The judges' decision is in: Return of the King has everything the box office could ever want in a film, succeeds with it all, and is worthy of classic status. Josh Chafetz rounds up the many ways in which this is being explained. (Via Instapundit.)
Reading a few of the reviews, coupled with my friend's brief account, has left me with the expectation of tugged heartstrings when I go to the movie theater - a strangely enjoyable heaviness of the moment most of us know as an epic's end. I know I'll love Return of the King, and will appreciate the first two episodes more; I've been holding back framing the story, as told by Jackson, in my mind, understanding how the third movie will add a different perspective to both the plot and actors' performances that came before.
Bittersweet as the close is, we all have something to look forward to: when, and by whom, will the next timeless classic hit the screen?
THERE'S ALWAYS ONE: Fellows at the Weekly Standard are apparently too tight for Jackson's finale. Jonathan Last plays curmudgeon and dismisses King. I disagree with several points of his internal logic - particularly a theory of trilogies ending weakly. Return of the Jedi faces far too much charm bursting from Star Wars and Empire to come out on top; still, it's the farthest thing from a dud. Back to the Future: III I tend to find rivaling the first, and though I'll always love Raiders the most (and despise the insipid Temple of Doom), Last Crusade has something that its predecessors don't: Sean Connery. In time, Last may be right. Until then, I'll decide for myself.
One final thought, brought on by discussing the Star Wars trilogy: a few days ago, I realized that the original cuts will become more and more difficult to find, and a digital bootleg of the THX release may be our - forgive the pun - only hope. No one takes away my "Lapti Nek."