Unlike that other blockbuster final installment of a much-vaunted trilogy, The Matrix Revolutions, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King actually delivers on the promise of the first two episodes. Although somewhat hampered by a few overly schmaltzy scenes, a few too many portentous "We ride for war!" bits of dialogue and an ending that never seems to end (you can imagine the filmmakers and cast just not wanting to let go), LOTR III is a soul-stirring event.

In an opening that harks back to the story of Cain and Abel, we see how Gollum became the pathetic creature that he is and then, in short order, we are introduced to the two main thrusts of the film: Frodo's (Elijah Wood) journey to the evil Sauron's Mount Doom in order to cast the ring into that mountain's fiery heart; and Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and Aragorn's (Viggo Mortensen) attempts to rally the race of men for a final showdown with the forces of evil. When Sauron's forces lay siege to Minas Tirith, the capital of Gondor and the city that J.R.R. Tolkien described as seemingly "carven by giants out of the bones of the earth," the stage is set for the battle to end all battles on the Pelennor Fields. And what a battle it is.

Less concerned with the mystical and mythical aspects of the tale than either part one or two, The Return of the King opts for awe-inspiring battle scenes and gut-wrenchingly realistic special effects. Sauron marshals an immense army of Orcs, Easterlings and Haradim, while Gandalf brings all the men he can find (and an army of ghosts - I'll say no more) to the defense of Minas Tirith. If you thought the battle for Helm's Deep in part two was impressive, wait until you see this...

As we've come to expect, the film is packed with the stunning visuals and once again director Peter Jackson shows he has a great grasp of narrative. His use of the telling set-piece - one that comes to mind is the lighting of the beacons throughout Middle Earth to signal to the city of Rohan that help is needed in Minas Tirith - is both economical and magical. With the lighting-of-the-beacons scene Jackson has the audience, in a matter of seconds, gasping at the scope of his vision. In short, The Return of the King is a fitting end to a trilogy that promises to entertain and inspire for generations to come. Provided the real-life minions of Sauron allow the ìrace of menî to continue living for that long, that is.