Return of the King....

Comments while still relatively fresh:

I went to see the movie at midnight with the "Gathering of the Fellowship" crowd. Since I am a famous wimp when it comes to late nights I wasn't sure how well I'd cope, but, as I hoped, I was so entranced by the movie that the lateness of the hour didn't even matter.

I am thrilled that three of my favourite books have been turned into three of my favourite movies. I can only think of one other instance where a favourite book was made into a movie that lived up to the book - that was the Timothy Dalton version of "Jane Eyre". That it should happen with these books, of all books - well! I couldn't be happier.

The best thing about it: the movie took a story I know very, very well, and changed and added things that made it fresh and new and moving. I regret some of the losses (particularly the Houses of Healing) but rejoice in the touches that surprised me and excited me and which I never anticipated.

I suppose I should put these things under a cut tag. Okay: the things I most loved were ( .... )

There were things I missed, most specifically the Houses of Healing. I would have liked more of Eomer and of Faramir, but given that they had to cut, I thought what we had of them - particularly the reference to Faramir's romance with Eowyn - were quite Wonderful. Bernard Hill was impressive - I have a new appreciation of Theoden.

Sean Astin as Sam was wonderful, but it was Elijah Wood's performance that I thought was most stunning.

I didn't miss Saruman in the least. I did miss Wormtongue. So it goes.