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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Extended Edition) | Unedited Reaction (Patreon)

Published:
2025-01-12 15:00:11
Edited:
2026-01-03 19:33:25
Imported:
2026-08
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There are moments in life that imprint themselves on your soul, and my first time watching The Lord of the Rings trilogy was one of them. No

There are moments in life that imprint themselves on your soul, and my first time watching The Lord of the Rings trilogy was one of them. Not to sound all dramatic haha. This was an entire journey there and back again. A journey filled with courage, heartbreak, hope, and resilience that left me changed. The final chapter of this beautiful trilogy unfolded before my eyes, I felt the weight of the world that these characters carried and the light they refused to let go of, no matter how dark their paths became. The themes of hope and resilience resonated with me deeply throughout the film. Frodo's unyielding determination to carry the Ring, Sam's unwavering loyalty and strength, Aragorn's rise to his destiny. Each part of their stories told such a deeper lesson of what it means to face insurmountable odds and keep going. Hope was never the easy choice for any of them; It was, I guess, like Gandalf said, "fools hope". It was a spark that kept them moving forward even when despair loomed overhead. The battle scenes.. WOW. The emotional stakes were so high. And yet, in the midst of all of it, what struck me the most in this entire final chapter were again the quiet moments: Sam carrying Frodo up Mount Doom, Aragorn's words of encouragement to his companions before the Black Gate spoken like a true King, and the bittersweet farewell at the Grey Havens. These moments spoke volumes about the bonds of friendship, the sacrifices we make for one another, and the enduring strength of the human (and hobbit) spirit. When "The End" appeared on the screen, my heart actually hurt. I wasn't ready to leave Middle-Earth. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to these characters who had become so dear to me, to the world that felt as alive as the one outside my door. There was a deep sadness in knowing this journey had ended, but also an intense feeling of gratitude for having been a part of it all. As Samwise Gamgee said, "Well, I'm back." And while I am back in my own world, a piece of my heart will forever remain in theirs. It's been a pleasure sharing this journey with you all. Thank you for being here for my first trip through this epic trilogy. Now onto The Hobbit!?Thank you for your support here on Patreon!Relax and enjoy 🍿🌿SYNC ALONG LINK: https://youtu.be/GnDDDKzhxHwI watched this on HBO Max

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Comments

Simon

Lets goooooo!

CamNofx

heureux que vous ayez aimer ces film comme je les aime; en route vers le Hobbit !

KJ

Sam is such an MVP. Just the purest of souls.

Code Monkey

You should watch The Hobbit but know that it is not true to Tolkien's book. It has the story but they added a lot of extra stuff to fill 3 films. That may or may not be a good thing, that would be up to you to decide. It does tell the story of Bilbo's first meeting Gandalf, the dragon, "Bilbo's trolls", and how Bilbo came across the ring. EDIT - 8 year old you would have been better off reading The Hobbit as it is a children's book. =) Now, onto the reaction!

kaliwali

i'm actually excited to dive into The Hobbit films! I know they have gotten mixed reviews, but i'd love to see how I feel for myself. plus i'd love to sit and read the books finally starting with The Hobbit and I think i'd rather watch the films first ✨

CptSharKn1ght

As always, the best reaction award goes tooo ... Kali! I'll drop some short conclusive infos that continued in Tolkien's books that happened after the movies. I think you might have your heart at ease at least, knowing those :) After the ring was destroyed: -Frodo left Middle Earth, so that he may be fully healed. He was still able to feel the wound on his arm from the sword at the beginning, plus for being the ring-bearer and it nearly consuming him like it did Gollum. Basically, he had kinda like a PTSD which he needed to take care of. -Aragorn returned Gondor to it's former glory, and ruled happily with Arwen for 120 years. He had one son and two daughters. When his time drew near, he chose to take command of his own end. ''We laid in the House of the Kings in Minas Tirith with Gondor's past rulers and drifted into eternal sleep.'' Arwen passed one year later. -Gimli became the Lord of the Glittering Caves under Helm's Deep, as it was rich with Mithril. He kept his word to Galadriel, and encased the strands of hair within glass and treasured it. Legolas restored the woodlands of Middle-Earth that were ravaged by the war, along with adventuring with Gimli. -Faramir and Eowyn eventually married and had a son, Elboron. Aragorn gave Ithilien (The region of Middle-Earth in which Gondor resides) to Faramir as his Princedom, elevating him to Prince of Gondor. -Samwise married Rosie and had 13 children. He was also elected Mayor of the Shire for seven consecutive seven-year terms (49 years.) Afterwards, Sam was given passage to the Undying Lands to reunite with Frodo, as Samwise was also a Ring-Bearer, even for a short time. -Pippin became the 32nd Thane of the Shire, and held that position for 50 years. He had one son named Faramir Took I (Yes, he was named in honor of his good friend Faramir, The Prince of Gondor) who later married Sam's daughter. After he retired as Thane, he left with Rohan and Gondor with Merry. He remained there for the rest of his life, and was entombed in the Hall of the Kings, and later moved to be laid to rest alongside Aragorn. -Merry was knighted by Eomer (who became the next King of Rohan in honor of his uncle Theoden after his passing in battle) and become Master of Buckland. He married, and wrote a book. He had at least one son. At 102, he returned to Rohan and Gondor with Pippin, dying around the same time as Pippin. He was laid to rest in Gondor with Pippin, and later moved alongside Aragorn. -After Aragorn's death, Legolas made a ship of his own in Ithilien, and left Middle-Earth to cross the sea to reunite with the rest of the elves in the Undying Lands. Due to their close friendship, Gimli was also allowed to cross the sea, the only dwarf to receive that honor. Was an honor tearying my eyes a little, AGAIN XD watching this trilogy.

Mr Johnstone.

