Sunday 28 December 2003

Warning - LOTR:ROTK squee-age

Wow.

I mean, really, wow.  Just got back from seeing Lord of the Rings; The Return of the King, and oh wow.

I was very very very apprehensive and worried and trepidatious (that really should be a word, don't you agree?) about Return of the King.  As the final film in a fabulous and amazing trilogy that has become a piece of film history for its scope, vision and effects, hence a lot to live up to; with an enormous amount of story to tell; with a difficult ending to negotiate.  Hey, I'm an obsessive fan and have been reading spoilers and reviews (it being released on 17 December in the USA and UK) for a year but ... I was angsty, I wanted to enjoy it, to be bowled over, and I was terrified I'd be disappointed, maybe barely managing an "eh".

One of the problems, for me, was that because of the amount of story and massive set pieces (battle scenes etc) to be got through, one of my favourite plotlines had been cut; the plotline with the Houses of Healing, and the redemption of/love story between Faramir/Eowyn.   For a start, Eowyn is one of the few female characters in Tolkein's writings and about the only one in LOTR with any depth (Arwen is a mere Appendice, ghastly creature).  She is complex, mixed up, struggling to be herself.  Her infatuation with Aragorn is completely understandable (sigh), but her relationship with Faramir is real and adult, involving personal growth and all that shit. 

But hey, PJ in his infinite wisdom (and I like to think being forced to put more odious Arwen in) had cut it or maybe not filmed it in the first place, and I was pissed because I do think its an essential part of those characters' journeys.  Anyway ... I summoned up the blood and stiffened the sinews (apols to Shakespeare) and off we went.

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So we got tickets, then had dinner at Han's Cafe first (me: seafood rice noodle soup, Tux: Singapore fried noodles, verdict: ooooooo mmm mmmmmmm) then went to wait in line for an hour or so.  I'm glad we factored in that much wait time as the queue was miles long and the cinema was tiny, I mean minute, more like a TV room ... I could not understand why the hell the "Megaplex" was showing a new feature - especially this particular new feature - in such a teensy weensy cinema.  Sheesh. 

After an interminable wait and even more interminable ads and previews, The Film began.  And it is brilliant.  The intertwining stories of each group of characters blend so well, the tale is told so cohesively, with maximum impact, given the sheer amount of material to get through, the effects and set pieces are jaw-dropping, it was great to see Merry and Pippin get their share of heroic acts ... The five endings did not detract at all, and it was great to have all the loose ends tied up for these characters we (well, I) have grown to love ... altogether it was a totally mindbogglingly sensational experience.  I can't wait to see it again.

I wasn't troubled by the lack of Eowyn/Faramir.  Hopefully in the Extended Edition of the DVD we will see more of them than the glimpse of them standing together at Aragorn's coronation, smiling at teach other - though that was a very nice touch, showing they had found each other and there were at least possibilities there ... I think it would have been a disaster if PJ had told a little of the story, or whisked through it; that would detract and be even more disappointing than not seeing them at all.  So, I was okay ... I just want a happy ending for Eowyn/Faramir, I wanna see Miranda Otto and David Wenham smooch (speaking of smooching, even though I can't abide Liv Tyler's Arwen, I did like the Aragorn/Arwen pash at his coronation - hee, so manly and impulsive - siiiigh).

The ensemble cast performance deserves awards.  Sean Astin deserves at least a nomination for an Oscar.  Viggo Mortensen deserves Most Hottest Award, of course, with David Wenham (Faramir) and Karl Urban (Eomer) tying for second.  Plus it should get every Visual Effects/Arts Production/Costume Design/Editing Oscar going.  And if PJ doesn't get Best Director/Best Picture, and Howard Shore misses out on Best Score, I shall go into a decline; that will be proof indeed there is no justice in the world.

Although ... if I had to see one more shot of Elijah Wood's waxen face looking angsty/bitchy/haunted/lustful-of-Sam one more time, or if that loooong shot of smiling!Frodo at the Gray Havens had gone on one second longer (way way too long to begin with; yes we get it already, we're farewelling the character, just go already) I would have stood up right there in front of a theatre full of people and screamed and screamed and screamed.  Erk. 

So yeah - WOW.  Thanks PJ and cast and crew for an amazing three years; what the hell am I going to do with my life NOW though, can someone tell me? 

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