Final 'Rings' deserves Oscars

It has been the biggest movie event of all time - and now film fans are preparing themselves for the epic conclusion of The Lord Of The Rings trilogy. The first reviews of director Peter Jackson's The Return Of The King suggest it will be another triumph.

According to Newsweek, the movie is "exhilarating" and "brilliant".

Having seen a screening in New Zealand, the magazine reports: "The Return Of The King is a sure contender for best picture. More than that it could be the first franchise ever that didn't, at the end of the day, let audiences down - either because of laziness, pretension, greed or other phantom menaces.

"This is an especially poignant possibility at a time when we can still smell the smoke from the wreckage of The Matrix."

Critic Jeff Giles continues: "Return Of The King has nothing to apologise for. It's an epic. It tells a passionate, elemental story. It takes the principal film-making currency of our times, special effects, and makes them matter. Is it a fantasy? It's a lot of people's fantasy, yes."

Movie websites have also been quick to pour on praise. Ain't It Cool News says simply that the movie will "kick Star Wars's ass".

Records are likely to be shattered next month when the third film opens in 24 countries. It chronicles hobbit Frodo's (Elijah Wood) tortuous trek to Mount Doom as he attempts to destroy the evil ring. Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) wages war in hope of distracting the enemy from the hobbit's quest, as well as ascending the throne of Gondor and marrying Arwen (Liv Tyler), the Elven princess.

The film cost £200 million to make but the first two instalments movies in the trilogy made £380 million in America alone.

All three were shot back-to-back. Most of the cast were hired at only a small cost and many of them - Orlando Bloom included - were virtual unknowns when they committed to 18 months of filming and press junkets around the world.

"When they first offered me the part, I had to sit down and think about whether I was willing to work on this for a year and a half," said Tyler. "But actually it's been four and a half years."

The trilogy has turned the unknowns into international stars. Bloom - who plays elf Legolas - said: "I was suddenly reminded of how lucky I was to be a part of this process and how much it changed me - Viggo being a real mentor to me and Peter being this amazing visionary director."

The Return Of The King is filled with visually arresting moments but may yet anger some. Even at three hours and 12 minutes, Jackson has had to make cuts in the story sure to leave diehard Tolkien fans aghast.