Just finnished up watching your reaction and I loved it I cant wait for The Hobbit movies next! They are really good movies (in my opinion) YES it does not stay true to the books with a lot of stuff added to make up the movie and they went a little crazy with the cgi in them BUT THAT being said they story its self is good and definately worth the watch even if it is to see what happends :) Edit - Have you seen Harry potter or Star Wars yet ? If not I would love to see you react to these aswell WHEN the time is right :)

Curaitis

So much to unpack but i still have to hold back to not spoil to much from the books but there will be one minor spoiler about Denethor. First and foremost. Andy Serkis is one the best actors of our time imho although he is not as famous to most. Your final words are very thoughtful and you figured out much on yourself. Just a few things you mentioned during the Movie. About Pippin and the Palantir: Books ;) The Movie also goes a bit deeper into Theoden and his inner demons and fears when he says that now he has not to feel ashamed in the present of his ancestors. You can see his reaction when Saruman told him being the lesser son of greater sires (a bit different in the books). When they arrive at the Pelennor and see the size of Saurons Army, they all know they will die, cause they didnt knew about Aragorn at that point in the Movie. The whole Scene, his speech and the charge is by far the most epic thing i have every seen on screen because you can feel the despair and fear at the beginning. That is the moment that is most important for his development in the Movie cause it leads to his overcoming of his fear and insecurity about himself. Also much love to Eowyn. This is the way to do a female role model. Strong-willed and courageous but also vulnerable and feminin. Not the stupid girl boss you see today in so many Hollywood Productions. I dont know if you knew it but Peter Jackson had a cameo in every Movie. He was Albert Dreary, Drunken Man Of Bree Eating A Carrot in the first one. A Rohirrim Warrior At The Battle Of Helm's Deep and he was the Corsair that was shot by Legolas in Return of the King. Btw he is also in every Movie of the Hobbit Trilogy. Speaking of that. The Hobbit Trilogy plagued alot of problems but the biggest one was the production hell. Basically New Line Cinema wanted to make a similar Trilogy out of a 260 page Book while the LotR had about a 1000 Pages. I guess you can see the difficulty. After 3 Years of pre production the original Director of the Hobbit Trilogy had nothing really finished and New Line fired him. They contacted Peter Jackson and at first there was a lot of arguing between New Line and him cause he wanted/needed more time. Peter had found out that the former Director had nothing finished, no Costumes, no props, no sets. When New Line said it has to be done in a bit more then 1 1/2 year, compared to the LotR Trilogy who took around 10 years it was a ridiculous demand, Peter said ok and that they needed to use a lot of CGI to make up for the missing Sets and Costumes. Thats the reason why the Movie looks so bad, especially the CGI and why there is so much of it. I still think you will love it and you should watch them. Tissue Boxes. ;) One last thing about possible reactions. You should not, i repeat NOT (i beg you) watch the Rings of Power Show from Amazon. The amount of disrespect from the Showrunners, Producers and Actors towards Tolkien and his work was and is disgusting. Not only the Show itself but what they said about him and his work. That goes along with what you said about fictional Stories. One of the most important things about Movies and TV Shows is their ability for escapism. Something modern Hollywood is not able to do anymore in most productions. Now to Denethor. Thats the only thing that really bothers me in the third Movies. Not sure if it could have been done but i think a couple of scenes could have explained why Denethor behaved the way he did. To give you a short insight. Denethor was a loving father to both of his Sons but he found a Palantir in the past and he used it. That was also the reason why he knew about Aragorn in the Movie cause he saw him and Gandalf in it. What he didnt knew was that Sauron knew about him using the Palantir and slowly, subtle and patiently manipulated him into the person you saw in the Movie. I cant wait for you reading the Books. The Trilogy is a once in a lifetime thing but the books are a completely different beast. Getting late here. Amazing Reaction as always Kali. Take care and much love to you and your family.

Curaitis

Thanks Man, you spared me the writing. ;)

Wil Castillo

My most favorite moment was when Aragorn told the four hobbits that they bow down to no one. I enjoyed going on this journey with you and I'm looking forward to The Hobbit trilogy.

Code Monkey

When everything is said and done and if you find that you still want more, there were 2 animated adaptations of Tolkien's work: The Hobbit (1977) by Rankin/Bass and The Lord of the Rings (1978) by Ralph Bakshi. This was my first introduction to Tolkien's wonderful world; and I suspect many others on this thread. I'm this old: "Where there's a whip there's a way"... ~ B

James Hadden

Lovely reaction and review of a wonderful trilogy. Thank you for the ride. I really hope you enjoy the Hobbit movies, I unfortunately, did not. I’ll certainly tune in for the first one to see if your enthusiasm can lift me into a more positive feeling towards them. I’d love it if you took a short break to add a bit of variety, but completely understand if you want to jump straight in.

FearTheTREMOR

Wow. What an experience. There's amazing media and beautiful stories out there that are touching and transformative, but honestly, I don't think this trilogy is touchable. Literally a perfect experience. Sam carrying Frodo always makes me teary eyed. When you reach the end of the rope, and you don't have the strength to carry on further, having people in your life to help you carry on when you can't anymore, can be such a lifeline. Everyone needs a friend like Sam 😭 While I love Sam, I've seen a lot of reactors dog on Frodo quite a bit, and I always think, like Frodo accomplished a task that I don't think anyone else on Middle-Earth could have done. If the places were reversed, and Sam were the original Ring Bearer, I am certain he would have fallen even at the very end there too. Almost like it's inevitable, that anyone would fall in Mount Doom. Faramirs journey really hits me emotionally. Not only dealing with not being a favorite child, but being chastised by your father who's crushed by grief, and he throws his own life away and probably believing his father hated him, that his life is somehow less worthy than others. It's such a tragic and painful thing, especially feeling that because of your parent, who at least in theory, should be your most ardent defender. One of my favorite character moments in this film is Theoden and the Charge of the Rohirrim. There, I think we see such strength in the race of Men, and for us, it's the strength of humanity. How in his speech, they literally were chanting for death, theirs or the Orcs! That they are there to fight, and they won't be deterred. Even Merry and Eowyn who were inexperienced in war, eventually shouted the same. And when the arrows began flying, horses and Men were tumbling and deaths were already happening, they didn't stop even a little bit. That's one of my favorite moments because it shows such resilience, that they cannot be stopped, no matter how many people get killed, their spirits are unbreakable. Aragorns moment of bowing to the Hobbits is also so damn touching. Going back to what Galadriel said to Frodo, "Even the smallest person can change the course of history." Aragorn giving honor and praise to the littlest of people during his own coronation, showing that what those Hobbits did is so much bigger than anything he did, was such a beautiful moment. I love Middle Earth so much and it's been a pleasure seeing your journey through the best films of all time! The Hobbit trilogy is very interesting. A lot of people seem to not know that originally, the Hobbit had an old animated series that covered the events and shows that.... its a very different series of events. I don't think they're bad by any means, just... prepare yourself for a different experience. Thanks again for watching these Kali! ❤️

