THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY (EXTENDED EDITION!!!) (2001, 2002, 2003) - FAVORITE FANTASY MOVIES

THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY - EXTENDED EDITIONS!! (2001 - 2003)

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (2001)

Rated PG-13 - Rotten Tomatoes freshness score 91%, Popcornmeter 95%, IMDB rating 8.9/10

Synopsis:

Bilbo Baggins is leaving the shire and has left everything he owns, including his magical golden ring to his nephew and heir, Frodo.  When the Dark Lord learns that "Baggins" has the ring and that he can be found in "The Shire," Black Riders are dispatched to reclaim the ring. Frodo and his friends flee from danger into danger as they attempt to carry the ring to Rivendell with Black Riders in hot pursuit.  

THE TWO TOWERS (2002)

Rated PG-13 - Rotten Tomatoes freshness score 95%, Popcornmeter 95%, IMDB rating 8.8/10

Synopsis:

The fellowship of nine that departed from Rivendell is attacked on the shores of the River Anduin.  Sam and Frodo escape across the river and set out alone toward Mordor.  Pippin and Merry are carried off by orcs bent on taking them to Isengard, and Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli race after them on foot in the hopeless hope that they may be able to save their friends.  

THE RETURN OF THE KING (2003)

Rated PG-13 - Rotten Tomatoes freshness score 94%, Popcornmeter 86%, IMDB rating 9.0/10

Synopsis: 

War is unleashed on Gondor as the armies of Minas Morgul issue forth, cross the river and besiege Minas Tirith.  Gandalf and Pippin are there, Gandalf takes charge of the city's defense, and Pippin becomes a member of the Tower Guard.  Merry is coming to Gondor in the company of Theoden King and the riders of Rohan as the king's squire.  Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli take the Paths of the Dead through the mountain in the hopes of bringing an army of the undead to help them in their hour of need.  And Sam and Frodo, led by Gollum, forsake the Black Gate and attempt to enter Mordor by going up the secret stairs in  Morgul veil and then through Shelob's lair. 

Thoughts:

The Lord of the Rings is an epic tale of good versus evil.  These books form a foundational keystone of fantasy literature, and, starting back in the late 1970s when I first read them, I wondered if anyone would ever be able produce to give them the treatment they deserved in the form of a movie(s). 

The animated version that was released in 1978 was, well, let's just say that it lacked the depth and majesty that Tolkien's story deserves.  I watched that animated version once and I never needed to see it again.  Then, Peter Jackson took on the project, basing his operations in New Zealand.  He developed a movie project that is completely amazing!  

It's rare when even die-hard fans of a book/s are satisfied with movie adaptations.  But, when it came to these, Jackson really pulled it off!  I frankly hope that no one ever attempts to redo this story again in film.  They are as close to perfect as I can imagine them being.

You'll also notice that I indicated that my favorites are the EXTENDED EDITIONS of these films.  After watching the extended editions, I don't think I'll ever watch the theatrical release versions of these movies again.  

There are two significant storylines that were not included in the movie trilogy.  These are Tom Bombadil and the Cleansing of the Shire.  I actually think that the Cleansing of the Shire could be a great stand-alone movie that's part of the larger story.  There's so much that could be done with the Cleansing story! 

I can't say enough good about these movies. Peter Jackson, THANK YOU!!