Certainty of death, small chance of success - what are we waiting for?

Peter Jackson is my hero.

The Lord of the Rings is a spectacular work of fiction. Tolkein imagined a detailed word filled with strife, bravery, betrayal, and epic world changing events. Now that I've seen Return of the King I can say without doubt that this is a masterpiece of translation from book to film. There's not a lot more I can say about this then just that it kicks ass.

Of all three of the movies this last one is the most epic. As I sat in the audience I honestly felt a little jealous. I wanted to be involved in something important and meaningful, like the characters on screen were. Yes, it's all fantasy, but it reminds me of that part in all of us that wants to be important, wants to create real and lasting change in the world. In a sense it's empowering - until you leave the theater and remember you're still you, in your life. I hear people talk about how the films can't have the power and effect that true human drama has, since they're fantasy. I think those people miss the point. Fantasy allows us to imagine a life and a world with purposes more noble then we see in our real world. It allows us to imagine what we could be without the boundaries of reality. Today, for 201 minutes, that's where I was. I don't know of a greater compliment for a film or film maker.

Still want more?
Read the Archives!