CptSharKn1ght

Nailed the analysis of Eowyn and the representation of strong women leads characters. Couldn't said it any better. As for the Hobbit Trillogy, if you try to ignore the overdone CGI, it is still better than most of the current generation. Lastly, Theoden had a subtle story of redemption of his own this entire movie, it is kinda hard to pay attention to some of the details assuming how complex the movie is. For him, the entire Land of Rohan and its people, family, his niece and nephew especially (Eowyn and Eomer) mattered in such way that he had to let go of the bitterness and resentment towards Gondor especially that his only son died. Still, he remembered the oath for his Ancestors which must be fulfilled in battle despite being so conflicting and insecure with himself, because it was the right thing to do :) Theoden was many things, but coward wasn't one of them, and that was done beautifully in the movie!

James Hadden

That was an interesting read, thanks for the additional info

Raztaban

Using 'Us' instead of 'Me' is/was common in some rural English areas. It certainly was in Oxfordshire when I was young.

Other Chris

Denethor's descent into madness and despair is reinforced by his use of a palantir located in the tower. He hints at this with his line to Gandalf, "Do you think the eyes of the White Tower are blind? I have seen more than you know". Sauron used this to trick Denethor with despair, greed and paranoia to further disarm and disrupt the world of men from being able to effectively organize a defense. A tactic that almost worked had Gandalf not been there to intervene. Sauron doesnt just attack fom the front with armies but also beyond the battle lines with hoplessness which was more effective of a weapon at times.

Lastboyscout73

To be as brave as these characters, wouldn't that be something.

Cregg Riley

you made it through. the hobbit is good, it's not LOTR but it's not bad. umm you can skip the amazon show. Sam carrying Frodo up Mount Doom and Theoden's speech before the charge on Pelinor Field is some of my favorite moments in any movie. there are a lot of moments in this trilogy that are my favorite moments. it's why LOTR is the best trilogy and it's not even close

M1 Maz

I'm left with little to add in my comment since you basically touched on every major thought I had about this amazing movie haha. I think the one thing that stands out the most to me, is how powerful the hopeful moments feel, specifically due to how dark the hopelessness right before them is. Especially with so many character arcs to follow and flip between, we're constantly plummeted into despair, only to have the hand of hope reach down and pull us out. And one of the biggest driver of those feelings is, of course (you know I'm always gonna bring it up) THE MUSIC. The scene where the riders of Rohan arrive is still to this day one of the most emotionally moving scenes in cinema for me. The warmth I feel inside every time I watch it... the speech, the music. So good! Wanted to extent a heartfelt thank you to you for how much of yourself you've invested into your reactions of this trilogy! I know it can't be easy to sit for these 4-hour movies and be so attentive, observant and present, to not only take in all the lore as it's coming at you (which by the way you did phenomenal with picking up on everything), but also formulating and expressing your thoughts in real time. Really really amazing reactions! That took these movies I love so much and made the experience even better! Would LOVE to see you react to The Hobbit movies too! Yes, they're not as popular or regularly praised, but a lot of that is just because they will always live under the shadow cast by this trilogy. They're great movies still, and 1000% worth a watch with how much you've been loving this world!

Paul Wright

Couldn't have said this better myself. 👏 I'd also recommend the Hobbit trilogy, for it has some memorable moments in it as well. The Hobbit trilogy is made up moments from the book and the LOTR appendices, which leads to LOTR proper. Even after seeing this trilogy 20+ years ago, it impacts the same now as it did then. The Rohan charge scene is one of my favorite cinematic experiences EVER. The music, the emotions from the soldiers and king, and the fear from the enemies. POWERFUL. Looking forward to this week, Kali. Keep up the great work.

Marty McGee

What a journey. I will say regarding some of your questions is that most of them are explained or answered in the books. Make sure to read the Appendices at the end of The Return of the King for even more clarification. Then if you decide you want to delve even further, The Silmarilion tells the history of mainly the elves and goes into detail about the higher beings ("gods" and "angels") of this world. There are also some great YouTube channels with tons of videos that explore the deeper lore and history of Middle-Earth. I recommend Men of the West, Nerd of the Rings, Tolkien Untangled, and The Broken Sword. I definitely recommend watching The Hobbit movies. I actually prefer the theatrical cuts over the extended edition ones. Expect a completely different tone once you get to read The Hobbit though. I truly enjoyed going through these again with you. The Lord of the Rings has been my favorite set of books since I first read them at around 13 years old back in the 80s. The films have been my favorite movies since they premiered. I think I like the books and the movies about equally. I can't say that about any other adaptation. If you ever get a chance to watch these in a theater (they do get showings every now and then) I would highly recommend it. It's an amazing experience as you can imagine.

JoshGrobansDryMouth

Currently 2 hours 49 minutes in. Your reactions are the best! You have sense of the world and really understand it on an emotional level. I just need to say, Gandalf’s charge in the two towers at helm’s deep was a moment that inspired me to want to become a film composer when I saw it in theaters when I was 12. I’m small time, but have had the opportunity to support myself scoring commercials and a few feature films over the last 15 years, and it all started with that scene. Watching your reaction to that charge was beautiful and reminded me of how I felt in the theater in 2002, more than any LotR reaction I’ve seen. Another shoutout to your goated Rdr2 playthrough as well ❤️

Simon

Clearly the main takeaway from this reaction is that Arachnophobia is a must watch for Halloween movies in October 😂

Curaitis

100% Agree. Im sure she will love the Hobbit Trilogy.

