***The Following is a Review of the 252-minute Extended Version of the Film***
The film revolves around a fellowship who take their final steps to finish a quest to destroy a dark lord’s ring that is in the possession of a hobbit who is tasked to take the ring to its homeland and destroy it. It is a film that serves as a culmination of everything that had been told in previous stories where four hobbits, two men, a wizard, an elf, and a dwarf all choose to take part in a quest to destroy the ring of Sauron where there is a lot at stake. In this third film, the stakes are even bigger with Gondor being in danger from Sauron’s forces in both orcs and humans ready to attack while two hobbits are continuing their journey to Mordor with Gollum guiding them unaware that Gollum is going to betray them over what happened at Gondor. Meanwhile, the rest of the fellowship would split with two of them going to Gondor while the rest remain at Rohan planning the next battle against Sauron.
The film’s screenplay by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens does continue a cross-cutting narrative though it opens with how Smeagol became Gollum after he kills his cousin Deagol (Thomas Robins) over the ring that Deagol found. It then cuts to the main narrative where Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) and Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) continue their trek to Mordor with Gollum as they are unaware of his intentions. The narrative also plays into the brief reunion between members of the fellowship in Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas (Orlando Bloom), Gimli (John Rhys-Davies), Gandalf (Ian McKellan), Merry (Dominic Monaghan), and Pippin (Billy Boyd) at Isengard in the aftermath of Rohan’s battle against the Uruk-hai where Gandalf finds the Palantir previously owned by Saruman (Christopher Lee) where Pippin makes a discovery into what Sauron is doing next. It would force Gandalf to go to Gondor with Pippin to warn its steward in Lord Denethor (John Noble) about Sauron’s upcoming attack. Instead, the grief-stricken Denethor refuses to listen to Gandalf aware of Aragorn’s claim to Gondor’s throne leaving the land and its city of Minas Tirith vulnerable despite its defense led by Denethor’s son Faramir (David Wenham).
The script does help complete some unique character arcs for the fellowship but also in the stakes were Aragorn’s lover in elvish Arwen (Liv Tyler) has chosen to stay in Middle Earth after seeing a vision of the future but her fate becomes tied to the fate of the Ring. Her father Elrond (Hugo Weaving) realizes that he must help Aragorn in going into a dark land as it relates to an army of the dead who had been cursed in their refusal to help Isildur (Harry Sinclair). The second act relates to the siege of Gondor where Gandalf leads its army to defend the city of Minas Tirith while Lord Denethor succumbs to madness believing Rohan has abandoned him. The third act does relate to not Frodo and Sam’s continued journey towards Mordor despite major obstacles with Aragorn finally accepting his role as Gondor’s king where he challenges Sauron.
Jackson’s direction is immense in terms of the large set pieces, settings, and myriads of tones that he would create throughout the film as it is shot on location in New Zealand including studios in the country for some scenes. The film’s opening prologue relates to how Smeagol became Gollum displays the horror of what the ring did to him as it would then cut to many years later where Frodo and Sam get ready for another day of walking with Gollum towards Mordor. The usage of wide and medium shots play into the world that is Middle Earth with its mountains, forests, rivers, valleys, lakes, and fields as they do function as characters in the film. One notable sequence where Jackson takes advantage of the locations is a sequence where Pippin lights a beacon at Minas Tirith leading to a series of beacons on the mountains lighting up. It shows that ordinary people in the mountains all have a role to play as Aragorn would see a beacon lit as it would play into Rohan answering the call.
Jackson also maintains some intimacy and calmer moments such as scenes of Gandalf and Pippin at Minas Tirith where they watch over the storm at Mordor where a beam shot from a castle at Mordor shots up. Jackson’s close-ups show the sense of fear and dread in Gondor with Sauron’s forces including the Nazgul led by the Witch-King of Angmar (Lawrence Makoare). Jackson’s direction knows when to create a sense of calm before the storm as it includes these tense moments where Gollum would try to create discord between Sam and Frodo with the former realizing what Gollum is up to. The tension also occurs involving Faramir and Denethor with the former taking on a suicide charge to reclaim Osgiliath only to return as its unconscious sole survivor leading Denethor into a state of madness just as the orcs have arrived at Pelennor Fields. The Siege of Minas Tirith is among one of the finest sequences ever created where Jackson highlights a lot of depth of field into how massive the orc army is that would later include the Haradrim and a group of pirates whom Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli would confront on their way to Gondor.
The extended version of the film, in its 252-minute running time, adds a lot more depth to the story where Jackson allow characters and moments to breathe more. Even in some of the smaller moments such as a brief conversation between Merry and Eowyn as the former reveals why he wants to fight. One major sequence in the extended version that was not in the theatrical version involves a confrontation at Isengard where Saruman (Christopher Lee) is bitter about his loss as he tries to attack Gandalf. It is also a scene that includes Grima Wormtongue (Brad Dourif) who had assisted Saruman but is at a sense of loss where Theoden offers his forgiveness. The extended version also does more with what happened in the Battle of Pelennor Fields that would involve so many things including a confrontation between Gandalf and the Witch-King of Angmar. The third act is where Jackson slows things down as it relates to Frodo and Sam walking towards Mount Doom as it include some dark humorous moments as well as a sense of loss in which Frodo starts to lose his own identity and cannot remember the life he once had.
The film’s post-climax does involve a lot of endings, yet it is more about the aftermath of everything that happened. Jackson approaches these loose ends where it plays into characters returning home yet nothing is the same for one character. Even so it would involve a brief return from Bilbo (Ian Holm) who has aged since having parted with the ring as he would ask about it. It is followed by the idea of death as the next big adventure while a character would return home with a task to finish the story that everyone had experienced. Overall, Jackson crafts a film that is epic in every sense of the word as it plays into a group of creatures trying to save Middle Earth from a dark lord.
Cinematographer Andrew Lesnie does phenomenal work with the film’s cinematography with its usage of colorful lighting for some of the daytime scenes as well as the color grading and lighting textures that help maintain an atmosphere for some of the battle scenes as well as some scenes set at night. Editors Jamie Selkirk and Annie Collins do brilliant work with the editing in the usage of slow-motion cuts for some of the action and suspense along with fast-cutting for some of the battle scenes and dramatic moments such as Lord Denethor’s mad state as it relates to Faramir. Production designer Grant Major, with set decorator/supervising art director Dan Hennah, set decorator Alan Lee, and co-conceptual designer John Howe, does incredible work with the sets that include the look of Minas Tirith, the hall of the king, and some of the places in Mordor including Mount Doom. Costume designers Ngila Dickson and Richard Taylor do excellent work with the costumes that include the armor that Merry and Pippin would wear to respectfully represent Rohan and Gondor as well as the look of the armor of the orcs and the final armor that Aragorn wears for its climax.
