My Review of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

After watching The Hobbit trilogy for the first time, I decided it was finally time to watch The Lord of the Rings. I’d always heard people call it one of the best trilogies ever made. Since I enjoyed The Hobbit movies, I wanted to go deeper into this world. This was my first time watching the trilogy, so I’ll go through each film individually before sharing my thoughts on the series as a whole.

Movie 1: The Fellowship of the Ring

Synopsis

Young hobbit Frodo Baggins, after inheriting a mysterious ring from his uncle Bilbo, must leave the Shire to keep it from falling into the hands of its evil creator. Along the way, a fellowship forms to protect him and guide the Ring to its only possible destruction: the fires of Mt. Doom.

What Worked Well

Visuals
Just like the Hobbit trilogy, the visuals are stunning. Every set piece feels alive, and the costumes make each race instantly recognisable. Peter Jackson really knows how to make a world feel lived-in and magical at the same time.

Characters
The characters are well acted, and their relationships are great to watch. Seeing Gandalf and Bilbo again was such a highlight for me since I loved them in The Hobbit.

What Didn’t Work

The length
It’s a 3-hour movie, and my attention span for films usually tops out around 2–2.5 hours. It wasn’t boring, but it was definitely a stretch for me personally.

The humour wasn’t there
Compared to The Hobbit, this film has a more serious tone. Not a big problem, but I did miss the light-hearted moments and sillier beats from the other trilogy.

Personal Reaction

I really enjoyed this movie. It felt professionally made in every way—acting, sets, pacing, everything.
Rating: 4/5

Movie 2: The Two Towers

Synopsis

The Fellowship continues their mission to destroy the One Ring, but now on separate paths. Frodo and Sam push toward Mordor, guided (and manipulated) by Gollum. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli search for the kidnapped hobbits Merry and Pippin, while war brews across Middle-earth. Two towers—Orthanc in Isengard and Barad-dûr in Mordor—stand at the heart of the world’s growing darkness.

What Worked Well

The Aragorn/Legolas/Gimli Trio
These three were some of my favourites in The Hobbit, and they continued to be great here. Their dynamic had both action and humour, and it grounded the more serious parts of the story.

Sam’s Speech
Sam’s speech about stories, darkness, and holding onto hope was honestly beautiful. It added emotional weight right when the film needed it. It might actually be one of the best scenes in the entire trilogy.

Merry & Pippin’s Growth
I liked seeing Merry and Pippin become more than just the “funny hobbits.” Their scenes with Treebeard and their part in motivating the Ents gave them real development. They felt more purposeful this time around.

Gollum’s Dual Personality Moments
Even though I’ll complain about him later, I have to give credit where it’s due—the scenes where Gollum argues with himself are extremely well done. They clearly show the battle between Smeagol and the corrupted side of him.

What Didn’t Work

Needless Action
There were moments where the action felt stretched. Aragorn’s fall took too long, and Helm’s Deep—while good—dragged more than I wanted. I prefer quicker, tighter battles.

Gollum
I liked Gollum in The Hobbit films because he was weirder and funnier. Here he’s more annoying and whiny. I understand why (this movie digs deeper into his broken mind), but personally I didn’t enjoy the change.

Jumping Plotlines
This movie jumps between storylines a lot. Sometimes it felt like just when I was getting into one plot, it switched to another. Not terrible, but it made the pacing uneven for me.

Personal Reaction

Even with the unnecessary action, I enjoyed it. The emotional moments and character relationships were strong enough to keep me invested.
Rating: 4/5

Movie 3: The Return of the King

Synopsis

As huge armies gather for the final battles that will decide the fate of Middle-earth, Frodo and Sam push deeper into Mordor with Gollum leading them toward danger. Aragorn steps forward into his destiny, and the forces of good prepare for one last stand as Frodo attempts the impossible: destroying the One Ring once and for all.

What Worked Well

Battle scenes
The battles were massive, dramatic, and emotional. I felt the weight of everything that was happening.

Pacing
Even at around the same length as the first film, this one felt much faster. The stakes and intensity helped keep my attention.

Ending
The ending was fantastic. Emotional, full of resolution, and a great way to close the trilogy. It wrapped everything up in a satisfying way.

What Didn’t Work

The Eagles Question
Why didn’t Frodo and Sam use the birds to destroy the ring more easily? Why could Gandalf get to them but they couldn’t get to Mordor that way? It confused me. Maybe it’s something the books explain better, so I’m not too bothered.

Personal Reaction

A solid and powerful conclusion to the trilogy. Not perfect, but absolutely worth the journey.
Rating: 4/5

Overall Thoughts

Strengths and Weaknesses

The trilogy’s biggest strengths are its world-building, visual design, and emotional storytelling. Everything feels handcrafted by someone who truly loves fantasy. The only real downside for me was Gollum being more annoying than he was in The Hobbit.

Impact on Reading the Book

These films made me want to read the entire series. From The War of the Rohirrim all the way to the end, I can definitely see myself enjoying the stories in book form too.

Would I Recommend It?

Absolutely. I would recommend watching every movie connected to The Lord of the Rings world. They’re beautifully made films set in a world you can easily spend 20+ hours exploring without getting bored.