kaliwali

Wow! Thank you so much for your kind words and considering my reaction one of the best.. It truly means so much to me to hear you say that! Sharing these moments with everyone has been a true pleasure and joy, and knowing how much it resonates make it feel even more special. Your lore-filled recap was absolutely beautiful and made my morning! I'm so grateful you shared it because it gave me so much peace and even more appreciation for Tolkien's world. Learning what happened after the movies adds a whoooole new layer to this story, and I honestly teared up a little reading about everyone's futures (especially Frodo and Sam). Knowing Frodo found healing in the Undying Lands is a huge relief, especially after everything he endured. And learning about Arragorn's long and peaceful reign with Arwen, as well as their children, was extremely heartwarming, even though their eventual parting pains me. This last chapter of the trilogy hit me in ways I wasn't prepared for. Aragorn's coronation and his moment of humility with the Hobbits ("You bow to no one") gave me chills and even gave them to me again just now writing this lol. Sam's unwavering courage and his "I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you" moment had me feeling things I've never felt watching a film before, ever. It was the ultimate testament to their bond. And of course, Frodo's resilience and heartbreak as the Ring completely consumed him to the very end- What an extremely powerful reminder of how deeply the burden affected him. I also adored the epilogue moments: Sam's beautiful life in the Shire, seeing the Hobbits celebrated as heroes, and the bittersweet farewell at the Grey Havens. Knowing that Same eventually joined Frodo in the Undying Lands brings me so much comfort. And I absolutely love the detail about Legolas and Gimli adventuring together and even crossing the sea. So beautiful and an awesome end to their friendship. Thank you so so much for sharing this and being such an incredible part of this journey. It's been an honor (and, yes, tear-inducing) to experience this trilogy for the first time with everyone here. The way you share your love and knowledge for this story makes it even more special, so thank you again 🤍

kaliwali

I'm so glad you enjoyed my reaction to this beautiful story! I'm really excited to dive into The Hobbit next as well. I heard mixed things about them, so I appreciate you sharing your perspective! I think knowing they take some liberties with the story will definitely help me go in with the right mindset and just enjoy the ride for what it is. Plus, I'm really curious to see more of Middle-Earth and how it all connects to this trilogy! As for Harry Potter and Star Wars- great question! I have seen Harry Potter and re-watch it every year. I actually just finished up my annual re-watching a few weeks ago (I started it back up again before Christmas like I always do lol). I read the books to those first so I always enjoy picking those back up sometimes too. As for Star Wars- I have not! I have gotten sooo many people requesting those lately. I HAVE seen The Mandalorian from that franchise, but that's it lol. Disney was showing the trailer of it when it first came out and I loved it so I went ahead and dove right in. I had no idea what was going on most of the time with the background lore, but I love Grogu and he kept me entertained through all of it haha. I'd love to jump into Star Wars after my time in The Hobbit films!

kaliwali

I always feel the love and passion you have for Tolkien's world in every post! I'm going to miss these now that the trilogy has ended lol. I'm incredibly grateful that you always take so much time to share all of this with me. It really makes this journey even more amazing to connect with people who care so deeply about these stories like I have been! I completely agree with you about Andy Serkis! His performance as Gollum is nothing short of absolutely legendary. The amount of nuance and complexity he brings to the character is actually mind-blowing. It's funny, but I actually know him from '13 Going On 30' up until this point and WOW I look at him so differently now. he deserves so much more recognition! Theoden's arc absolutely struck me as one of the most compelling in The Return of the King. You're so right about his battle with inner demons and fears. His speech and charge at Pelennor Fields was extremely moving and gave me chills. Knowing that they went into battle with the belief that it would be their last stand makes that moment even more powerful. It was truly a defining moment of this character, and it was heartbreaking yet inspiring to see. And Eowyn... I adored her so much. You described her perfectly. She's strong and brave but also vulnerable, which makes her feel very real. Her moment with the Witch-king was everything. I love how she shows courage and determination, but in such a genuine and heartfelt way. She was probably one of my favorite characters. Thank you for sharing the behind-the-scenes details about Peter Jackson's cameos!! I had no idea he popped up a bit in every movie lol. Now I'll be on the lookout as I rewatch. It's also really sad to hear about the production issues with The Hobbit. I hear all the mixed signals about it.. Definitely explains a lot about the heavy reliance on CGI, but I am still excited for the experience regardless. And more tissue box warnings!? I'll try to brace myself, but I never really do show up prepared haha. As for Rings of Power, I've heard mixed things about that as well. Your insight confirms a lot of what I've been hesitant about. It's really a shame when adaptations don't honor the source material or the spirit of the original masterpiece. Escapism is such an important part of storytelling for everyone, and it stinks when that gets lost in translation. Denethor's backstory with the Palantir is a HUGE eye-opener!! That context would've added sooooo much more to his character. I knew something was off with him, but as you can see I chalked it up to lost hope. Knowing he was manipulated by Sauron makes his descent into madness even more tragic. I feel like this is a super important detail and it makes me that much more excited to read the books and then go back and revisit these films once more after! I can already tell they're going to blow me away with the richness and depth of Tolkien's world. Again, thank you so much for your kindness and depth with all of this amazing lore. It means a lot to me that you've enjoyed my reactions and they have inspired you to share more with me! Much love to you and your family as well, and take care!! 🤍

kaliwali

Actual chills during that part! Such a beautiful and impactful moment. I'm glad you enjoyed this journey here, thank you so much! It's been a pleasure sharing it with you all

kaliwali

Thank you! I don't blame you on The Hobbit after hearing so many mixed reviews and a few speculations on why it failed a bit. But I am excited to hop in regardless and will try to enjoy it for what it is! I am planning on taking a week or two break from The Lord of the Rings so I can soak in more of my time enjoying this trilogy before jumping into The Hobbit. I'll be posting a poll a little later today to see what you all would like to watch outside of Marvel and LoTR for a bit of variety this weekend <3

