As a long-time fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I have to say that my one gripe with the theatrical cut of The Return of the King has always been its drawn-out ending. Don’t get me wrong, I adore the conclusion, especially on rewatch, but there are just too many scenes where the film could have ended, and one specific scene where it should have rolled the credits right after.
The final part of “The Return of the King” movie lasts around 30 minutes, making up about one-sixth of its three-hour length. Despite my admiration for the ending of “Lord of the Rings,” I feel that it could have been shorter. There were five instances where the story could have ended, and one particular scene where I believe the credits should have started immediately. However, instead of wrapping up, the movie continued, extending well beyond that point…
A Quick-ish Summary Of All The Endings In The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King
In my view, the cinematic conclusion of “The Return of the King” movie unfolds when Sam and Frodo, perched on a rock by Mount Doom, discover they’ll make it through. After an emotionally taxing exchange where Sean Astin’s character asks Elijah Wood’s Hobbit if he can recall The Shire, and he admits he cannot, the narrative completes its loop when Frodo tells Sam that he can indeed visualize their homeland. Although this ending doesn’t offer a definitive resolution to the overall tale, it would have made for a fulfilling and thought-provoking finale for the movie.
After being captivated by The Rings of Power, I decided to rewatch The Fellowship of the Ring, and it significantly altered my perspective on the original Lord of the Rings movies.
→ I recently re-watched “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,” and there’s a particular storyline I deeply wished had more development.
Later, everything turns dark, and Frodo awakens in a bed following his rescue by Gandalf. The Fellowship enters with smiles, and Sam is the last one to step inside. With the entire Lord of the Rings cast present and the story concluding on the two companions acknowledging their journey, saying “the end” would have been fitting.
After all wounds have been mended, Aragorn ascends the throne of Gondor, rejoining Arwen by his side, while the Hobbits – Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin – are honored for their valiant role in saving Middle-earth. With a humble declaration, “My friends, you bow to no one,” the king gracefully bows to these heroes, thereby underscoring their true greatness and providing a fitting conclusion to this victorious tale.
Beyond that thrilling climax, there are still two more conclusions to unravel. The heartwarming scene that follows finds us returning with the Hobbits to The Shire, where Frodo pens “The Lord of the Rings.” After these events transpire and Sam ties the knot, we embark on a journey once more with Gandalf, this time escorting Bilbo to Valinor. However, in a shocking twist at the very end, it’s disclosed that Frodo is accompanying them as well.
So, there are five potential conclusions, and in this case, that’s two too many if you ask me.
Why They Should Have Ended The Movie With Everyone Bowing To The Hobbits
Among the three possible conclusions, the one where Aragorn ascends the throne and respectfully acknowledges the Hobbits feels most fitting to be immediately followed by “The End.
This experience is truly special, completing a loop, thrilling, well-deserved, and worthy of cheers. Believe me, on the two occasions I’ve watched this movie, I’ve felt goosebumps every time Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn delivers his lines.
My friends, you bow to no one.
This conclusion not just met the fitting end for each character, but also highlighted the crucial role played by the seemingly insignificant and underestimated ones in ultimately rescuing the situation.
It gives viewers the opportunity to reflect on the message that anyone has the potential to be the hero so long as they’re trying their best to be good. And to me, that’s the moral of LOTR, and I truly wish the film would have ended here instead of two scenes later.
It’s clear that this matter isn’t of great significance compared to other topics. In terms of the Lord of the Rings movies, it’s undeniable that The Return of the King is the standout, earning its five-star reviews, Best Picture award, and a spot among the best films of the 2000s. I appreciate their choice for the ending, as it offers a somber yet conclusive end to Frodo’s journey. However, I can’t help but wonder if a more epic finale, such as everyone paying tribute to the Hobbits, might have made an even more memorable conclusion.
You could re-watch all five endings of “Return of the King” and the entire “Lord of the Rings” movie series by streaming them using a Max subscription.
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2024-09-28 16:37