The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

While the tagline of the film says 'The Journey Ends' one may ask, which journey? Many journeys came about from the original journey of Frodo and Sam leaving the Shire to destroy the Ring. We've gone from Hobbiton, Bree,  Rivendell, Moria, Lothlorien, Rohan, Isengard  and now in the end we venture to Gondor--home of Boromir and Faramir, as well as Aragorn's rightful kingdom--and Gondor's eastern neighbor, Mordor. 

From the original Fellowship have come the royal family of Rohan. King Theodan, his nephew and niece, Eomer and Eowyn, who were miraculously brought back together by the Fellowship, and their devoted kingdom. Frodo and Sam are led to evil Gollum, but also to Captain Faramir and his loyal men and Faramir's association with both hobbits will have a remarkable impact on him when he finally returns home. Through one journey comes many journeys that will all be bound together to end Sarumon and the One Ring.

While trying to figure out how I was going to review this mammoth film, I finally came to one conclusion that actually made perfect sense, follow the hobbits. All four hobbits have been the centerpoint of the story and through them all the following stories of subsequently connected.

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After the victory of Helm's Deep, Gandalf gives fair warning that this is the beginning of something greater and harder than what they just endured. When Pippin gets into trouble and foresees Sauron's plan for the annihilation of Middle-Earth, he puts himself in immediate danger. Gandalf takes Pippin and both ride to Gondor to seek alliance from Denathor, the current steward of Gondor. Knowing that they are severely outnumbered, the only option is to ask for the aide of Gondor. However, there is a bitter enmity between the two kingdoms, that neither are willing to settle. 

A remarkable city of culture and education, Gondor or the White City faces ruin and destruction due to its close proximity to Mordor. For years the White City has been without a king and instead has been ruled by a direct line of stewards. Lord Denathor, father to Boromir and Faramir, is a cold and calculating man who is grieving the loss of his beloved oldest son, while despising the life of his younger, lesser worthier son. 

Pippin remains in Gondor and is made a watchguard of the White Tower by Denathor, who takes a liking to the Hobbit. When Faramir returns home, his father receives him coldly, wanting nothing to do with him. In spite of this harsh homecoming, Pippin befriends Faramir, understanding what its like to be underestimated and made to believe that you're never good enough. For a man that has had so little happiness in his own lonely life, Faramir enjoys getting to know Pippin who reminds him of himself in his boyhood days. When Gandalf tasks Pippin with a dangerous mission, he not only succeeds, but eventually saves Faramir's life, while bringing together Gondor and Rohan in more ways than one. 

Merry has remained with King Theoden and the Rohirrim, not really knowing his place and constantly worrying about Pippin, as well as Frodo and Sam. Desperate to fight and do something of worth, Merry offers his alligence to Theoden, but is turned down. However, Merry becomes close to Lady Eowyn who seems to find herself in a similar position. Although she has been trained to fight and ride like a man or even better, she is forbidden from engaging in warfare, and as the last heir to the throne she must stay and secure the bloodline. 

Eowyn is also privately compromised as she struggles with her growing feelings for Aragorn. A man she sees as a true hero and someone she could live the rest of her life with. Yet, Aragorn is devoted to Arwen and must painfully explain this to Eowyn. As she comes to terms with this truth, Eowyn is more determined than ever to have things go her way for once. For both her and Merry. 

Together they ride into war and together they turn the tide of Middle-Earth's victory as both are responsible for the slaying of the Witch-King of Angmar, the Head Nazgul. Merry and Pippin are reunited, both of them changed and for the better. Meanwhile, through blood, battle and death, Lord Faramir of Gondor and Lady Eowyn of Rohan, find unexpected love, of which neither question its sudden, but most needed appearance.

With each step they take to Mordor, the One Ring weighs heavier on both Frodo and Sam. The Ring is causing both physical and mental pain on Frodo and he becomes more deceived by Gollum who only seeks the Ring for himself. Sam sees behind Gollum's lies and his true intentions and tries to protect Frodo. Overtime, Frodo, desperate to rid himself of the Ring, will take any measures necessary to do so, even if it means following Gollum and leaving Sam behind. 

In spite of his deception, Gollum severely underestimates Sam's loyalty and devotion to Frodo. He returns to fight off a monstrous spider, Shelob and walks up the mountainside of Mount Doom. When Frodo is to weak to go on, Sam carries him on his back to the fiery molt from where the Ring was forged and where it can be ended. Yet, Gollum's love for the Ring brings him to a final battle with Frodo, who stands on the balancing point on whether to destroy the Ring or live a life of constant subjugation to its power.  

Frodo and Sam are not alone in their fight. Beyond the fires of Mount Doom, an uncrowned king stands before a small but passionate army that are willing to die so Frodo can have one final chance to end the One Ring.

With a title like The Return of the King, it would probably be best to expound on this said king. Aragorn is the rightful king to Gonder, but his refusal to assume the throne has caused discourse throughout Middle-Earth. Forever reminded of the weaknesses of his ancestors, Aragorn sees no hope in becoming a good king, much less a successful one. 

That all changes when what he receives the news from Elrond himself that Arwen's life is now tied to the Ring; and if it is not destroyed soon, she will suffer an agonizing death. After Arwen has a vision of hope and happiness, she risks her life by returning to her father and slowly grows weaker as the Ring approaches Mount Doom. Now, no longer under the protection of her people and their magic, she pleads with her father to reforge the Shards of Narsil, the sword of Aragorn's ancestors, and remake a new sword for a new king, Anduril. Arwen believes that all life, including hers and her future family's, are not only dependent on Frodo and eradication of the Ring, but also on Aragorn and the reclaiming of the throne of Gondor. 

Aragorn, now empowered to save Arwen, becomes the king he was--in Elrond's words--born to be. Taking his ancestors once broken blade, Aragorn leads the final battle, the last hope in aiding Frodo and Sam and delivering Middle-Earth from Sauron's control.

For days I've been figuring out how to review this final film! Infinity War and Endgame were a piece of cake compared to this. I just hope my reviews did the trilogy justice. Having not read the books, I might not have a complete understanding of characters and concepts so these reviews are told completely from a movieverse POV. 

From what I remember of this film it was just battle after after battle after battle. However, the whole series itself is about the leadup and eventual waging of a war and wars are created from constant battles. Tolkien knew how to write about war and The Lord of the Rings in many ways was a fantastical view of his own private life as a soldier. His service in WWI, the bonds he formed within the trenches and foxholes, silently dealing with PTSD and becoming a survivor in what would be known as the Great War or the War to End All Wars is mental material enough to create story filled with relatable characters surround by fantasy and mythology.