kaliwali

You perfectly captured sooo many emotions and themes that make this trilogy so beautiful in this comment! I couldn't agree with you more about how untouchable these films are. They've definitely left a mark on me in a way that few stories ever have before. I really appreciate what you said about Frodo, too. He carried the impossible burden all the way to Mount Doom, and no one else could have done it! The toll it took on him was absolutely devastating to see, but he endured it as long as he could, even when it nearly consumed him. I think it's a testament to Tolkien's genius that Frodo isn't a typical "hero". He is flawed. He is vulnerable and human, well, hobbit lol. But that makes his journey that much more powerful! Faramir's story is one of the most heartbreaking... That relationship with his father is devastating and I felt it in my gut. Denethor's rejection of him feels cruel, especially knowing how much Faramir was willing to sacrifice just to prove his worth to his own father. He went into that battle, to his death, likely thinking he was unwanted and unloved. But Faramir's quiet strength and kindness was always present on screen... I think that's what makes his character so impactful! And the charge of Rohirrim!! OMG. Pure cinematic perfection. I didn't know why I was crying, but I was, and I couldn't stop or even really breathe. Theoden's speech, the music, the visuals... It all came crashing down on me in that moment. You're so right about the unbreakable spirit of humanity in that charge. Even in the face of overwhelming odds, they didn't even hesitate. That kind of courage and determination was breathtaking to watch. A scene that will definitely stay with me forever. It's been an absolute joy sharing this journey with you! Comments like yours have made this journey that much more meaningful. I've really fallen in love with Middle-Earth and I can't wait to see where The Hobbit trilogy takes me, even if it is a very different experience. I'll keep the animated series in mind, too!

kaliwali

Ahh, good to know! Makes me look at him differently yet again lol. Thank you!

kaliwali

Denethor's line about the "eyes of the White Tower" make so much more sense now with the context of the palantir! Another patreon member shared this and I really wish that they would have added a bit more into the movie so I knew more about Denethor's fate! I chalked it up to a loss of hope, but this makes so much more sense. I had a feeling he was swayed, but I thought it was his own doing. The idea of attacking beyond the battlefield, using hopelessness as a weapon, is so deeply unsettling because it's not something you can fight with a sword. It gets to the heart of what makes Sauron truly terrifying. His ability to manipulate and corrupt from afar.. Wow. Thank you for sharing!

kaliwali

Thank you so much, Maz! It means the world to me that you notice how much heart and focus I've poured into this trilogy. I already consider myself part hobbit, so this is my world too now hehe. These movies deserve no less and being able to share my thoughts and feelings with everyone has made the experience even more rewarding! I absolutely agree with you about how the hopeful moments shine so brightly because of the darkness and despair that comes right before them. It's kinda like a pendulum that swings between heartbreak and triumph. It makes those moments of hope hit so much harder! And yeeeeEEESS! The music! The score is practically a character of its own.. Howard Shore is a genius. The charge of the Rohirrim is still stuck in my soul. The combination of Theoden's speech, the swell of the music, and the emotional weight of that moment had me crying and not knowing why. Actual goosebumps even now as I'm writing this thinking back on that scene! I can't wait to dive into The Hobbit trilogy next! I know they aren't on the same pedestal as this trilogy by any means, but I am really curious to see what they bring to the world of Middle-Earth and, I mean, the title has me already 100% in lol. More hobbits?? Sign me up! I'm excited to embrace the differences, soak in another story in this world, and experience even more of that beautiful music. I'm so happy you loved my journey through this trilogy as much as I have. I see now why this is on your "once a year" re-watch list and it's totally on mine now too! 🩷

kaliwali

I swear I still feel that charge in my soul whenever I think back on it! I'm feeling a rewatch of this already even though I said in my outro I'm not ready haha.. I'm glad you enjoyed my reaction so much! It's been a pleasure sharing this journey with you all. Thank you!!

kaliwali

I hit send instead of next paragraph ahhaa. But awesome that you are a film composer and that moment with Gandalf's charge inspired you!! I love it.. I'm so happy that you get to do something you love and that inspires you every day. Reminds me of why I dropped my x-ray technologist career of over 5 years to become a twitch/youtuber. Everyone thought I was crazy.. Heck, I even thought I was crazy too. But content creation was calling me and I love every day of my work. I'm so happy that my playthroughs and reactions have given you the ability to re-feel those emotions that you felt back in 2002! <3

Mr Johnstone.

yeah harry potter is a great collection really enjoy them .. the Dursleys not so much :) Yeah the Mandalorian is a great series its a bit further on in the timeline of the Star Wars universe When you do come around to watching them I will help out the fans of Star-Wars and say watch the Release order there are certain things in that order that will give you the shocks twists and just seeing the technological jump is outstanding and "this is the way" Georgey boy intended for now it's time for you to take the Unexpected Journey back to Middle-Earth! :D

kaliwali

It's been a pleasure sharing this journey with everyone here! I definitely plan on picking the books up soon. Someone gifted them to me off my Throne and I couldn't be more excited to get them in soon!! I've heard they hold so much rich context and lore and knowing they'll answer some of those more burning/lingering questions has me excited to explore them even more. The Silmarillion has been mentioned a few times now, and it feels like this mystical, almost sacred text of Middle-Earth knowledge! I love it! I'm going to keep it on my list for when I'm ready to immerse myself even further. And thank you for the YouTube recommendations! I'll be checking those out for sure. I'm really looking forward to The Hobbit trilogy as well. Knowing they have a different tone is really helpful because I'll be ready to go into them and just enjoy the ride vs. trying to compare them to this trilogy's beauty. I love that you've carried these films and books with you for so many years! That kind of lasting impact says everything about how special Tolkien's work is and how masterfully Peter Jackson brought it to life on screen. The idea of seeing these in theatre sounds absolutely incredible.. I really hope my AMC replays they sometime this year so I can experience it as well!

C.j.

From watching your various game playthroughs and your reactions, The moment i saw LOTR i was excited cause i knew you wouldn't be able to stay away. there is so much to unpack in these 3 movies that i understand why the extended versions matter so much even if it added 2 hours. these movies are proof of a time when people cared about what they made and tried to have good impact in storytelling. thats not even mentioning the music. the music hits home at every moment. the goose bumps your getting are called frission, which is the somatic respose to a strong emotion, if you didnt know what to call it haha. tid bits of info in case no one has told you the actor playing smeagol was actually using his real voice, it wasnt computer generated, he had to drink a mixture of honey and some other things to make that voice. and did that all in a suit for motion capture, so he was actually present during shooting. there were plenty of locations around the world they went to for the landscape, but for the castles they employed a useful technique. they built a to-scale version and just blew it up in post so it fit properly. thats why all the locations felt real. very different from cgi that plagues everything nowadays. i actually believe that some of the shooting techniques were first-times for movies. but i vaguely remember it from the special features part of the DVD box set. all in all, im glad this movie had such an impact on you as it did for me all those years ago. its good to have another fan to discuss the lore. Trust that i ain't going anywhere any time soon 😁...