Hair and makeup designers Peter Swords King and Peter Owen do amazing work with the look of the orcs including the orc commander Gothmog (Lawrence Makoare) and the look of the elderly Bilbo. Visual effects supervisor Jim Rygiel does tremendous work with the visual effects for some of the set dressing of the locations including Minas Tirith as well as some of the creatures including the Ents for the brief scene at Isengard, the Nazgul, the oliphaunt, and the eagles would play a key role in the final battle. Sound designers David Farmer, Michael Semanick, and Ethan van der Ryn, along with sound editor Mike Hopkins, do superb work with the sound in terms of the atmosphere of the sounds in the battle scenes as well as other sparse sounds in some of the locations. The film’s music by Howard Shore is incredible for its soaring orchestral score that play into the bombast of some of the action, suspense, and drama with the usage of string arrangements, percussions, vocals, brass, and woodwinds to help add to the stakes and drama. The film also features a great original song written by Shore, Fran Walsh, and Annie Lennox in Into the West as it serves as a fitting finale for the trilogy.
The casting by Victoria Burrows, Amy Hubbard, John Hubbard, Liz Mullane, and Ann Robinson is marvelous as it feature some notable small roles and appearances from Marton Csokas as the elf leader Celebron, Bret McKenzie as the elf guide Figwit, Sarah McLeod as the hobbit barmaid Rosie Cotton, Lawrence Makoare in a dual role as the Witch-king of Angmar and the orc commander Gothmog with Craig Parker as the voice of the latter, Alan Howard as the voices of Sauron and the ring, Thomas Robin as Smeagol’s cousin Deagol who found the ring, Ian Hughes as the Minas Tirith officer Irolas, John Bach as Faramir’s second-in-command Madril, Bruce Hopkins as a Rohirrim officer in Gamling, Paul Norell as the ghostly King of the Dead, Bruce Spence as the Mouth of Sauron in the extended version of the film, Sean Bean as Boromir as a ghostly figure in the extended version, and Ian Holm as Frodo’s uncle Bilbo as the old hobbit who had once had the ring where he later asks Frodo if he still has it. Christopher Lee and Brad Dourif are excellent in their respective brief roles as the wizard Saruman and Grima Wormtongue with the former being an ally to Sauron that has lost everything as he tries to battle Gandalf while the latter is a spy of Saruman who feels remorse for his actions despite the abuse he receives from Saruman.
John Noble and David Wenham are brilliant in their respective roles as Lord Denethor and his son Faramir with the former succumbing to madness and grief as he continues to berate Faramir for not living up to expectations. Wenham’s performance as Faramir highlights a man who realized what happened to his older brother Boromir where he deals with his father’s criticism as he goes on a futile quest to win his father’s approval. Karl Urban is superb as King Theoden’s nephew Eomer who is the leader of the Rohirrim as he proves to be one of Aragorn’s most loyal figures as he also proves to be a warrior on the battlefield. Bernard Hill is fantastic as King Theoden of Rohan as a king who is reluctant to help Gondor but realizes what is at stake where he knows that he and Rohirrim are outnumbered but remains this great leader who can inspire many to fight. Miranda Otto is amazing as Eomer’s sister Eowyn as a woman who is in love with Aragorn but also wants to prove herself as a warrior where she would disguise herself as a man at the Battle of Pelennor Fields where she really kicks some ass.
The trio of Cate Blanchett, Liv Tyler, and Hugo Weaving are incredible in their respective roles as the elvish queen Galadriel, Arwen, and Lord Elrond with Blanchett appearing in a few moments such as guiding Frodo as well as appearing in the penultimate scene of the film. Tyler brings gracefulness to the role of Arwen, who has her own vision of the future as the decision she makes is linked with her fate of the ring. Weaving’s performance is doubtful of men until he decides to help Aragorn by reforging Isildur’s sword so that Aragorn can claim his throne. Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd are great in their respective roles as the hobbits Merry and Pippin who both go on separate journeys with Merry staying at Rohan where he becomes a squire for King Theoden while Pippin becomes the guard of the Citadel at Gondor where both hobbits prove their worth. Orlando Bloom and John Rhys-Davies are phenomenal in their respective roles as the elf warrior Legolas and the dwarf Gimli as two members of the fellowship who help Aragorn in convincing the Army of the Dead while becoming the best of friends while Rhys-Davies also does additional voice work for the Ent character Treebeard.
Ian McKellan and Viggo Mortensen are tremendous in their respective roles as the wizard Gandalf and the heir to Gondor’s throne in Aragorn with the former as a resurrected wizard who goes to Gondor with Pippin where he expresses his own doubts while he does what he can to lead Gondor into battle. Mortensen’s performance as Aragorn shows a former ranger who realizes the role he must accept where he would also take on a leadership role that includes a great speech in the final battle that shows that he is worthy to be king. Sean Astin is remarkable as Samwise Gamgee as Frodo’s friend who accompanies him to Mordor where he becomes aware of Gollum’s deceit where he deals with Frodo banishing him only to later return where he is the film’s conscious in doing what is right and to remind Frodo about the good of the world.
Andy Serkis is magnificent as Smeagol/Gollum as a hobbit who had become a creature that once possessed the ring for hundreds of years as he hopes to reclaim where he would do what he can to deceive all and reclaim the ring. Serkis’ performance also shows the descent of someone who used to be good only to succumb to greed as it is a performance for the ages. Finally, there is Elijah Wood in a spectacular performance as Frodo Baggins as a hobbit who carries the ring to Mordor where he starts to lose parts of his own identity as he would also descent to the ring’s power. Wood also has the most physically-demanding performance of someone that is just becoming tired as he has the weight of everything to be the one to destroy the ring followed by an aftermath that has him coping with everything he had dealt with as it is an iconic performance from Wood.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is an outstanding film by Peter Jackson. Featuring a great ensemble cast, top-notch visual effects, gorgeous photography, a riveting story of good vs. evil, and Howard Shore’s ravishing music score. It is a film that goes beyond the description of an epic as it is also the culmination of a grand story that shows four little hobbits making a big impact on a magical land with elves, dwarves, and human beings. In the end, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is a magnificent film by Peter Jackson.
