Peter Jackson’s epic Trilogy was the great cinematic achievement of the 2000s. It was a blessing that the films worked at all, and a small miracle they form the greatest trilogy of modern times. When the films were being released, I found it easy to look at them as three separate films, each standing on their own merits. Now, Return of the King is a mess of plotting and pacing by itself. It needs the connective tissue of the first two films, unless you’re just skipping to the epic final battle(s).
Something familiar with effects heavy series is watching the advancement of computer technology just within the few years from the first film to the last. Fellowship has the best script, but the technical qualities improve as they grow more ambitious with each film. I love the giant elephants in ROTK, but I would want to be on set for the Battle of Helm’s Deep from The Two Towers. I don’t need to be a part of the entire month of nights in the rain, just the mood-setting build-up with the Uruk-hai beating their weapons and that one soldier who stands on top of the rock.
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