I did see it in the theater - multiple times. We did the big midnight release where you watch all 3 films. (Can I just say that needs throw the best parties. We dressed up. People were buying pizzas to share as we waited in line...) Also the cheer that erupted when Boromir showed up in ROTK after we'd all cried over his death a few hours before.
My husband was/is pretty upset about not having the Scouring of the Shire included, "That's the whole point!" ( He also stood up and hollered "What the f**k!?!" when the Elves showed up at Helms Deep.)
Firstly, regarding Ahsoka: "solid and enjoyable if a bit poorly paced" is a nice way of saying underwritten. I agree with your assessment, though I am more frustrated than pleased with the show.
1. The real question is 'how many times did you see RotK in theaters?' I believe we went 3 times. Saw Two Towers 4 times. Only went to see Fellowship once, which is crazy because it is now my personal favorite of the trilogy.
2. People like to make a big deal about the multiple endings, but I loved them. I didn't want the movie to end. It was a nice way of helping us say goodbye.
3. Yes, the Scouring is unnecessary in the films. That said, I wouldn't hate an extended extended edition with the Scouring as another ending.
4. Fav ending is hands-down, 'my friends, you bow to no one.' Still can't get through it without tears.
5. Never thought about an eagle for Gollum. Makes sense. Mind blown!
I saw all of the movies for the first time at home and owe them a debt of gratitude-they gave me the impetus to finally read the books. I think I love Aragorn’s coronation the best, it’s visually stunning, the singing of his song, and the bowing to no one is just pitch perfect I think. I would have liked to have seen the scouring because I think thematically it matters a lot to the books, but not as much in the way Peter Jackson told the story. So it makes sense to leave it out. Third eagle for Gollum has blown my mind
I saw RotK in theaters when it came out. I didn't give the multiple endings much thought, but have relatives who still, twenty years later, can't get over it.
As for the Scouring of the Shire...personally glad it wasn't added. The movies played around with the timing of story and character arcs (Faramir, Shelob, etc.), and it made sense not to have a final battle of seemingly lower stakes after the ring is destroyed. The Scouring seemed somewhat out of place to me in the books, but I understand why Tolkien put it in as part of the coming home/character arc of the hobbits. Would love to hear anyone else's thoughts on the Scouring in general.
Of course, if Peter J treated the Scouring like The Hobbit, we could have gotten a whole movie just about it...
So the ending of ROTK bugged me a lot less after I realized that it’s functioning as the ending of the entire trilogy, and not just the last episode of the trilogy. That’s why it’s three times longer than a final act ought to be, is that the work it is capping is three times as long as the individual episode.
Heresy. Return of the King is a wonderful film, if anything it needs MORE endings. And all of them should involve the Scouring of the Shire.
The suggestion that the third eagle was for Gollum is very interesting and I hadn't heard it before. Fits with a certain conception of grace, if you allow the eagles to be clued in to the workings of the Valar (although not quite). I suppose I always assumed Gandalf was riding number 3 - alternatively he might have been there for air defence purposes. Prosaically, if there's any race in Middle-Earth whom you'd expect to have developed a reasonable air warfare doctrine it would be the eagles.
That last line! I am going to start saying "Son of a Balrog" on a regular basis. :) And yes, there are too many endings, but I don't care! I dislike the whole scouring bit in the book, so I didn't miss it in the movie, even though the theatrical version of ROTK leaves Saruman's story undone. I remember seeing ROTK in the theaters and crying for half the movie. No regrets.
Have you ever seen the Honest Trailers on the movies? Pretty funny provided we can all laugh at ourselves a bit. And they definitely touch on the multiple endings. https://youtu.be/AOIi9SjJvgU?si=6JVqQPEgLI0XRhOx
I did have the pleasure of seeing it in the theater, twice. Once by myself because I couldn't wait, which really pissed off my girlfriend. The second time was with her (she was still annoyed, but the happy outcome was that she still married me in 2007).
The multiple endings did not affect me at all. I couldn't get enough of the story so I was down for as long as they wanted to make them!
I was not in any way surprised that the Scouring of the Shire wasn't included. I always had to drag my way through when reading it. I have learned to appreciate and even enjoy it as I have gotten older, but it just doesn't work as a theatrical device.
