an outstanding finish to an amazing trilogy. my only concerns were the gore,(many impaled bodys, severed limbs, much ) it had great role s and an amazing plot. at one scene, smeagle bites of frodos finger in a y, gory way. lots of peril and shed. characters screaming for lost ones, and the aftermath of a huge battle is shown explicitly. some scenes can be skipped to make it great for your young ones.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
(2003, Rated PG-13, Fantasy, Starring Sean Astin, Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood)Ratings at a Glance
| 75% | of parents say it's too violent |
Have you seen it? 
Most Recent Reviews
Parent & Educator Reviewers Say | Kid Reviewers Say
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
a heart warming film for ages 13 and up
- I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Epic, Brilliant and all other words to describe an awesome film!
This film was really awesome!! Very epic and brilliant, but perhaps it isn't wise for little kids to watch it, unless they can handle seeing some gore and icky-looking orcs. The story line was very good, specially since it's based on a great book trilogy. I think those who plan to watch this film, should watch all 3 movies instead-because seeing it all gives more magic and brilliance to the whole thing. I highly recommend this film, among the entire trilogy, because it would blow your brains out! Every one acted really well, and the directing of Peter Jackson was very well done. I give it 5 stars all in all, but I must warn again about some gore.
- I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
CONATINS STRONG GRAPHIC VIOLENCE AND DISTURBING IMAGES
This has to be the best film I have ever seen. It also happens to be WAY to violent for a PG-13, much more than the others. CONTAINS SPOILERS: Gollum slowly chokes Deagol, about 30 seconds; (Saruman is stabbed twice, then falls hundreds of feet and lands on a pike, spraying blood everywhere; his murderer is shot by an arrow); Sam beats Gollum over the head with a frying pan, blood oozes out; (a man is shot by an arrow, then rolls down a flight of stairs); a large battle follows, hundreds die, Nazgul lift up soldiers and smash them against walls; a man is mortally wounded, he is coughing up blood when Gothmog takes a spear and smashes it brutally into his chest (not shown, but the tearing flesh and dripping blood sound and the man's gagging and sputtering is just as bad); hundreds are slaughtered on a suicide mission; the largest movie battle of all time begins, contains bloody violence throughout; severed, mutilated, gory heads fly over the wall; (a man is shot); trolls smash men into pieces; Frodo is stabbed, he foams at the mouth; Sam stabs Shelob, drenching his hands in blood; orcs eat alive men (and even women and children), very graphic and disturbing; a massive cavalry charge, the largest ever captured on film, decimates an entire army; a man burns himself alive, and jumps of a thousand foot cliff while on fire; Theoden is ripped in half when the Witch King throws his horse on top of him; his beast is slaughtered by Eowyn, blood and gore splatter everywhere; Eowyn suffers a bloody wound; (Gothmog gets mained 4-5 times before getting axed to death) all the orcs and there allies are wiped out, millions are dead after the battle, the field littered with blood and body parts; the orcs in the tower all kill themselves (in graphic yet creative ways); (Frodo is brutally whipped); another gigantic battle occurs; tens of thousands are killed in a giant earthquake; Gollum bites Sam on the neck and nearly kills Frodo by choking him, Sam slices his gut, Gollum knocks out Sam and bites Frodo's finger off, TONS of blood comes out; he later melts in Mount Doom along with the One Ring. PHEW! Other than that, its an awesome, incredible film that everyone should watch!
- I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it
Violent, brutal and scary.
- I rate this title off for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
violent
violent
- I rate this title off for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Great Movie and very well done but excessive violence and grissly images should make the R rated range
- I rate this title off for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Best of the Best, but exceptionally intense violence and scarriness
Great Movie and very well done but excessive violence and grissly images should make the R rated range
- I rate this title on for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- I rate this title on for age 15 and give it
Brilliant!
Everyone must be saying this is the best of all time and they are correct! I loved the heck out of htis movie the visuals,sets, editing, directing, acting it was a beautiful film! You won't believ eyoru eyes! I say be 15 to see this to appreciate teh effort and technicals and artistics and especially the music. Best Picture worthy.
I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give itAmazing, the best of the trilogy!
I personally think that this movie could very well be the best movie in the world. Stunning acting, directing, writing, special effects and equipment make this just an awesome film. Like the others in the trilogy, violence is pushing the PG-13 limits, and sex is limited to kissing. Sensitive 11-12 year olds should not watch this movie, but if they are not sensitve, they will greatly enjoy this movie. GREAT movie for kids 11-12 and up!
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
Very Violent and Intense, but Magnificent Film!
