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Well, I just got back from the three hour and forty-five minute (counting commercials and previews) opus known as Return Of The King. All in all, it was a good film. It definitely did not feel over three hours long and was probably the best of the trilogy. Unlike The Two Towers, the pacing of the film is pretty relentless; this is not a character driven actor's workshop.
For starters, there were ten commercials. And when I say commercials, I mean actual advertisements that I have seen a number of times on TV, blown up on the big screen. It's bad enough to get commercials after paying $8.00 for a ticket, but to get grainy, pixelated, recycled crap is even worse. And, judging from the commercials that ran, the studio believes that the target audience for Return of the King is rather obsessed with video games and Playstation.
Another thing I noticed about this showing -- the audience applauded. A lot. I don't understand people doing that at a movie. It's not theater; the actors can't hear anyone clapping. To me, applauding a movie is much like clapping and whistling should you hear a really good guitar riff when you're at home.
The fight scenes (and there are quite a number of them) are simultaneously chaotic and comprehensible. The special effects were spectacular, and the production values absolutely top notch. The acting was.... secondary. The location of New Zealand was not as featured as it was in the other two films (probably to make more room for the story and the combat scenes). I still want rather badly to go to New Zealand, though.
Watch time 2:12
Posted by Casper at December 19, 2003 03:35 AM