Peter Jackson Films: (Bad Taste) – (Meet the Feebles) – (Braindead) – (Heavenly Creatures) – (Forgotten Silver) – (The Frighteners) – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - (King Kong (2005 film)) – (The Lovely Bones) – (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) – (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug) – (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies) – (They Shall Grow Old Together) – The Beatles: Get Back
© thevoid99 2026
***The Following is a Review of the 223-minute Extended Version of the Film***
The film revolves around a fellowship that had been splintered by events and challenges where they all go on a quest to destroy Sauron’s ring at Mount Doom in Mordor. It is a film with three different storylines where Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) and Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) travel to Mordor by themselves where they meet the creature Gollum who agrees to take them to Mordor after Frodo takes pity on him. The other storyline has the ranger Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), the elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and the dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) travel to Rohan where they help King Theoden of Rohan (Bernard Hill) deal with Saruman (Christopher Lee) and his army who want to destroy Rohan. The other two hobbits in Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) escape the clutches of the Uruk-hai and go into Fangorn forest where they meet the Ent Treebeard (voice of John Rhys-Davies) to convince him and other Ents to wage war on Saruman for destroying parts of Fangorn forest.
The film’s screenplay by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Stephen Sinclair has a cross-cutting narrative that play into the different journeys the fellowship would go through. Especially after events forced the group to be splintered following tragedy and uncertainty that led to their separation where Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli decide to follow the Uruk-hai who had captured Merry and Pippin only to learn that the Uruk-hai had been killed by Eomer (Karl Urban), who is the leader of Rohan’s calvary in the Rohirrim, and his horsemen as they had been exiled by Theoden’s advisor in Grima Wormtongue (Brad Dourif). Going through Fangorn forest, they learn that the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan) has been resurrected as Gandalf the White who had left Merry and Pippin to the Ents for safety while he joins the rest to Rohan to free Theoden from Saruman’s powers. The narrative involving Frodo and Sam as they struggle to find their way to Mordor until they meet the creature Gollum, who had once possessed the ring, who had been following them hoping to recapture the ring where he reluctantly to accompany them to Mordor. During their journey where Frodo learns that Gollum was once a hobbit named Smeagol, they also run into Gondor rangers led by Faramir (David Wenham) who is Boromir’s younger brother.
The script also play into character arcs where Merry and Pippin are forced to grow up as they deal with their own situations as they realize that the Shire would be in danger if they cannot convince the Ents to wage war on Saruman. Aragorn would go through his own arc as he becomes aware that he is a symbol of hope to Rohan including Theoden’s niece Eowyn (Miranda Otto) who becomes smitten by him even though he is in love with the elvish princess Arwen (Liv Tyler). The script also play into Arwen having to make the decision to leave with the elves who are all leaving Middle Earth as her father Elrond (Hugo Weaving) reveal her fate if she chooses to stay. Yet, Elrond would have his own conversation with the elvish queen Galadriel who is aware that Aragorn and Rohan are in danger of losing to both Sauron and Saruman.
Jackson’s direction is grand in terms of how big the visual presentation is at it is shot on various locations in New Zealand as well as studios in New Zealand. The film opens with events from the previous film where the fellowship run from Balrog where Gandalf would take a stand at the monster. What Jackson does is show what happened to Gandalf as the fellowship see him fall to his death only for Gandalf to fall while fighting Balrog. It then cuts to Frodo and Sam continuing to walk towards Mordor as they find themselves lost where Jackson’s approach to close-ups and medium shots play into the sense of the unknown in the locations they are in where they later meet Gollum who had been following them. Jackson would maintain this tense and eerie atmosphere for the scenes involving Frodo, Sam, and Gollum as they travel towards Mordor. Even as there are a bit of light-hearted moments in the tension between Sam and Gollum where the former comments about creating a stew with the need for some potatoes.
In the extended version of the film in its 223-minute running time, as opposed to the 179-minute running time in its theatrical release, where Jackson can do more with the story and flesh out the characters. One notable sequence involves a flashback scene with Boromir (Sean Bean) who had recaptured the port city of Osgiliath for Gondor as he would share his victory with Faramir. It plays into why Boromir was keen on having the ring as the scene also featured his father Denethor (John Noble) who believes that the meeting is about the ring as Boromir is reluctant to go. The sequence adds depth for Faramir’s own reasons in wanting the ring as it relates to his troubled relationship with his father. Jackson’s usage of the wide shots for the locations would add greater depth for the film’s climatic battle at Helm’s Deep. In its mixture of practical effects, miniatures, and computerized-visual effects, the battle of Helm’s Deep is truly a marvel in terms of how to create a battle with lots of extras and detail into every moment that is shown.
So much is happening during the battle as it would cross-cut on the narrative of Merry and Pippin convincing Treebeard and the Ents to go to war on Saruman as the extended version in the film reveal a lot of detail about Fangorn forest and its own magical powers. There is also more into what Frodo, Sam, and Gollum go through after being captured by Faramir where they encounter the Nazgul and orcs at Osgiliath as its aftermath would play into a key decision Faramir makes about the ring. The ending of the second film sets up what is to come ahead between the forces of Rohan and the fellowship while Frodo and Sam continue their trek towards Mordor with Gollum in tow. Overall, Jackson crafts a grand and gripping film about a group of individuals continuing their quest to destroy evil for good.
Cinematographer Andrew Lesnie does phenomenal work with the film’s cinematography with its approach to color grading for some of the interior/exterior settings at night as well as the look of the daytime exteriors for some shots in the valleys as well as scenes in the forests as it is a highlight of the film. Editor Michael Horton does brilliant work with the editing in the usage of jump-cuts for some montages as well as other stylish cuts to play into the action and suspense as it is another highlight of the film. Production designer Grant Major, with set decorator/supervising art director Dan Hennah, and set decorator Alan Lee, does incredible work with the look of Saruman’s tower at Isengard as well as the look of fortress of Helm’s Deep in its interiors and exteriors with additional work from conceptual designer John Howe. Costume designers Ngila Dickson and Richard Taylor do excellent work with the costumes in the look of King Theoden’s armor as well as the look of the Rohirrim and the soldiers of Gondor.
Hair and makeup designers Peter Swords King and Peter Owen do fantastic work with the look of the Uruk-hai orcs, the elvish army, and King Theoden in his decayed state under Saruman’s spell. Visual effects supervisor Jim Rygiel does amazing work with the look of the Nazgul creatures as well as the look of the Ents and the motion-capture design of Gollum as it is a major highlight of the film. Sound designers David Farmer and Michael Semanick, along with sound editors Mike Hopkins and Ethan Van der Ryn, do superb work with the sound in the way the Nazgul sound and other sound effects that help play into the action and suspense. The film’s music by Howard Shore is great as its usage of heavy brass sections, soaring strings, heavy percussions, and somber woodwinds for some unique themes along with a few songs including a funeral song sung by Eowyn.
