Critter's Cave

Tolkein purists might rage and rail over what Peter Jackson has changed in this movie, but in the end, it doesn’t matter. This is a cinematic acheivement like no other.
Billy Boyd as Pippin really came into his own in this installment. As he sang to Denethor while Faramir marched the army of Gondor into its doom, you could hear his heart breaking. His conversation with Gandalf about death as the armies of Mordor are about to breach the final gate, managed to come off as an initimate moment even while carnage was taking place all around them – really a wonderful moment in the film.

Andy Serkis as Smeagol/Gollum was, as in the previous film, astonishing. Unlike the walking stereotype known as Jar-Jar Binks, I completely forgot that Gollum was entirely CGI except for his voice – he blended in perfectly with the hobbits and with the scenery. Andy deserves an Oscar as well.
There were other great moments – Aragorn taking up the mantle of the King of Gondor and raising the Army of the Dead, the massing of Sauron’s troops at the Black Gate, the Riders of the Rohan coming to Minas Tirith’s aid, the lighting of the Beacons, and, in the penultimate moment that this trilogy has been driving toward for three years, the unmaking of the One Ring in the Forge of Mount Doom. Is there any question – 5 out of 5 stars. I could go on and on about this film – but I’ll end it here and recommend that if you haven’t seen it yet, you need to get up right now and get your tickets.