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Appropriate for age
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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Soundtrack: Navigation

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Soundtrack

This will be a must-have for diehard fans.

Artist: Howard Shore
Genre: Soundtrack Label: Warner Brothers Parental Advisory: No Edited Version Available: No Release Date: 12/09/2003

Common Sense Note

Unlike the movie, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING SOUNDTRACK has no frightening images to worry about. It's mostly well-composed, well-performed orchestral music.

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Kathi Kamen Goldmark

If it takes nothing short of a phenomenally super-hyped blockbuster fantasy trilogy to get your kids interested in orchestral music, so what? The music on the soundtrack of THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING -- number three in the Lord of the Rings trilogy -- is beautiful, tasteful, and gracefully performed. It's also just a teensy bit tedious without the visuals. With two editions and a total of five different covers to choose from, fans will have a hard time deciding which version to buy.

Because there are few lyrics to worry about, this soundtrack is appropriate for kids of any age, although older kids are most likely to appreciate it. The drama and passion are provided by the intensely arranged musical instruments and choral vocals, and they are mostly wonderful. Moody and magical, the music will evoke remembered images and favorite passages. Annie Lennox closes the show nicely with an understated Celtic-style ballad.

Perhaps children too young to see the PG-13 rated movie (which is quite long and far more violent than the music) will be able to make up their own stories to this soundtrack, or simply enjoy it on its own, but that seems like kind of a long-shot, especially considering the hype this movie is getting everywhere you look. This CD really is for the true-blue diehard fans.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content There are hardly any lyrics to worry about.
Violence The soundtrack is not at all violent. The movie is a whole other story.
Language Not an issue at all.
Message
	Social Behavior Once again, the soundtrack is far more benign than the movie.
	Commercialism It doesn't get more commercial than this--big movie, big tie-in, two editions and four CD covers to choose from, built-in web link, just try NOT to buy this CD!
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Not an issue here.