The Return of the Quotes Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Released in December 2003, "The Return of the King" brings the film trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" to a truly epic conclusion. The Extended Edition of the movie - running at 200 minutes in the theatrical version - includes about 50 minutes of additional material. Nominated for 11 Academy Awards in 2004, it won all of them - sharing this record of total wins with two other epic blockbusters, "Ben-Hur" (1959) and "Titanic" (1997).

In a bold move, Jackson opens the film with the episode of Sméagol's murder of his friend Déagol after the accidental finding of the One Ring - which in Tolkien's novel is related by Gandalf early in the first book. The pastoral beauty of the river setting makes the violent act and the grotesque transformation of Sméagol into Gollum (Andy Serkis) even more shocking.

After leaving Osgiliath, Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) are led by Gollum towards the sinister Morgul Vale to find a secret way into Mordor. Sam has come upon Gollum having a debate with his alter ego Sméagol and suspects they are being led into a trap. However, Frodo defends Gollum from Sam's attacks and refuses to get rid of him, as he knows they will not be able to enter the Land of Shadow without his help.

When Faramir (David Wenham) returns to Minas Tirith he is berated by his father, Denethor (John Noble) for having left Osgiliath, overrun by Orcs, and not having seized the Ring from Frodo. The tense meeting unfolds in the presence of Pippin (Billy Boyd), who has just been sworn into service to the Steward of Gondor. Hurt by his father's contempt, Faramir accepts the impossible mission of retaking the ruined city. Faramir's grievous wounding in this desperate attempt will eventually cause Denethor to lose his mind.

Accompanied by his faithful friends Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) and Legolas (Orlando Bloom), Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) leaves the Rohirrim camp at Dunharrow and heads for the dreaded Paths of the Dead. There the three encounter the ghosts of men cursed by Isildur to find no rest for breaking their oath to him. Aragorn confronts their king with Andúril, the reforged sword brought to him by Elrond (Hugo Weaving), forcing the king to submit to him.

In one of the film's most epic scenes, the Rohirrim led by King Théoden (Bernard Hill) reach the Pelennor Fields outside the walls of Minas Tirith just as the city is about to fall. Facing Sauron's huge army, Théoden delivers a rousing speech, rattling his sword against his warriors' spears. Then, shouting "Death" in unison, the Rohirrim ride out towards the beleaguered city, mowing down the enemy in their unstoppable charge.

As Minas Tirith's main gate is breached by Grond, the Orc army's gigantic battering ram, chaos spreads within the city walls. Following Denethor's madness and suicide, everything seems lost. While awaiting the final onslaught of the enemy, Gandalf (Ian McKellen) comforts Pippin, afraid of approaching death, with the beautiful words in the quote - which, however, in the books appear at the very end of the story and refer to Frodo's first sight of the Undying Lands across the Sea.

The triumphant ride of the Rohirrim is disrupted by the arrival of the Haradrim mounted on the huge Mûmakil. Things go from bad to worse when the Lord of the Nazgûl lands on the battlefield. In the ensuing chaos and terror, the king of Rohan is mortally injured, crushed by his slain horse. Disguised as a man, Éowyn (Miranda Otto) confronts the undead sorcerer, revealing herself as a woman, and kills him with the help of Merry (Dominic Monaghan). Wounded in the confrontation, she manages to rush to the king's side. Théoden, however, dies in her arms just as Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas with the army of the Dead arrive to save the day.

Despite the victory over Sauron's forces at the Pelennor Fields, the fate of the world is still hanging on Frodo and Sam's mission to Mordor. The leaders of the West decide to make a desperate attempt to divert the Dark Lord's attention from Mount Doom by marching to Mordor's Black Gate and confronting him directly. Before this suicidal attack, Aragorn exhorts the small army, whose courage is flagging, reminding them of what they are fighting for. Then, his sword drawn, he rushes towards the enemy.

Sam and Frodo are slowly and painfully climbing the slopes of Mount Doom. They are out of water and their strength is ebbing. Sam takes Frodo in his arms and tries to comfort him by reminiscing about springtime in their beloved Shire. Frodo, however, is now almost completely in thrall to the Ring, which dominates all his thoughts. Then Sam, despite his own weariness, lifts Frodo over his back and starts crawling again towards the entrance to the Chambers of Fire.

After the destruction of the Ring and Aragorn's coronation, Frodo journeys back home with his three companions. However, he soon realizes that his harrowing experiences have wounded him so deeply that he is unable to fully enjoy his life in the Shire. Unbeknownst to his friends, he decides to leave Middle-earth to find peace in the Undying Lands. When he, Bilbo and Gandalf reach the Grey Havens, they find Elrond, Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) and Celeborn (Marton Csokas) waiting beside the ship that will carry them across the Sea. Anyone with a heart will not fail to be moved by Gandalf's words to the heartbroken Sam, Merry and Pippin before the ship sails into the West.