The casting by Victoria Burrows, Amy Hubbard, John Hubbard, Liz Mullane, and Ann Robinson is marvelous as it feature some notable small roles from Sam Comery and Olivia Tennet as a couple of young Rohan children who escape the Uruk-hai, Robyn Malcolm as their mother, Paris Howe Strewe as Theoden’s son Theodred who gets seriously wounded following an ambush by the Uruk-hai, Bruce Hopkins as one of Theoden’s military leaders in Gamling, the quartet of Robbie Magasiva, Jed Brophy, Nathaniel Lee, and Stephen Ure as Uruk-hai orcs, and Craig Parker as the elvish general Haldir. Christopher Lee and Brad Dourif are superb in their respective roles as the evil wizard Saruman and the spy Grima Wormtongue with the former being a once-respected wizard who has aligned himself with Sauron as he wants to destroy Rohan while the latter is a slimy figure who works for Saruman in poisoning King Theoden’s mind as he would also play a role in wounding Rohan.
In the extended version of the film, John Noble and Sean Bean are fantastic in their respective roles as Lord Denethor and Boromir with the former as Gondor’s steward who learns about the ring as he wants Boromir to Rivendell. Bean’s performance as Boromir is given more complexity as a man that is devoted to Gondor as well as trying to give his younger brother Faramir more credit. David Wenham’s performance as Faramir is excellent as a captain of Gondor who captures Frodo and Sam while he hopes to get the ring to win the approval of his father. Karl Urban is brilliant as Theoden’s nephew Eomer, who gets exiled by Wormtongue as he and the Rohirrim go on their own war against the Uruk-hai as he laments over his home and his uncle’s state of mind. Miranda Otto and Bernard Hill are amazing in their respective roles as Eomer’s sister Eowyn and King Theoden of Rohan with the former as a woman who wants to fight as she becomes smitten towards Aragorn as she also does what she can for the people of Rohan. Hill’s performance starts off as a man poisoned and disconnected from reality under Saruman’s spell and Wormtongue’s activities only to come out of it in trying to help his people as he laments over the power of the Uruk-hai in their hatred of everything and everyone.
The trio of Cate Blanchett, Liv Tyler, and Hugo Weaving are incredible in their respective roles as the elvish queen Galadriel, Arwen, and Lord Elrond with Blanchett’s brief appearance in her telekinetic conversation with Elrond about what is at stake with Weaving being someone unsure as he laments over the life his daughter Arwen would have if she chooses not to leave Middle Earth where Tyler brings a gracefulness of a woman who is aware of what she will lose. Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd are remarkable as the hobbits Merry and Pippin as the two hobbits who were briefly captured by the Uruk-hai until they are saved by the Ents where they deal with Saruman’s growing power and the need to convince the Ents to go to war against Saruman. John Rhys-Davies is marvelous in a dual role as the voice of the Ent Treebeard, who often talks in an unconventional fashion, and as the dwarf Gimli who does provide humor in some of the action as well as be someone who remains loyal to the fellowship where he does what he can to fight the Uruk-hai.
Orlando Bloom and Ian McKellan are great in their respective roles as the elvish warrior Legolas and the wizard Gandalf with the former being this skilled elvish warrior who deals with the severity of what Rohan is facing while doing what he can to fight off the Uruk-hai. McKellan’s performance as Gandalf is only on a few scenes as a wizard who gets resurrected where he also realizes that Rohan is in danger where he would go to find Eomer for help. Sean Astin and Viggo Mortensen are phenomenal in their respective roles as Sam and Aragorn with the former dealing with Gollum and Frodo’s declining emotional/mental state while the latter as a ranger who realizes that he must become a leader where he deals with many obstacles as well as a near-death experience during an ambush.
Elijah Wood is tremendous as Frodo Baggins as the hobbit carrying the ring where he deals with the severity of the quest as well as the ring’s power where he would start to lose himself. Finally, there is Andy Serkis in an outstanding supporting performance as the creature Gollum/Smeagol as a former hobbit who once held the ring where he guides Frodo and Sam to Mordor in the hope, he can reclaim the ring as there is a lot of complexity to his performance where he can the kind and light-hearted Smeagol or the meaner and manipulative Gollum.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a spectacular film by Peter Jackson. Featuring a great ensemble cast, vast set pieces including the Helm’s Deep battle sequence, intoxicating visuals, an exhilarating music score, and a story of good versus evil. It is a fantasy film that does a lot more in its exploration of what creatures face in the darkest of times as well as the need to find light in that darkness. In the end, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a tremendous film by Peter Jackson.
Peter Jackson Films: (Bad Taste) – (Meet the Feebles) – (Braindead) – (Heavenly Creatures) – (Forgotten Silver) – (The Frighteners) – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – (King Kong (2005 film)) – (The Lovely Bones) – (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) – (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug) – (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies) – (They Shall Grow Old Together) – The Beatles: Get Back
© thevoid99 2026
***The Following is a Review of the 208-minute Extended Version of the Film***
Set in a fictional ancient world known as Middle Earth, the film revolves around a young hobbit who inherits a ring from his uncle where a wizard realizes it is the ring created by the dark demon known as Sauron. There, the wizard, a hobbit along with three other hobbits, a dwarf, an elf, and two men go on a journey to Sauron’s homeland of Mordor to bring the ring to its land and destroy it. It is a story that is part of an immense epic that follows different creatures who venture on a quest to vanquish evil finally just as Sauron is set to return and destroy everything that is good. The first story is about a hobbit who is given this ring as he would accidentally wear the ring as he realizes its power and why so many want it. Yet, there are those who would become part of the fellowship who have their own reasons for not wanting to carry this ring as well as his own reasons for why he has abandoned his role in becoming king for one of the last free countries of Middle Earth.