Since I have to pick one.. I'll go with Sam's return home.. "I'm back.."
The third eagle was a escort / tagalong.. not that I think Gandalf would've abandoned Gollum had he still been alive.. I just don't think it was that explicit to have the third eagle "just in case".
Yes! It was the movie that never ended! Soooo many endings! I never considered that the third eagle could have been intended for Gollum... hmmm... Or was the third one the one that Gandolf was riding on? And an eagle can't both carry a wizard rider AND carry a hobbit? But I might be wrong. Maybe the Gandolf eagle also grabbed one of the hobbits? Fun considerations!
I only ever saw the movies once, actually. I've just listened to the audiobooks (Rob Inglis is the best narrator, although I am very much looking forward to listening to Andy Serkis read them all).
I feel like the Scouring should've been including, but then I think everything should be included. I still resent they left out Tom Bombadil, not to mention all those wonderful songs.
Maybe the third eagle was there to provide moral support?
I remember being somewhat annoyed with how many times the movie ended. Honestly, I think the perfect grace note would've been Frodo leaving on the ship to Valinor.
Imo, the multiple endings would work better if LOTR were recut for television, with an hour-long epilogue episode playing after the climactic destruction of the Ring. In this hypothetical recut, I wouldn't mind having some more endings. I mean, they teased the Legolas and Gimli epilogues on the DVD of ROTK but never actually showed them in full.
Now that I think about it, if they ever do a television re-adaptation of LOTR, they could def-ly do the Scouring as one of the final episodes. In the movies, it doesn't really fit that well.
I saw each other movies with my family as soon as they came out. I can see why some people say The Return of the King has so many endings if they haven't read the book or don't love it like I do. Haha. My favorite "ending" in the movie is when the ship sails off. It just gets me somehow. My husband always wants to turn the movie off as soon as the fellowship is reunited! The nerve.
At first I was annoyed that the scouring of the shire wasn't included, but it would have drawn out the ending even more. Could be fun to see it as a short film though!
👑 It's So Over There and We're So Back Again: A Hobbit's (Extra-Long) Tale by Peter Jackson
I did see it in the theater - multiple times. We did the big midnight release where you watch all 3 films. (Can I just say that needs throw the best parties. We dressed up. People were buying pizzas to share as we waited in line...) Also the cheer that erupted when Boromir showed up in ROTK after we'd all cried over his death a few hours before.
My husband was/is pretty upset about not having the Scouring of the Shire included, "That's the whole point!" ( He also stood up and hollered "What the f**k!?!" when the Elves showed up at Helms Deep.)
The 3rd Eagle carried the snacks.
Firstly, regarding Ahsoka: "solid and enjoyable if a bit poorly paced" is a nice way of saying underwritten. I agree with your assessment, though I am more frustrated than pleased with the show.
1. The real question is 'how many times did you see RotK in theaters?' I believe we went 3 times. Saw Two Towers 4 times. Only went to see Fellowship once, which is crazy because it is now my personal favorite of the trilogy.
2. People like to make a big deal about the multiple endings, but I loved them. I didn't want the movie to end. It was a nice way of helping us say goodbye.
3. Yes, the Scouring is unnecessary in the films. That said, I wouldn't hate an extended extended edition with the Scouring as another ending.
4. Fav ending is hands-down, 'my friends, you bow to no one.' Still can't get through it without tears.
5. Never thought about an eagle for Gollum. Makes sense. Mind blown!
I saw all of the movies for the first time at home and owe them a debt of gratitude-they gave me the impetus to finally read the books. I think I love Aragorn’s coronation the best, it’s visually stunning, the singing of his song, and the bowing to no one is just pitch perfect I think. I would have liked to have seen the scouring because I think thematically it matters a lot to the books, but not as much in the way Peter Jackson told the story. So it makes sense to leave it out. Third eagle for Gollum has blown my mind
Sam ending the movie as he ends the books is all I want and all I need. 💜🥹
I saw RotK in theaters when it came out. I didn't give the multiple endings much thought, but have relatives who still, twenty years later, can't get over it.
As for the Scouring of the Shire...personally glad it wasn't added. The movies played around with the timing of story and character arcs (Faramir, Shelob, etc.), and it made sense not to have a final battle of seemingly lower stakes after the ring is destroyed. The Scouring seemed somewhat out of place to me in the books, but I understand why Tolkien put it in as part of the coming home/character arc of the hobbits. Would love to hear anyone else's thoughts on the Scouring in general.
