The movie industry is a graveyard of bad sequels, usually made because the original made a lot of money by design or accident. Trilogies are another monster altogether. Amazingly, The Lord of the Rings was always planned as a three-movie opus, a risk even with the popularity of the books. However, Peter Jackson and company created something we might never see again: a trilogy that went beyond its critical and financial success.
It created a fellowship of fans worldwide that still exists today. The films continue to be popular, with the third film, The Return of the King, playing with a live orchestra from January 24th to 26th, 2025, in Toronto at Meridian Hall. In anticipation of the event, let’s use the film as the leading example of why this is such a timeless franchise.
The first two movies, The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, beautifully moved the story along to set up the final battles. Fans were holding their breath to see who would survive. The films are a great combination of practical and CGI effects. Jackson blended it all, inviting audiences in for an intimate experience. The very essence of what the characters were experiencing seems organic and real.
The books can be very daunting, as the mythology covers many lands and territories and, as such, has a long list of characters. When adapting the source material, those behind the cameras understood the assignment, creating a bridge that made it more approachable. However, even though the first two films were huge successes, it was still on The Return of the King to bring it all together and give fans an epic conclusion.
Not only did The Return of the King accomplish this goal, but an argument can be made that it was the best third act/film in a trilogy in movie history. Powered by the superb direction of Peter Jackson, the beautiful and terrifying visuals through the lens of cinematographer Andrew Lesnie, and surrounded by the all-encompassing score by Howard Shore, the film immersed us in a world so effortlessly we felt like we were there.
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What’s more impressive is the lengthy run time (over three hours theatrically), which kept a brisk pace. The journey is laid out and told so well from the first film to the third that many own editions that would push the three films to over twelve hours of combined viewing time.
While the crew laid out a beautiful tapestry in which to explore and exist, the truly timeless nature of these films, and especially The Return of the King, lies in the cast. Filming the trilogy took 438 days and a continuous filming schedule to do all three films simultaneously, with pick-up shoots done annually from 2001 to 2003. This essentially forced this core group of actors to uproot their lives and travel to New Zealand with no real idea if this would crash and burn or be a success. The fact that the actors bonded over this incredibly long shoot made a long process a bit easier and, without question, carried over into the filming, making the characters’ chemistry more real.
The main cast, which included Elijah Wood (as Frodo Baggins), Sir Ian McKellen (as Gandalf the White), Sean Astin (as Samwise Gamgee), Viggo Mortensen (as Aragorn), Billy Boyd (as Pippin), Dominic Monaghan (as Merry), John Rhys-Davies (as Gimli), Orlando Bloom (as Legolas), Liv Tyler (as Arwen), and Cate Blanchett (as Galadriel) will forever be remembered for their roles in these films. No matter what came after.
However, in The Return of the King, other characters stepped to the forefront and made an impact, some even more so than the core cast. Andy Serkis, who voiced and acted via computer technology, gave life to Smeagol/Gollum and is now a powerhouse in voice acting. The legendary Christopher Lee as Saruman, Bernard Hill as Theoden, and John Noble as Denethor brought something special to their perspective roles, making their scenes even more powerful, with a sense of importance and strength.
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By the time movie-goers sat down to enjoy the theatrical version of The Return of the King, they were already invested in the characters, had chosen their favorites, and connected to the story in a way few trilogies have accomplished. The third film converges the many storylines and journeys, pushing battles and confrontations to dizzying heights with impressive emotional payoffs. So many small and huge emotional moments make it an immensely satisfying rollercoaster ride for the audience.
Although the trilogy is over twenty years old, its fans are as loyal as ever. Their love for these films continues to thrive through conventions, podcasts, and interviews as if they had just come out this year. The Return of the King put a stamp on the trilogy that thrilled millions and continues to attract fans of new generations.
While those in front of and behind the camera created this trilogy masterpiece, the fans continue to make The Lord of the Rings timeless.
