| Name |
Reviewer |
Quote |
Score |
Date |
| BBCi |
Nev Pierce |
It's an astonishing piece of storytelling, sacrificing little of the novel, as it nimbly switches between several story strands without becoming confusing or dull (despite being a bum-numbing 201 minutes). |
5/5 |
18 December 2003 |
| Salon.com |
Andrew O'Hehir |
The final chapter completes "The Lord of the Rings" series in thrilling style -- and restores faith in the idea that popular entertainment can soar to majestic heights. |
|
|
| About.com |
Rebecca Murray |
The epic journey concludes on a masterful note, with this final film the most emotionally involving and, dare I say, entertaining of the three. |
A |
|
| USATODAY.com |
Claudia Puig |
The Return of the King is the jewel in the crown of the masterful trilogy. |
4/4 |
12/15/2003 |
| Chicago Tribune |
Michael Wilmington |
In "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," a great mythic movie cycle gets the ending it deserves - and we can finally see this stunningly completed film trilogy for what it is: one of the major achievements of film history. |
4/4 |
|
| Slate |
David Edelstein |
Of all the things to love about The Return of the King, it's those lightning shifts in scale that I find the most thrilling. |
4/4 |
|
| The Observer |
Philip French |
As in the preceding films, the narrative moves at a great pace and the majestic New Zealand backgrounds are employed to immense effect. |
|
December 14, 2003 |
| The Guardian |
Peter Bradshaw |
No flabber has been left ungasted by Mr Jackson's mighty battle sequences, nor no gob unsmacked. After three hours and 21 minutes of devastatingly sustained assault, underpinned by an almost continuous horn-blaring, kettle-drum-bothering orchestral soundtrack, we've got our hands up. |
4/5 |
December 19, 2003 |
| Chicago Sun-Times |
Roger Ebert |
This is the best of the three, redeems the earlier meandering, and certifies the "Ring" trilogy as a work of bold ambition at a time of cinematic timidity. |
3.5/5 |
December 17, 2003 |