Of course, if Peter J treated the Scouring like The Hobbit, we could have gotten a whole movie just about it...
So the ending of ROTK bugged me a lot less after I realized that it’s functioning as the ending of the entire trilogy, and not just the last episode of the trilogy. That’s why it’s three times longer than a final act ought to be, is that the work it is capping is three times as long as the individual episode.
Heresy. Return of the King is a wonderful film, if anything it needs MORE endings. And all of them should involve the Scouring of the Shire.
The suggestion that the third eagle was for Gollum is very interesting and I hadn't heard it before. Fits with a certain conception of grace, if you allow the eagles to be clued in to the workings of the Valar (although not quite). I suppose I always assumed Gandalf was riding number 3 - alternatively he might have been there for air defence purposes. Prosaically, if there's any race in Middle-Earth whom you'd expect to have developed a reasonable air warfare doctrine it would be the eagles.
I remember I needed a bathroom break by the end of that movie, so all those additional endings were torture! 😂😂
That last line! I am going to start saying "Son of a Balrog" on a regular basis. :) And yes, there are too many endings, but I don't care! I dislike the whole scouring bit in the book, so I didn't miss it in the movie, even though the theatrical version of ROTK leaves Saruman's story undone. I remember seeing ROTK in the theaters and crying for half the movie. No regrets.
One eagle is for Gandalf, silly!
Have you ever seen the Honest Trailers on the movies? Pretty funny provided we can all laugh at ourselves a bit. And they definitely touch on the multiple endings. https://youtu.be/AOIi9SjJvgU?si=6JVqQPEgLI0XRhOx
I did have the pleasure of seeing it in the theater, twice. Once by myself because I couldn't wait, which really pissed off my girlfriend. The second time was with her (she was still annoyed, but the happy outcome was that she still married me in 2007).
The multiple endings did not affect me at all. I couldn't get enough of the story so I was down for as long as they wanted to make them!
I was not in any way surprised that the Scouring of the Shire wasn't included. I always had to drag my way through when reading it. I have learned to appreciate and even enjoy it as I have gotten older, but it just doesn't work as a theatrical device.
Since I have to pick one.. I'll go with Sam's return home.. "I'm back.."
The third eagle was a escort / tagalong.. not that I think Gandalf would've abandoned Gollum had he still been alive.. I just don't think it was that explicit to have the third eagle "just in case".
Just my two cents..
Yes! It was the movie that never ended! Soooo many endings! I never considered that the third eagle could have been intended for Gollum... hmmm... Or was the third one the one that Gandolf was riding on? And an eagle can't both carry a wizard rider AND carry a hobbit? But I might be wrong. Maybe the Gandolf eagle also grabbed one of the hobbits? Fun considerations!
I only ever saw the movies once, actually. I've just listened to the audiobooks (Rob Inglis is the best narrator, although I am very much looking forward to listening to Andy Serkis read them all).
I feel like the Scouring should've been including, but then I think everything should be included. I still resent they left out Tom Bombadil, not to mention all those wonderful songs.
Maybe the third eagle was there to provide moral support?
I remember being somewhat annoyed with how many times the movie ended. Honestly, I think the perfect grace note would've been Frodo leaving on the ship to Valinor.
Imo, the multiple endings would work better if LOTR were recut for television, with an hour-long epilogue episode playing after the climactic destruction of the Ring. In this hypothetical recut, I wouldn't mind having some more endings. I mean, they teased the Legolas and Gimli epilogues on the DVD of ROTK but never actually showed them in full.
Now that I think about it, if they ever do a television re-adaptation of LOTR, they could def-ly do the Scouring as one of the final episodes. In the movies, it doesn't really fit that well.
I saw each other movies with my family as soon as they came out. I can see why some people say The Return of the King has so many endings if they haven't read the book or don't love it like I do. Haha. My favorite "ending" in the movie is when the ship sails off. It just gets me somehow. My husband always wants to turn the movie off as soon as the fellowship is reunited! The nerve.
At first I was annoyed that the scouring of the shire wasn't included, but it would have drawn out the ending even more. Could be fun to see it as a short film though!