Here is an epic with literature's depth and opera's splendor -- and one that could be achieved only in movies. What could be more terrific?

If you liked the first two, by all means, go forth and experience rapture. But for those of us who remain unconvinced, well, The Return of the King feels like an especially slow swim through especially slow mud.

It turns out that the movie is a worthy heir to the throne. The Return of the King is the darkest and richest film in the trilogy, a morally satisfying epic that redeems the adage that size equals gravity.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: The Return of the King is a perfect finale. Majestic sequences, epic battles, cathartic payoffs, and poignant, colossal storytelling come together to deliver a breathtaking conclusion