The Return of the King is the most violent Lord of the Rings film. The Battle of Pellanor Fields stands out for its startling and breathtaking visual effects, but is also very violent and graphic. In this picture, blood is shown, unlike the others. But the blood is brief, except for in the end where Frodo loses a finger (very bloody). The film also gets intense as Frodo is tempted by Gollum to turn against his friend Sam. Aragorn must face his destiny, and Eowyn must fight the bonds that held the women of that kingdom. Very violent. Very intense. But great message that is shown even more in this one than the others. In this, the message glows and the beautiful story almost covers the battles. Let me say it this way: you'll be sad when this film ends. Great film for ages 11 or 12 and up!
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
action packed
- I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
Great For People That Love Bloody Violebnt Movies
Strong Violence. Period.
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
There's a reason it won all those Oscars...
My favorite movie of the trilogy. I don't even want to count how many times I've seen it. My sister (who was 9, at the time) and I saw this three times in theaters alone. It's a wonderful ending to the trilogy, and makes the viewer wish there were more to come. Again, no sexual content or modern-day cursing, but strong violence, enough to have, in my opinion, earned an R-rating. Overall, words do not do this movie justice. It's suitable for anyone, except kids who can't handle the intense violence.
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
Excellent finale
Wow is all I can say. They don't make movies like this much anymore. An epic adventure that will go down in history as one of the best ever. Excellent!
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
okay
This movie was a disappointment, and it was too long.
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
Award winning film!
Definitely the best of the year! Action-packed, well directed, wonderful effects, and the story line follows the book very well. Superb!!
- I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it
Good certainly, but is it really great?
The Return of the Rings has everything that these days make a film great: a good story, colorful characters, perfect casting, excellent acting, sweeping scenery, plenty of action and of course, ample special effects. However, I did not find the film to be completly worth all the expectation.
The action in the film is plentiful and much of it is very, very fast. It was difficult for me to focus and see what was happening through the speed. It has headache-inducing possibilities. The enemy is gruesome and they do gruesome things. Watch out for when they catapult heads of men into the White City. It's not for the squeamish. The huge oliphants are really neat and Legolas' fantastic feat of the film is to single-handedly take one down. But again, I wish the sweeping camera had slowed down so I could have appreciated it.
Warning: plot spoilers following.
The characters are, of course what really makes this trilogy work so well both in print and on film. The friendshp between Frodo and Sam is tested as Gollum pits them against each other. Though Frodo hurts Sam deeply with his words, Sam is undaunted in his devotion. Isn't it the same in real life, that you often hurt those who you love the most? Gollum, often cute and funny in The Two Towers, is truly evil and disgusting in this film. How his insatiable need for the ring is actually essential to the happy ending is part of what makes the story great.
I wish there had been more of this kind of attention to the story of all the humans. In short, I found very little returning of the King. True, he shows his courage in his prowess in battle and by gathering ghosts to fight (characters no scarier than the skeletal pirates in Pirates of the Caribean). But his speeches to his troops were uninspiring, and his coronation short. His reunion with Arwen was certainly the romantic highlight of the movie, and I thought, beautiful.
For the length of the film, I actually thought Arwen had a good, strong part. She makes her decision, stands up to her father and makes sure the broken "magical" sword is reforged and given to Aragorn. Eowyn too, is strong as she defies all the men in her life and fights in the big battle. She also believes in Merry, and together they kill the most evil of the black riders and his even blacker dragon. I only wish she'd been given a little more screen time to fall in love with Faramir, not just a smile in the shadow of Aragorn and Arwen. And the conversation she has with the dying Theoden, a wimp of a king who is finally strong, is full of cliches. One human who gets ample time is Denethor, the Dad of Faramir and Boromir (remember him, way back in the Fellowship?). He is quite evil and slimy and yet we are never told that the real reason is his alliance with Sauron, the REAL bad guy. There is a sad scene when he, engulfed in flames, jumps off a cliff. It could bring unpleasant recollections for some.
It was nice to see characters grow up., Merry and Pippin especially. Though standard fools at the beginning of the trilogy, they prove themselves to be as brave, intellegent and nobel as the best of men, wizards and elves. In fact, there is a very nice scene where all the hobbits are honored. It echos Galadriels words in the Fellowship "even the smallest of persons can change the course of history". (I am surprised she wasn't there to say them. She, sadly, is missing until the very, very end).
So I suppose that is what makes the film great, the time honored virtues of good vs evil, the triumph of the underdog, cooperation between races, and the large effect of the smallest of deeds. For that, it is worth seeing as a family. As it is so long, fast and violent it may be worth taking the time to screen it first, and/or watch it next fall when it comes out on video.
