First of all, let me begin this review by telling you all that I was blessed with the opportunity to experience Trilogy Tuesday on December 16, 2003. The day began with the extended cut of Fellowship of the Ring. The first film was followed by the extraordinary extended version of The Two Towers. This, of course, lead to the unveiling of one of the most highly anticipated movies in history, the spectacularly exhausting fantasy epic Return of the King. While this was nearly twelve hours of movie viewing in a theater, it didn't feel like it because these films are so beautiful and hypnotic.

There really isn't much I can say about this film that hasn't already been said, and without sounding a tad pretentious, I have to tell you that this is the best movie of the year. I've seen several pictures in 2003 that I found outstanding, and many of them were very diverse (Finding Nemo, Seabiscuit, Irreversible, Lost in Translation, Whale Rider, American Splendor, and In America just to name a few), but as grand and moving as all of those pictures were, none of them left me in such a state of Shock and Awe, like Return of the King. By the time this picture was over, I was as spent as a Christmas bonus.

A plot description here seems fairly pointless as most of the world is either familiar with J.R.R. Tolkien's books or Peter Jackson's beautifully conceived previous installments; Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. I will say that Return of the King opens with an outstanding flashback that deftly gives insight into one of the series' major characters. Following this sequence, we are plunged directly into the thick of the action as Frodo and Sam continue their seemingly impossible journey, while Gandalf, Merry, Pippin and Aragorn prepare for yet another war.

Simply put, Return of the King is one for the record books. As was the case with Fellowship of the Ring and Two Towers, it is a picture that is overflowing with undeniable passion and creativity. Director Peter Jackson has shed blood, sweat and tears over this project for years now and his hard work (as well as the stellar work put in by his incredible cast and crew) has paid off in ways that myself and countless millions never dreamed possible. For years, the Lord of the Rings was thought to be unfilmable. Studios felt that it would be far too challenging and far too expensive. Certainly, nothing Jackson had done in the past suggested that he was capable of such greatness. This isn't to say that Jackson's early work wasn't impressive (I'm a big fan of The Frighteners, Heavenly Creatures and his bloodfest Dead Alive). It's just that none of his previous pictures were painted on such a large canvas, nor did they indicate he was capable of this triumphant trilogy..

Quite obviously, a major key to the success of this series was the picture-perfect casting. I couldn't imgaine anyone else in these roles. Ian McKellen is Gandalf. Viggo Mortensen is Aragorn. Elijah Wood is Frodo. The same could be said for all the supporting players as well. And as strong as the cast is in this final chapter, I was most moved by Sean Astin who really soars as Sam. This is a sincere, heartfelt performance, and Astin is really given a chance to shine here. Of course, the entire cast is solid and Mortensen in particular should see his stock rise after his stellar work in these pictures. And the kudos don't end with live actors. Once again, Gollum is a spectacular, CGI creation, and Andy Serkis has done an outstanding job bringing to life his movements and his distinctively creepy voice.

The size of this picture is beyond description. Fellowship of the Ring featured some colossal battles, while The Two Towers' Battle at Helm's Deep was one of the most massive war sequences ever captured on film. Believe it or not, the wars on display in the first two pictures are positively dwarfed by the proceedings in Return of the King. Peter Jackson is a barrel of unlimited energy, and it's quite obvious that to him, there is no such thing as too big. With a cast of thousands (some real, some digital) Mr. Jackson never backs off. These pictures just get bigger and bigger, and despite their size, the Tolkien universe remains one about characters and the director never loses sight of that. When a life is taken in one these movies, we feel it because we've come to know and care about these characters. This is what sets Lord of the Rings apart from the onslaught of other films that rely on special effects almost entirely.

Is Return of the King a perfect film? No. There were moments that bothered me. I could have done without elf Legolas counting his kills every time he'd slay an orc. I also felt that an inevitable reunion between some of the pictures' main characters felt too sticky sweet and almost cheesy. But in a film of this size, in a series of this scope, no other series has come this close to perfection (not even the original beloved Star Wars trilogy). There is so much in these movies to admire that a few minor complaints feel like a faded memory.

Upon watching The Return of the King, I was somewhat sad in my realization that this series has come to an end. Many critics are proclaiming this the best of the three, but now that I've seen them all, I look at it as one continuous story. I love it as a whole. Return of the King obviously features resolutions and the resolution of story-lines, and it's certainly the biggest of the three, but ultimately, I'm not going to pick one chapter. I pick the whole, glorious thing.

Many will argue that Return of the King is too long. To me, not one frame of this movie should be cut. Personally, I applaud Jackson's approach to the material. These movies are incredibly faithful to their source, and even though some things had to be cut (including the much talked about sequence featuring Saruman's destruction), it was for the good of the films. The spirit and flow of these books remain in tact.

Every character in the Tolkien universe serves a purpose. Not one hero here is more essential than another. The story is incredibly well balanced and this is yet another testament to Jackson's extraordinary talent.

Return of the King will, no doubt, be proclaimed the best of the series, and I must admit, it is an absolutely fulfilling motion picture. From it's breathtaking action, to it's heartfelt characterizations to it's warm, hopeful ending. Still, I believe all three chapters compliment each other. They are, after all, one epic glorious story, and with Return of the King, everything has come full circle.

With it's themes of honor, love, friendship, family, and good vs. evil, Lord of the Rings represents many things we can all identify with, and other things that many of us have forgotten. It is fantasy in the purest form, but one rife with life-lessons and morality tales.

Peter Jackson, I want to thank you and everyone involved in this project for creating a movie experience I will never forget. In a time of fast food film entertainment, you've proven that a big budget and tons of special effects doesn't necessarily equal mindless, forgettable fluff. With passion and heart, you've created a timeless masterpiece that surpassed my wildest dreams. Even though I had huge expectations for these movies, they were bigger and better than I ever could have hoped for. That doesn't happen very often to a crazed movie fan like me. Usually, high expectations get me nothing but heartache. In the case of Lord of the Rings, the only reason my heart is aching is because the series has come to an end. These films are that good.

On a side note, director Peter Jackson can do whatever he wants now. Up next is a remake of one of the film's that inspired him to become a director, King Kong. It's due in 2005.