Curaitis

Btw Kali, what i not mentioned so far is, Peter Jackson around a 100 hrs of footage left and there were atleast 2 petitions for super extended versions but Peter always said he doesnt expect another, longer, version to be made. Dont fear mylady Kali, my passion goes beyond Tolkiens work but he is for sure one of a kind. ;) I will bother you for sure with more comments in future Movie and Show reactions.

trev

Yeah, I still do. "Give it us, 'ere, then."

Dude Longcouch

“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

kaliwali

I love this quote from Tolkien so much! Brings so much meaning to that little scene so much <3

sizesixteens

In the end, Sauron wasn't defeated by great power or even wisdom, but with pity and compassion. Bilbo pitied Gollum and Frodo showed him compassion. This led Gollum to Mount Doom, where all was lost without him. Nobody, not even Frodo, could ever willingly throw the Ring into the fire. Chance, or Providence, had to intervene. Sam's line to Frodo is also the heart of their story: "I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you." As much as we would like to, we can't choose to suffer someone else's trauma for them. We can't take on their pain in a way that relieves them of it. But we can choose to carry them. We can choose to be uncompromisingly present in their lives and walk with them.

Dude Longcouch

It's my second favorite book passage! Like you talked about in the reaction, it's all about hope.

Wreckingballryan

Little late to this one but of course I have a lot of thoughts. When Theoden asks why he should help gondor I kinda get it. It's a little petty I guess, but it reminds me of when you're planning on cleaning the bathroom and your parents tell you to go clean the bathroom, and you instantly think "Well now I'm not doing it." In the last one I mentioned the whole lack of hope thing and Denethor and Theoden are perfect examples of it. Denethor lost hope and said "Well, I guess I'll die." While Theoden lost hope and said "Well, I guess I'll take as many of you with me as I can." Im sure several people have answered your important questions but there are a few things I thought should be mentioned. You immediately said that Eowyn and Merry were cursed after killing the Witch King which surprised the heck outta me cause that's one of those things the movies don't do a great thing explaining. "The mightiest man may be slain by one arrow, and Boromir was pierced by many." May be one of my favorite lines, It might not be the most comforting but it shows how great a man he was. Reading through the books I think your be surprised by how much of the dialog is straight from the books. No idea if its been mentioned but the topic of Gandalf losing hope has always interested me. Part of the Wizard's job is to advise and aid the free folks against evil. Gandalf only really seems to lose hope when Aragorn is around, aside from when he's talking to Pippin that one time. I think he's more likely attempting to stoke the fires of Aragorn's natural leadership skills rather than actually losing hope. Shelob isn't quite as scary as she appears in the movie the tallest part of her is a little taller than Sam and Frodo they're about 3 feet 5 inches tall. So Shelob isn't as big as she looks. Don't get me wrong I would still turn a couple of acres of land to glass trying to kill her but it could be worse. Also spider legs work using a hydraulics to extend the leg, so as soon as you cut her leg she'll lose hydraulic pressure be effectively immobilized. None of these movies are perfect adaptations, but I think these are as close as you can get to a "perfect" adaptation. The only other movies I can think of are Dune parts 1 and 2. I would suggest watching the special features for these. I doubt they'd do well for a reaction video (theyre also as long as the movies so theyre a bit much) but you should watch them on your own if nothing else. I don't usually watch special features but they show how much love the cast and crew have for the books, as well as each other. There are Extended editions of The Hobbit as well and I would suggest watching those, the Hobbit movie may not be the best but I think the extended editions are still better than theatrical. The Hobbit movies aren't as awful as a lot of people make them out to be but they definitely have problems. That being said, I am a fan of fantasy Dwarves so there is some bias there.

kaliwali

The idea that Sauron wasn't defeated by power or wisdom, but by pity and compassion is so true! It's an amazing reminder that even the smallest acts of kindness and mercy can change history. And yes, Sam's line! It get's me every time. You're so right about what it represents. We can't take away someone's pain or shoulder their trauma for them, no matter how much we want to. But we can walk alongside them in that difficult journey and be a steady presence. Sam's unwavering loyalty and love for Frodo is so beautiful. 🤍

kaliwali

Never too late to join the conversation! The Theoden and Gondor moment is super relatable when you put it that way lol. The "Well, now I'm not doing it" feels like such a human response, especially when there's history and pride involved in it. Very great perspective shift haha. And the whole cursed thing was a draw-back to when Frodo got stabbed by one of the Ringwraith's blades during the first real terrifying encounter with the Ringwraiths in Fellowship and Arwen had to ride him to the elves before he turned into a Wraith! And in this one Gandalf explains the Witch King to Pip and how he is the one that stabbed Frodo with that blade during that time before the battle begins. So, I guess they explained it a bit, but it was broken up between the first movie and this one! That Boromir line is heartbreaking, yet beautiful! I love hearing that so much of that dialogue is straight from the books. I was gifted a set of the books off Throne and I've been patiently waiting for them to come in!!! (Okay, maybe not so patiently haha) The idea Gandalf losing hope only to inspire Aragorn's leaderships is such an awesome take! It makes sense in hindsight. Gandalf, ever the strategist, would act in ways to push Aragorn toward stepping into his role as king! Thank you for sharing this thought! As for Shelob, knowing she's not quite that massive eases my mind for when I break open the books lol. But I'm with you- I'd still torch the entire area just to be sure lol. And thank you for The Hobbit recommendations! I've heard mixed things about the movies, but I'm really curious to see the extended editions especially if they do flesh things out more. I think there's still a lot to enjoy in this world! Especially for fans of Dwarves hehe Thanks so much for sharing all of this! The reason I'm slow getting started with The Hobbit is to still live in this trilogy & your comment gave me even more to think about! Appreciate it

Richard Higgs

I recently read a fan theory that when the eagles came to pick up Sam and Frodo at the end, there was a third eagle in case Gollum survived, I like that.