The film’s screenplay by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens opens with a prologue about life in Middle Earth where rings of power were given to the races of men, elves, and dwarves only to realize that the dark lord Sauron (Sala Baker) has created one ring to rule over everyone in Middle Earth. It would lead into a war where men and elves formed an alliance to fight Sauron and his forces where a prince in Isildur (Harry Sinclair) severs Sauron’s hand but chooses to keep Sauron’s ring until it would be lost following an ambush years after the battle. Then it would be in the hands of a creature known as Gollum (Andy Serkis) who would keep it for centuries until it abandoned him where it would be in the hands of a hobbit in Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm). The prologue sets up the stakes as well as what Bilbo’s nephew Frodo (Elijah Wood) must destroy by going to Mordor and its volcano in Mount Doom where the ring was created. The first act is set 60 years after the events in which Bilbo found the ring as there is a birthday celebration for him where the wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellan) visits him. The celebration would be notable for Bilbo disappearing where Gandalf discovered that Bilbo has a ring that Bilbo found many years ago where Bilbo reluctantly gives the ring to Frodo. Gandalf would then discover that the ring is the one ring created by Sauron after Frodo reads the inscriptions after it was on fire.
Part of the first act has Frodo being accompanied by his best friend Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) and later joined by hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) as they to evade Sauron’s rangers in the Nazgul. After meeting a ranger named Strider (Viggo Mortensen) who takes them to Rivendell where the fellowship is formed that would include Gandalf, the elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom), the dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies), and Boromir (Sean Bean) of Gondor to go to Mordor and destroy the ring. The fellowship would be challenged by many forces including a new army of orcs in the Uruk-hai created by the wizard Saruman who had turned on Gandalf and aligned himself with Sauron. Even as Frodo becomes tempted by the power of the ring as is Boromir who wants the ring for his home of Gondor that is threatened by Mordor. Yet, the fellowship would go through obstacles with Strider revealed to be Aragorn who is a descendant of Isildur and the rightful heir to Gondor’s throne.
Jackson’s direction is grand as it is shot on location in New Zealand along with some scenes shot in studios in New Zealand. Jackson goes for a varying degree of styles in the direction through some wide and medium shots for a scope of the locations. Notably in scenes involving the mountains, rivers, and valleys as they function as characters into the film where it plays into the richness of Middle Earth with the Shire as this peaceful and isolated world of hobbits that very few outsiders visit. It is a direct contrast to other parts of Middle Earth such as the world of the elves in the forest where the elf-queen Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) lives in a Mordor where orcs and other dark creatures settle in as they get ready for war. The usage of aerial shots of the locations along with some intimate moments where Gandalf interacts with hobbits are unique as the usage of trick photography and visual effects do add a sense of wonderment into the film. Jackson also puts in some humor as it relates to the adventure that balances the suspense and drama throughout the film.
Jackson’s approach to some of the intimate moments such as a sequence where the fellowship of the ring are in the Mines of Moria as Frodo copes with being the one to carry the ring as the dialogue plays into Tolkien’s words about the choices everyone must make. Even choices that are the most difficult to endure as it would lead to some intense fight and action scenes. The usage of wide and crane shots are immense in its scale that includes the fellowship running from a demonic monster in Balrog. The third act in which the fellowship go to the elvish land of Lothlorien as they deal with their own struggles and encounters with the orcs. In the extended version of the film, in its 208-minute running time that expands 30 additional minutes from the theatrical release, where characters are fleshed out more such as Boromir who struggles with wanting to fulfill the wishes of his father as well as the need for something better where he sees Aragorn as the leader Gondor needs. Overall, Jackson crafts an astonishing and riveting film about a group of different creatures going on a quest to destroy a ring of evil to its land of darkness.
Cinematographer Andrew Lesnie does incredible work with the film’s cinematography with its unique color grading and look for some of the exterior scenes at the Shire and Lothlorien as well as some of the usage of light for the scenes in the mines and caves as well as the usage of blue light for scenes set at night. Editor John Gilbert does excellent work with the editing in the usage of slow-motion cuts as well as fast-cuts for some of the action along with moments in the drama and suspense where shots are allowed to last more than a minute. Production designer Grant Major, with set decorator/supervising art director Dan Hennah and set decorator/conceptual designer Alan Lee, does amazing work with the look of the sets, with additional help from co-conceptual designer John Howe, in how the homes at the Shire are presented as well as the world of the elves and Mordor including Saurman’s tower at Isengard. Costume designers Ngila Dickson and Richard Taylor do brilliant work with the costumes in the clothes the elves wear as well as the armor that Aragorn, Boromir, and Gimli wear, and the look of the armor that the orcs wear.
Hair and makeup designers Peter Swords King and Peter Owen do fantastic work with the look of the characters, with additional help from John Howe and Alan Lee, as well as the design and look of the orcs including the Uruk-hai. Visual effects supervisor Jim Rygiel does great work with the visual effects in the mixture of practical effects in the look of the orcs as well as the look of the demonic figure Balrog and the motion-capture look of Gollum. Sound designers David Farmer, Michael Semanick, and Ethan Van der Ryn, along with sound editor Michael Hopkins, do superb work in the sound as the way swords and flying arrows sound as well as the way monsters sound as it is a highlight of the film. The film’s music by Howard Shore is phenomenal for its orchestral score that is filled with unique themes through woodwinds as well as bombastic orchestral themes for some of the action and suspense as it is an absolute highlight of the film.
The casting by Victoria Burrows, Amy Hubbard, John Hubbard, Liz Mullane, and Ann Robinson is marvelous as it feature some notable small roles from Sarah McLeod as a hobbit barmaid in Rosie Cotton whom Sam has a crush on, Bret McKenzie as an elf escort in Figwit, Marton Csokas as an elvish elder in Celebron, Craig Parker as an elvish military leader in Haldir, Sala Baker as the dark lord Sauron, Alan Howard as the voice of the ring and Sauron, Bret McIntyre as the head Nazgul leader in the Witch King of Angmar, Harry Sinclair as Isildur, Lawrence Makoare as the Uruk-hai leader Lurtz, and Andy Serkis in a brief appearance as the creature Gollum and the voice of the Witch King of Angmar. Ian Holm is terrific as Frodo’s uncle Bilbo Baggins who had possession of the ring as he dealt with wanting a chance to leave the Shire for an adventure and complete his book while expressing regret about what Frodo must endure in destroying the ring. Liv Tyler is fantastic as Elrond’s daughter Arwen, who is Aragorn’s lover, as she would help Frodo go to Rivendell following his encounter with the Nazgul as she also gives Aragorn a gift for the journey he will take.
