes our pre-conception and runs it through a blender, giving us a delightfully fresh mixture that stimulates the mind and satisfies our appetite for spectacular entertainment.

If you can, as a filmmaker and storyteller, afford an audience the luxury to escape from their ordinary, mundane existence,  and empower them to discover an extraordinary journey of the soul and heart, you are a true king; Jackson rules the kingdom of the imagination with this touching and endearing masterpiece.

The Return of the King speaks a universal language. We leave the cinema with more than just magic in our heads; in this mythical fantasy world we have re-discovered our humanity and learnt that we have to embrace our differences to grow as human beings and be fulfilled.

The Return of the King  is a rewarding and outstanding conclusion to one of the most intriguing and captivating trilogies of our time; immortalised on celluloid, it will be treasured forever.

Go behind the scenes and explore the magic of The Lord of the Rings trilogy: go to Return of the King, go to Two Towers, go to Fellowship of the Ring; also visit the DVD releases of Two Towers and Fellowship.

You can also visit www.gal.co.za for a fantastic photo gallery.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King opens nation-wide on December 17 and was reviewed at the premiere at Cinema Starz, Grandwest, on December 10, 2003.