Squeesher

You seem to feel music as viscerally as I do, so I'm glad I came to Patreon for the full versions of these movies with the soundtracks intact. Not that I'm going anywhere now that we're at the end of this particular Trilogy. There's too much more for you to see. But it was fun crying through this one with you 🥹. (PS: I love the earrings you always wear! Are they from something? Did you make them yourself?)

David

These movies are so special to me. I remember watching them all with my sister back when I was a teenager, and they really shaped what I love about fantasy and lore and how characters and their emotions and relationships are what draw me into those worlds most of all. You brought me right back to the excitement of not knowing what was coming, and being scared and hopeful for the fates of everyone we'd come to love over the course of the 10 hours. This was such a pleasure to watch and I'm so glad you've become a fan along the way. Something that you may not fully know yet is that the making of the movies has developed it's own sort of 'lore' within the fandom. Each of the 3 movies has hours and hours of special features that go into how these movies were brought to life; from Peter Jackson and his team adapting the book, to trying to convince studios to finance 3 blockbuster movies, to building the sets and costumes, to casting, to spending 18 months in New Zealand filming, to all the breakthroughs in film technology like Gollum and special effects, to building the world through the MUSIC, to capturing the frenzy of its release and how it became a phenomenon. Watching these are almost like going on another journey, but with the whole army of people responsible for bringing the story to life. And it's such a surprisingly emotional one too. Everyone has such passion, and seeing the work and love and craft on display is so endearing. I'll also just say that there are many tears to be had when their time on the movies comes to an end. I'd highly recommend checking those out, they added a whole new dimension of love I have for the movies and the world.

Robin Holmes

Late to the party. Loved your reaction. If this helps... Frodo left because the wound from the Witch-King and the burden of the Ring damaged him spiritually, and couldn't be fixed. His lost finger (I thought it was 2 in the book, might be wrong) was a metaphor for his soul as well. He didn't have all of his fingers, but always knew what it felt like to have ten. That was what he felt for his Soul. He could just feel part of it missing. The Undying Lands the elves sail to are supposed to be able to fix that. Fun fact about the Elves. They're immortal because they have no souls. They don't have an afterlife. So for an elf to die in war, or to volunteer for war...Well, just let that soak in. Gandalf didn't really go with them across the Sea. He ascended/died/retired. He was a Maiar (spelling?) I believe. Kind of like an Angel. In the Tolkien-verse there are angels, archangels, and Almighty beings. He got put back as Gandalf the White to finish his mission, and when the LoTR ended, he returned to his plane. Sorry to nerd out, but I thought you might enjoy that info. Also, someone may call me out for being off on some of this, but it has been 20 plus years since I read the Silmarillion, and that is a HARD book to read. Cheers!

Andrew Roach

Late to the party as well. Wow, what a great reaction and probably the most you have cried I wager but that just shows the degree of how invested you were. And most of those tears were not for sad moments which are even harder for a movie to pull off. So glad you have watched The Hobbit. Yes opinions are divided but I personally love them and have grown fonder of them over the years. Most of the criticisms are actually true but the movies are still solid despite that. I am currently listening to an audio book about the making of the LOTR, here are some interesting tidbits I have come across so far: Tolkien didn't want the title of book 3 to be Return of the King as he correctly felt it was a spoiler, his choice was War of the Ring but the publisher or editor overrode him. New Line Cinema took a major risk making all three movies at the same time, if the first had failed the studio would have probably folded. And these weren't just your average movies as each one was an epic. Christopher Lee, who played Saruman, had actually met Tolkien in a pub years earlier. While the casting in LOTR ended up being perfect it almost wasn't: The studio's first choice for Gandalf was Sean Connery and they made him a staggering offer including a percentage of the gross or profit of the trilogy. If he had taken the role he would have made over 400 million dollars but didn't because he didn't "understand" it. Even getting Ian McKellen as Gandalf almost never happened as he was locked into a contract playing Magneto in the first X-Men movie. Only the promise by that director that he would be available by early 2000 allowed him to get the role. Viggo Mortensen was not the first choice for Aragorn, another actor was hired but only days before his first scene was to be filmed it was agreed that he was not right for the role. A frantic search ensued to recast the role with little time to spare. Russell Crowe was considered but he declined because he had just finished Gladiator and didn't want to do another sword movie. Conceptual designers Alan Lee and John Howe were regarded as the two best Tolkien artists bringing his works to visual life well before these movies and it was great that Jackson got them both to work on the film. They actually first met during this film and basically designed the visual look of the trilogy. They both got quick cameos during the opening montage of the Fellowship when we saw the nine humans kings that got rings, they were second from the left and second from the right. The theatrical version of Return of the King did not include Saruman at all, none of the Isengard sequence was in the theaters believe it or not. Other extended / new scenes I recall from memory for King included: Gimli blowing on and dispersing the dead ghost hands when entering the mountain of the dead, The avalanche of skulls in the mountain of the dead, Gandalf facing the Witch King and his staff is destroyed, The army of the dead attack the passing boats after joining Aragorn, Frodo and Sam see the beheaded statue. Also the pirate Legolas shoots with an arrow on the boat in King is director Peter Jackson. He appeared quickly in all three movies: Fellowship - the guy burping at the camera when the Hobbits first enter Bree. Towers - a soldier throwing a spear at the orcs when they are using the battering ram on the door of Helms Deep. Well its off to see your other movie reactions before moving onto the Hobbit. Rumor has it you did slightly enjoy Interstellar, Green Mile and Shawshank. Sadly I don't see Private Ryan so I assume that was before you started your full length Patreon.

Robin Holmes

Also, did it ever bother you that none of the trolls in Minas Tirith turned to stone while the battle was in broad daylight?

