MadCap's Reel Thoughts - "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" (2003)

Okay, c'mon. What else do I have to say about this film that hasn't already been said in the seventeen years since it was released? This was the second highest grossing film of all time until James Cameron decided to crap out Avatar and push Titanic into the spot, it was nominated for eleven Academy Awards and won all of them and the culmination of an epic trilogy that is only matched by the likes of the original Star Wars trilogy in terms of its following and mythos.

The actors involved are at the top of their game, Peter Jackson's directing is as sterling as ever, and the Howard Shore score is so epic in every single scene that he rivals John Williams in terms of memorable music that resonates even now. It's literally the perfect storm of everything, maximum potential finally realized.

And it's good.

It's damn damn damn good!

MadCap's Reel Thoughts - "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" (2002)

"Who now has the strength to stand against the armies of Isengard and Mordor?"

The Fellowship of the Ring was a monster hit for New Line Cinema and Peter Jackson. However, there were two movies left to go once the credits for Fellowship stopped rolling. Would The Two Towers be as much of a cinematic landmark as Fellowship was?

Well, no. It was even more so.

MadCap's Reel Thoughts - "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" (2001)

Well, this is one I was going to wait to tackle until later. . .and then Horror Month came up, which I know you're just as sad as I am that that's over. . .and I realized that keeping Sword and Sorcery 2020 going into 2021 would be just a wee bit silly what with brand dilution.

Isn't working in entertainment just magical, kids?

MadCap's Reel Thoughts - "The Lord of the Rings" (1978)

So, accidentally spelled his name "Ralph Bakashi" last week. Whoops!

So, anyway. Ralph Bakshi is a director who is known primarily for his work in animation. He's notable for, among other things, directing the first X-rated animated film ever made (by MPAA standards, anyway), producing the original Mighty Mouse series, and well...this movie.

Needless to say, we have a very eclectic individual on our hands, folks.

MadCap's Game Reviews - "The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age"

Isn't fanfiction just super fun?

No, really. That's what this is. Believe it or not, The Shadow of Mordor saga isn't the first time that someone's taken the epic saga of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and gone completely and utterly off the rails with it.

That would be Rankin/Bass. NO! END SENTENCE, BEGIN ANEW!