Hugo Weaving and Cate Blanchett are excellent in their respective roles as the elvish leaders Elrond and Galadriel as the former is an elf leader who saw what Isildur did in keeping the ring while he laments over Aragorn and Arwen’s relationship. Blanchett’s performance as Galadriel is graceful as a woman who admits to be tempted by the ring during her conversation with Frodo as she is aware of its powers and would give Frodo a gift for the journey. Christopher Lee is brilliant as the wizard Saruman who has turned evil and aligned himself with Sauron where he would create a new race of orcs that are more powerful than the orcs at Mordor. Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd are amazing in their respective roles as Merry and Pippin as two mischievous hobbits who join Frodo and Sam in the quest as they deal with the danger of the quest while learning how to fight with swords. John Rhys-Davies and Orlando Bloom are incredible in their respective roles as the dwarf Gimli and the elf Legolas as two mismatched members of the fellowship with Rhys-Davies providing a lot of wit as a dwarf who is strong and cunning while Bloom brings a level of finesse and expert marksmanship as an elf who is the straight man of the two.
Sean Bean is marvelous as Boromir as the son of Gondor’s steward who joins the fellowship where he is tempted by the ring where he struggles to do what is right while becoming protective of Merry and Pippin whom he would befriend as well as Aragorn whom he hopes would take on the role as King of Gondor. Sean Astin is remarkable as Samwise Gamgee, who is Frodo’s best friend and the film’s conscience, where Gandalf asks him not to leave Frodo where he helps Frodo on the journey while providing some witty comments during the film. Ian McKellan is great as the wizard Gandalf the Grey who learns about the ring Bilbo had been carrying for years as he also joins the fellowship as a magical figure who can deal with Saruman from afar. Viggo Mortensen is phenomenal as Strider/Aragorn as a ranger, who is also Isildur’s heir, who helps the hobbits in dealing with the Nazgul as he would join the fellowship where he also deals with the temptation of the ring that plays into his own reluctance to be King of Gondor. Finally, there’s Elijah Wood in a sensational performance as Frodo Baggins as a hobbit who is given the ring where he would accidentally wear the ring as he struggles with its powers and the task he must play.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a spectacular film by Peter Jackson. Featuring a great ensemble cast, rich visuals, a gripping story of temptation and the need to bring good into the world, Howard Shore’s majestic music score, and top-notch technical work. It is a film that is not just this exhilarating fantasy-adventure film but also a film that explores different people going on a quest to vanquish evil and bring good to the world. In the end, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a tremendous film by Peter Jackson.
Peter Jackson Films: (Bad Taste) – (Meet the Feebles) – (Braindead) – (Heavenly Creatures) – (Forgotten Silver) – (The Frighteners) – The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – (King Kong (2005 film)) – (The Lovely Bones) – (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) – (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug) – (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies) – (They Shall Grow Old Together) – The Beatles: Get Back
© thevoid99 2026
Set in January of 1969, the film follows the Beatles creating new songs in the hopes they would return to performing live in front of an audience as they would record and rehearse in two different studios that would climax with what would be their final public live performance. Yet, the film shows a band struggling to create new songs as the first sessions at Twickenham Studios where there is a brief argument between Paul McCartney and George Harrison. The sessions would move to Apple Studios where things are more relaxed and livelier as it would include Billy Preston playing the electric keyboard along with a visit from Paul’s then-girlfriend Linda Eastman and her daughter Heather who would play around in one of the sessions. It would then climax into a concert where the band would play on the rooftop of Apple Studios as it would be their last public concert ever.
That is the premise of the film in the span of 80 minutes but given the fact that it was released on May 13, 1970, just five days after the release of the album of the same name. It came out amidst a dark cloud in which the Beatles had just broken up a month earlier as well as a dour presentation of the film as it was shot originally on 16mm in a 1:33:1 aspect ratio, meant for television, as it would be blown up into 35mm as the film had a grainy look that really added to the bleakness relating to the Beatles’ break-up. It would create this myth of a film that was a total downer as it would not be shown publicly since the early 1980s as it would be bootlegged by Beatles fans where footage of the film would be shown in the Anthology documentary series in the mid-1990s. The myth of the documentary about how it played during the Beatles break-up would continue with its director Michael Lindsay-Hogg getting much of the blame. Yet, it should be noted that Lindsay-Hogg along with editors Tony Lenny, Graham Gilding, and Peter Hollywood had to make the film under the most troubling circumstances when the band was making their final album Abbey Road as well as finding new management that did play into their break-up.
Then came Get Back by Peter Jackson that took the 56 hours of footage that Lindsay-Hogg and cinematographer Anthony Richmond had shot where the myth about the dark mood of these sessions were found to be untrue. While there were moments of tension that did lead to George Harrison’s brief departure from the band during the Twickenham sessions. What Jackson discovered was a band just trying to become a band again as there is more context into what was happening in these 22 days. The resulting 2021 documentary in Get Back did not just correct a small piece of history relating to the Beatles but also destroying a myth about that period. In this 2024 restoration that is supervised by Peter Jackson with a new music remix by Giles Martin and Sam Okell comes a film that is given a new life.
Presented in fully realized colors that brings a lot of beauty to Anthony Richmond’s cinematography along with a broader sound that was originally recorded by Peter Sutton. The documentary showcases a band that is trying to create these new songs while having some fun as there is footage in the film that wasn’t in Jackson’s documentary such as a performance of Besame Mucho as well as scenes from the last recording session where the band performed Two of Us, Let It Be, and The Long and Winding Road before they would be re-produced to horrific results by Phil Spector for the 1970 album. Given that it was filmed on the last day, but it was not the final sequence of the film does bring some confusion to the film’s narrative without the context that was shown in Get Back as one of the issues of this film is some continuity in the editing. There are scenes where Paul and George are wearing a different shirt or sweater in one scene and then there is a jump-cut where they are wearing something entirely different while John Lennon is still wearing a purple/pink T-shirt with a black vest over it.
Thankfully, the narrative that Lindsay-Hogg was able to provide showed a band just making music and enjoying themselves as the climatic final performance is the highlight of the film. Performing five songs with Get Back played twice in the film, it does show a band having some fun until the police arrive to stop the show as the film ends. The 2024 restoration does open with a brief conversation between Peter Jackson and Michael Lindsay-Hogg about the film’s restoration with Lindsay-Hogg feeling vindicated that the film is given a second chance.
Let It Be is a spectacular film by Michael Lindsay-Hogg. While it is only a fragmented look into 22 days in the life of the Beatles trying to create new music that would lead to their final public performance. It still displays this brief glimpse of a band trying to be a band again instead of something bigger that has overwhelmed them. In this new restoration from Peter Jackson, the film is not just given a new life but also helps complete a small piece of a puzzle that played into the story of the Beatles and dispel myths about that period. In the end, Let It Be is a sensational film from Michael Lindsay-Hogg.