If you and your family haven't read the books, I highly recommend them, especially after you've seen the film. The books are very long and having a visual picture of characters and setting really helps. It's worth reading at least some passages to your kids, they'll like it. Few films can compare with great books. With all our technology, I'm glad we still enjoy both.
Parent & Educator Reviewers Say | Kid Reviewers Say
- I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
Boring, overlong, confussed, emotionally empty, and lacking in any creativity beyond the amzing visual, the only thing saving this from being a total disaster.
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
AWESOME
I think lord of the rings is awesome!!!!!! it is perfect for tweens and up but no younger. Lot of violence but still a great movie it tells kids about how to work together
- I rate this title on for age 9 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
the movie is not as scary as lord of the rings 2 and not all battles in lord of the rings it I do not agree with a PG 13 rating I agree that it has to be rated PG but not G it sall not be G because of its war battles and mild language
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
lord of the rings
violent wars
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
best of the series
is violent though
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Awesome!!!!!!!
The Lord of the Rings are the best books I've ever read, and while the movies cut a lot out and gave different personnas to characters, they ROCK!!! I love them!!! As long as you can handle a little violence, I definitely recommend them!!!
- Lives in Georgia
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
WOW
The graphics for this movie are absolutely amazing! I have absolutely no idea how they did it. So here's the content: Sex, there is absolutely none, though a few kisses at the end. Absolutely NO swearwords. Violence, a LOT. However, it isn't like gore and splattered pieces everywhere like in Saw or something. We see swords going throuhg bodies and some blood and stuff, and at one point, heads are rained down on the army so we see two or three decapitated heads. But I was okay with it. However, I think kids twelve and under should be careful about watching this.
- I rate this title off for age 2 and give it
the best of the trilogy
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
AWSOM MOVIE
Anyone in the right mind would love this movie.There is some intense battle seans.AND SOME SCARY Imigies.There is no sex no bad laugught.THIS MOVIE WAS AMAZINS
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
I loved this!
Really great movie!!!!
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
pretty good
my favoret of the trilogy pretty voilent 11+
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Amazing!
Ok people- I watch this movie every week (at least 3 times)... now listen up- almost every LOTR review had something wrong in it. There is no racism- peter jackson himself states this if you watch the bonus features. He says that he didn't want to pin-point any culture specifically, and if ou look, the villians are mixed races, people that look hispanic, asian, african and spanish. There is little blood- the most is a little out of the mouth of dead guys on the battle field, and some dismembered limbs. ( But those shots are breif and not even close up.) THe other blood is a scratch or two on Gollum, and frodo's left index finger get bit in half. I am very easliy disturbed blood and guts, but this movie does it very, very well not scary or gross at all. The acting and senery are amazing, and the villians are NOT IN THE LEAST BIT SCARY!!! I love the costumes- they are sooo intricate, and the bonus features are a must see, they show the clothes up close, and point out all the concept designs and little details. (Although, I think there is more of this in the Fellowship DVD.) There is a happy/sad ending, that may leave the younger ones with questions, in which you may want to read the book to understand it better. There are NO scary moments, and just the right amount of romance, although there could be more (there is always room for more!). If I had to pick a scaary part, it would be in the morgul tower just because younger kids might find the creatures a bit scary, and there is very mild fighting and orc screeching. Ok, so i'm probably leaving something I wanted to say out, but I think I've said enough here. This movie is appropriate for people ages 4-105. I showed the movie to boys I babysat in preschool, and they loved it, and unless your kids a big wimp, wait 2 years. My sister is 8 years old, adn the other is 12, and they aren't scared at all- maybe just a little grossed out at the beginning ( when Gollum bites into the fish, and when he strangles Deagol). Thanx for reading this- and go buy this movie.... NOW!!! You won't regret this!!!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
I could not keep my eyes off the screen
I saw in this movie in the theater when I was 5 i was scared to death. You it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Sword-fighting, Romance, Adventure...can you get better than that?
An Epic Adventure for Fantasy Lover like yours truly. :)
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
lotr rox ur sox!
this movie wuz awesum!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
The Ending is awsome! But the film is 2 long!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Probably my favorite movie of all time! A magnificent and excellent movie that everyone will enjoy. The violence sometimes gets a bit R-rated, but is mostly bloodless and usually not that disturbing, older kids can handle it. It is also too scary for younger kids. I think it should have been rated: PG-13 For everyone 11 years old and older
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