BloodSwine

rewatch still so great... hope you read some of the books :)

kaliwali

I NEED to! I was telling myself 'This summer'. But Summer is here and I'm so busy all the time haha. Hopefully I can get into them before the end of this year, at least!

Ross Brock

Great videos! :) Watching your reaction to the trilogy makes me feel like I am watching it over again for the first time. I kind of grew immune to some scenes and didn't cry at them anymore, but then I saw your reaction and it broke me down...lol. So thanks for that. :) Also, I know you have heard this a 1000 times. But the books will make you laugh and cry maybe even more then the movies. Thank you for all your content, but these especially. :) and please post a video of your reaction to the books vs. movies.

Manos

Hi Kali! Thanks for watching LOTR! I watch these movies once a year and the last couple of years I like to watch them with reactors, and may I say this one was my favourite! You have understood so much even without reading the books that really amazed me. I have read all of Tolkiens books and my advice is that you should read the trilogy and at least the silmarillion. Then hop on the movies again and you will enjoy them so much more because of understanding the lore and the meaning behind small lines from the actors. Take care and see you around, beautiful reaction!

pinkdino99

Lots to cover in this one. Saruman is not killed in the books. I won't spoil what happens, but it comes about in The Sacking of The Shire, an ending cut sadly from the films (Jackson was already concerned about the run time). Personally that is my fave part of the books. Christopher Lee was a LotR expert having read the book at least once a year. He was also in the SAS in WWII in Italy and Africa campaigns. There was a scene where someone is stabbed in the back and they discussed what sound they would make. "No no… that's not the sound someone makes when stabbed in the back," Lee chimed in. Cause HE KNEW ! The slimy disabled leader orc was actually entirely based on Harvey Weinstein. He also resembles the aliens from Jacksons first gore filled amateur movie Bad Taste. Speaking of disgusting, I was right there with you with the Shelob fight. I am terrified of big spiders, and I had to watch that in the cinema. I always FFWD those scenes in my rewatch. It's amazing that when people see Minas Tirith in this film they are wowed... but we actually see a low key overview of the city in Fellowship which is where Gandalf visits the library to learn about the Ring of Power. Jackson is key to only show close up views of the city so that we can appreciate its full spender in Return. As to why the elves are leaving, the Gods created the magical elves first and made them immortal. They then made men, and the long living Dúnedain. Men's mortal expansion encroached on the elves realms, and the magic in their lands so they voluntarily retreated to Valinor, the Blessed Realm, or the Undying Lands where they could live out immortality in peace. Gandalf was a ring bearer and was loaned great powers to be in the fight for Middle Earth against Sauron. Once he was vanquished Gandalf had no purpose so "retired" to Valinor with the elves. Frodo had suffered a wound that would never heal, and had carried a burden that damaged him to the core of his soul. He could find no rest on Middle Earth. The music in this is sensational, particularly The Houses of Healing (feat. Liv Tyler) which was somehow cut from the theatrical version. One of the most angelic and beautiful pieces of music that both heals me and destroys me whilst listening. Also Billy Boyd whom sings "Home is behind" as Faromir rides into battle. What a voice. Everyone gives Sam the MVP for this trilogy, but Eowyn for me is such a beloved character. The books were released in 1954, and yet here we have a progressive, feminist icon in a sweeping mythological saga. I just adore her character and feel blessed that Tolkien was so forwards thinking. And I totally ship her and Faromir. I think you'd enjoy the game Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, although it is a bit gruesome ! There is, however, in this trilogy a paradox. Sam carries Frodo up the mountain with no ill effect, as Sam is not technically carrying the ring. So if you put the ring on a chain around a rabbit, and then carried the rabbit hutch... (but this is like arguing about Thor's hammer being able to be lifted in an elevator (or by Vision.) Great reaction as always. Your passion ebbs and flows from you.

pinkdino99

When I was 15 my mum suggested I go to the cinema to watch that to CURE my arachnophobia. It was months before I slept properly !

pinkdino99

The Silmarillion is a slog. But you love lore so I think you will gain something from it. Just don't expect it to follow a novel's structure. It is more like an extended appendix.

David Perkins

hey Andrew, just wanted to thank you for such an interesting and informative post. regarding "the Hobbit" movies, i'm pretty much of a similar mind to you. while the quality was not nearly as high as "lotr", i found myself being somewhat more forgiving than usual when i learned of the awful circumstances that Peter Jackson found himself in during it's production. plus, after the utter masterpiece that "lotr" was, nothing would ever have been good enough. like you, i enjoy "the Hobbit" and i try to accept it for what it is and not compare it to what came before. thanks once again.

Cuore

Great reaction. Bravo on finishing the trilogy... that was quite a project! A couple of the things: I think "A fool's hope" is just Gandalf being self-deprecating in the context of talking with another fool - Pippin lol. I don't think he ever lost hope. However he did tear up whenever he thought about how much danger Frodo/Sam were in. I think he felt responsible because he sent them on the mission. His love for all Hobbits and Frodo were a terrible weight while he stood in the unknown of their well-being. I think Gandalf had to leave for a few reasons. But mostly, I think it's because he was not a man. They call him something like, "Mithrandir" in the movie, I think? So his time has been over. Thank you for this video and your work. I had so. much. fun. watching this again because of you. I'm so glad it impacted you well. It's obvious that you love it.

MertzRocks

Ah, these were the new breed of trolls - Olog-hai - which could endure the sun like Uruk-hai could. The normal orcs though, they should have been useless once the dawn winds turned south and blew away the 'broil of fume' that Sauron had covered the lands with to block the sunlight. They weren't.

MertzRocks

Andy had to drink that 'Gollum-juice' not to make the voice but to stay able to keep making that voice as it was killing his throat.

Chenou Yang

The greatest trilogy of all time imo! The only thing that can ever come close to rivaling the "ride of the Rohirrim" is the "Avengers Endgame charge." I love that you love the journey of these films as much as we do too.

Brewza Brewer

The Harvey Weinstein orc is appropriately disgusting.

Jacob

I'll never be able to watch this trilogy without thinking about Clerks 2

Ray

Don't fall for it guys. Don't let them finesse you by trying to humanize Grima. Grima's "got to go".

Ray

Sam was being seduced by The Ring.