The Beatles: The Albums: Please Please Me - With the Beatles - A Hard Day's Night - Beatles for Sale - Help! - Rubber Soul - Revolver - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Magical Mystery Tour - The White Album - Yellow Submarine OST - Abbey Road - Let It Be
Compilations: (1962-1966) - (1967-1970) - Past Masters - (Live at the BBC) - (Anthology 1) - (Anthology 2) - (Anthology 3) - (1) - (Let It Be… Naked) - (Love) - (Anthology 4)
The Beatles Films: (A Hard Day’s Night) – (Help!) – Magical Mystery Tour - (Yellow Submarine) – The Beatles Anthology – The Beatles: Get Back
Related: The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Across the Universe - Nowhere Boy - George Harrison: Living in the Material World - Good Ol' Freda - (Eight Days a Week-The Touring Years)
Peter Jackson Films: (Bad Taste) – (Meet the Feebles) – (Braindead) – (Heavenly Creatures) – (Forgotten Silver) – (The Frighteners) – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers) - (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King) – (King Kong (2005 film)) – (The Lovely Bones) – (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) – (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug) – (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies) – (They Shall Grow Old Together)
© thevoid99 2024
It’s January of 1969 as it had more than a year since the death of their manager Brian Epstein and more than two years since the band had played live to the public as a recent filming for the promotional video for the single Hey Jude where the band was surrounded by an audience gave them an idea. The idea would be for John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr to create new songs for an upcoming concert appearance to be filmed on television in the span of a few weeks as Starr is set to leave to act in a film project for Apple Corps in The Magic Christian with Peter Sellers. The project called Get Back is an attempt of the four to become a band again and to create new music without overdubs and edits and the new songs to be performed live.
Told in the span of 22 days, the film that became Let It Be as it hadn’t been shown publically since the 1980s showcased a fragment of what was happening as it was released to coincide the album of the same name which was released at the time when the Beatles had called it quits. Nearly 50 years later since the release of the film and album of the same name, filmmaker Peter Jackson went into the vaults where he found more than 60 hours of footage and 150 hours of audio that hadn’t been heard as his discovery of the footage along with restoration work lead to revelations of what was really happening in these 22 days. Amidst all of the turmoil and tension that was looming throughout the band over creative differences as well as the lack of leadership when it comes to business. There was still this air of joy of these four men from Liverpool who not only loved making music but also wanted to be a band again instead of this brand that was already recognizable and at times, too big.
Broken into three parts, the film breaks the month into the three settings and events in the course of these 22 days as it does follow the narrative of Let It Be where the first act is about the disastrous sessions at Twickenham Studios that lead to Harrison briefly quitting the band, the second act being about the band moving to Apple Studios on Saville Road and Billy Preston’s arrival, and the third act being the rooftop concert which would be their final performance and the last session of the project afterwards. What Jackson does is follow that narrative but reveal so much more to the story as it is more about a band trying to become a band again and create new songs while showcasing the work that goes through in creating a song. The first part of the film is devoted entirely to the band at Twickenham Studios where they had shot the video for Hey Jude as it would be used as a rehearsal/recording space where the band would try to create a bunch of new songs for a TV special where the band would play to a live audience with these new songs with Glyn Johns being the main producer and the band’s longtime producer George Martin sort of being the executive producer though Johns and Martin were both unsure of the roles they’re playing.
Among the people who are seen throughout the film is filmmaker Michael Lindsay-Hogg, cinematographer Anthony Richmond, longtime road manager/assistant Mal Evans, Yoko Ono, Linda Eastman, and roadie Kevin Harrington. Ono’s presence in the film reveals that she did nothing to disrupt the band creatively as she mainly kept herself quiet while knitting a few things, doing a bit of art, and all sorts of things and only speaks up whenever McCartney and Starr wanted an opinion from her. McCartney would comment in the film about the press and how vicious they are following Harrison’s brief departure with claims that Lennon and Harrison got into a fight (untrue) and knowing that Ono would be the scapegoat as McCartney made the famous joke that the band broke up because Ono sat on an amp. What Jackson is able to reveal in Ono’s role not only redeems her but also reveal that she was treated greatly by the other members of the band as there was a brief shot of her and Linda Eastman giggling in the first part of the film.
The second part at Apple Studios doesn’t just showcase a band trying to enjoy playing together and get some new ideas for songs but also reveal how Billy Preston got to be involved as he was in London doing a few TV appearances as he was someone the band met back in Hamburg in 1962 when he was playing for Little Richard. The band asked if he could just jam with them and his role in playing organs and the electric piano not only liven up the music but also the band themselves. The film also showcases idea of music theory and how accomplished Preston was in that as the Beatles themselves weren’t accomplished in music theory as his role did a lot to give them new musical ideas. The jams are also a key component to how songs are made where the band play covers for the fun of it and then get an idea for a song as it among these little things that inspires them.
The film also reveal other moments during the first and second part as it relates to business as there’s an appearance from the band’s publisher Dick James on the songs he acquired for the band’s Northern Songs catalog as it is a rare moment where they were seen with James in a cordial way instead of the other stories into their relationship that ultimately led to James selling Northern Songs to ATV without the band’s consent. Other Beatle cohorts/Apple officials such as longtime assistant/Apple Corps chief Neil Aspinall, publicist Derek Taylor, and Apple Films producer Denis O’Dell also appear in the film talking about business with Lennon talking about having the Rolling Stones’ then-manager Allen Klein as their new manager. There’s a scene in the third part where Lennon and Harrison have a conversation about Klein that lead to the band’s first meeting with him which is one of several scenes not filmed including an audio conversation between Lennon and McCartney late in the first part.
The third part of the film where its climax is the rooftop performance does feature some enjoyable moments involving Linda’s daughter Heather who would have some conversations with John, play additional percussions with Starr, and even do her own imitation of Ono in a version of Dig It. Mal Evans is a key player in the songs in banging the hammer on an anvil for Maxwell’s Silver Hammer as well as provide additional percussions on a song which showcases why he is an important figure to the band. Even as he would do whatever he can to stall the cops during the rooftop concert as Jackson shows the concert in real-time from the reaction of the people on the streets to those complaining and the police trying to understand what is going on. Yet, the concert also reveals the level of excitement from Starr’s wife Maureen Starkey who got a closer look in watching the band perform live while was also jovial upon listening to the recordings of the songs.
Since the original film by Michael Lindsay-Hogg and shot by Anthony Richmond on 16mm film that was originally meant for television as it lead to the grainy look of Let It Be. Jackson along with Damian McDonnell on the restoration work with additional visuals from Darwin Go not only manage to flesh out much of Richmond’s photography but also reveal something vibrant in how the footage at Twickenham looks as well as the scenes in Apple Studios and the rooftop concert. The footage of those scenes from the film plus the newly-discovered footage add a bigger scope from the 1:33:1 aspect ratio of Let It Be to the broader 1:78:1 aspect ratio as well as showcasing multiple perspectives during the rooftop concert in three split-screens with editor Jabez Olssen not only creating this real-time perspective of the band, the audience, and police at this concert but also the reaction from the people on the street and on the roof of other buildings nearby. Olssen’s editing in the footage that had been released also does more in showcasing the energy of the recordings as well as some montages and small moments such as Starr giving Ono gum which she split with Lennon.
Sound editors Brent Burge and Martin Kwok, with music mixing by Giles Martin and Sam Okell, do incredible in cultivating the 150 hours of audio with in capturing the many outtakes and versions of some of the songs by the band along with some future solo songs from Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison. The mixing in those songs have a lot of breath into how an instrument sounds as Martin’s contribution is crucial as he has been the one overseeing all of the remastering and such of the Beatles’ music that his father George had produced.
For a film with an eight-hour running time that has been broken in three parts, Jackson has managed to create something that is immersive as it showcases a moment in history that is corrected after years and legends that have been told about that period. Yet, there is also an element of melancholia that looms in the film knowing that the band would break up in the year to come with several people in the film that are no longer here. John Lennon, George Harrison, George Martin, Mal Evans, Neil Aspinall, Derek Taylor, Billy Preston, Dick James, Linda McCartney, and Maureen Starkey have all passed on as they’re now in another universe yet they were all a part of something really special. Something that is never going to be matched or replicated as the music itself still stands for generations to come to discover what made the Beatles so great and so revered as well as the people who played with the band, worked with them, and supported them be just as important.
The Beatles: Get Back is an outstanding film from Peter Jackson. It is a film that not only showcases an important period in time for the band but also reveal so much more about that time and how much these four men loved and cared for each other despite their own issues with one another. It is a documentary that isn’t just a must for fans of the Beatles but it is also a film that showcases what it takes to make great music and what it means to be in a band and finding joy in being part of something that is great and fun. In the end, The Beatles: Get Back is a magnificent film from Peter Jackson.
Peter Jackson Films: (Bad Taste) – (Meet the Feebles) – (Braindead) – (Heavenly Creatures) – (Forgotten Silver) – (The Frighteners) – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King – (King Kong (2005 film)) – (The Lovely Bones) – (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) – (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug) – (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies) – (They Shall Not Grow Old)
The Beatles: The Albums: Please Please Me - With the Beatles - A Hard Day's Night - Beatles for Sale - Help! - Rubber Soul - Revolver - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Magical Mystery Tour - The White Album - Yellow Submarine OST - Abbey Road - Let It Be
Compilations: (1962-1966) - (1967-1970) - Past Masters - (Live at the BBC) - (Anthology 1) - (Anthology 2) - (Anthology 3) - (1) - (Let It Be… Naked) - (Love) - (Anthology 4)
The Beatles Films: (A Hard Day’s Night) – (Help!) – Magical Mystery Tour - (Yellow Submarine) – Let It Be – The Beatles Anthology
Related: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Across the Universe - Nowhere Boy - George Harrison: Living in the Material World - Good Ol' Freda - (Eight Days a Week-The Touring Years)
© thevoid99 2021
Directed by Amy J. Berg and written by Berg and Billy McMillin, West of Memphis is a documentary about the West Memphis Three events in which three teenagers were accused of killing three boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. Like the Paradise Lost documentary trilogy from Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, the documentary explore the events of the murders as well as get the story of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley just after they were released. The result is an intriguing yet mesmerizing documentary from Amy J. Berg.
The film explores the case of the murders of West Memphis where three little boys were killed in 1993 as Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley were accused of those murders. The film’s first half explores the case itself as well as the idea that corruption was involved as well as negligence from the prosecution over how the case got handled where they brought in people who claimed to be experts. Even as witnesses from the original case would reveal that they did lie in court as one of them was a juvenile delinquent who claimed that Jason Baldwin said things during his prison time as he would later reveal that he did lie in court.
Much of that film’s first half features interviews by not just lawyers and experts who were involved in the case as well as those who had interest in the case. The film also features interviews from people like Eddie Vedder, Henry Rollins, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks, and filmmaker Peter Jackson, the last of which is one of the film’s executive producers, as they all talked about the case in general while Jackson helped funded so that people can look into the evidence and make their own judgment whether or not the three men were innocent. Especially as it would lead to this grassroots movement to not only get those three men freed but also to force the Arkansas justice system to re-evaluate the case and look into things they overlooked.
Though director Amy J. Berg doesn’t do anything new that had been explored in the Paradise Lost trilogy, she is able to keep things engaging about not just holes in the original case but also reveal more into what caused the wound marks into the bodies of those boys. One thing she was able to do in the film was get the chance to interview Pam Hobbs as well as her estranged daughter Amanda which relates to the questions about whether or not Pam’s ex-husband Terry might’ve been the killer as the film’s second half is about Hobbs himself. Especially where it plays into what he might’ve been doing that day as well as his past and relationship to his stepson Stevie Branch whom he possibly did kill. Even as friends of Terry Hobbs’ nephew each give an interview in early 2012 before the film’s release where they reveal that Hobbs probably did kill those kids as it’s known as the Hobbs family secret.
With the help of cinematographers Maryse Alberti and Ronan Killeenand sound editors Brent Burge and Chris Ward, Berg is able to create a film that manages to bring in some ideas of not just the location of West Memphis and its atmosphere but also a world that is in the middle of America as it’s not really connected to major cities in that country. Editor/co-writer Billy McMillin does great work in the use of archive footage as well as news reports to help present the story as well as getting footage from the Paradise Lost films. The film’s score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis is very somber in its ambient yet folk-based sound as the music also includes songs performed by Eddie Vedder.
West of Memphis is a remarkable documentary from Amy J. Berg and co-producer Peter Jackson. While the eventual resolution of the case wasn’t satisfactory to some, it does showcase the sense of injustice that was prevalent on the case as the documentary does manage to raise more question in how things were handled back then. The documentary also serves as a fitting companion piece to the Paradise Lost trilogy in the way it explores the same case as well as different spectrums over what had happened. In the end, West of Memphis is a superb film from Amy J. Berg.
Related: Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills - Paradise Lost 2: Revelations - Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory - Phoenix Rising
© thevoid99 2014
