Scenes From The Extended Return Of The King That Made The Movie Way Better

The Return of the King is the epic conclusion to the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. The movie won a whopping 11 Oscars at the 2004 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Director Peter Jackson’s vision of the acclaimed novels by J.R.R. Tolkien paved the way for more high-budget fantasy projects, including The Hobbit film trilogy and Prime Video’s Rings of Power.

With a total runtime of 3 hours and 21 minutes, general audiences might think that The Return of the King is perfect just the way it is. However, obsessive Lord of the Rings enthusiasts know that the extended edition of the movie has even more treasures to uncover. From hilarious comedic beats to favorite moments from the books, the extended edition of The Return of the King makes the viewing experience even better. Here are the best additional scenes from the extended version of Return of the King.

The Drinking Game

Because Dwarves and Elves are notorious for their natural prejudices against one another, the growing friendship between Gimli and Legolas in The Lord of the Rings is a beloved aspect of both the books and the film trilogy. As the movies progress, we see the ways in which the two characters’ contempt for each other turns into a playful rivalry, and finally, a bond of brotherhood.

In The Two Towers extended edition, Legolas and Gimli have a competition to see who can get the most kills during the Battle of Helm’s Deep. Gimli ends up the winner by a single kill – an orc with Gimli’s ax lodged in its skull. During the victory celebration in Théoden’s hall, Gimli then presents a new contest in the extended version of The Return of the King – a drinking contest, of course. As the tankards pile up on the tables, Gimli happily chugs down possibly more than his weight in alcohol. Legolas, meanwhile, also downs his fair share, yet seems to barely be affected.

Hilariously, Eomer watches on in stunned amazement at the two fellowship members, both impressed and horrified by their tolerance and stamina. Eventually, Gimli is the first to succumb to the influence of the drink and passes out, as Legolas declares the game over. The scene is a welcome comedic moment after the grimness of a heavy battle, and it gives viewers another entertaining view of the two favorite characters.

Faramir Bonds With Pippin

Poor Peregrin Took seems to have more than his fair share of troubles in The Lord of the Rings. The hobbit’s curious nature overpowers his common sense, which often earns the ire of a certain powerful wizard. When he looks into the Palantir in The Return of the King, Pippin gains unwanted attention from the Eye of Sauron, forcing him to be relocated to Gondor for protection. He then offers his services to Denethor, a man on the edge of sanity with few redeeming qualities.

In the extended edition, there is a scene with Pippin sitting alone in the palace of Minas Tirith as he contemplates the mess he has gotten himself into. Pippin wonders aloud what someone like him could possibly offer such a great lord of Men, when Faramir enters, having overheard him. Faramir offers encouragement, stating that “a generous deed should not be checked with cold counsel.” Faramir then observes that the Gondorian uniform Pippin wears was his when he was a boy. He confides to Pippin that he believes his brother, Boromir, was a stronger warrior than him. Pippin reassures Faramir that he is also strong, but in a different way.

The scene is a much-needed moment between two characters who are, in many ways, alike. Pippin and Faramir are able to relate to one another in a way that no one else can, since both are plagued with self-doubt and are often the targets of criticism. It also makes the scene when Pippin tries to save Faramir from the flames later in the movie even more powerful.

Gimli In The Lair Of The Dead Army

In The Return of the King. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli must go deep into the mountain to find the Dead Men of Dunharrow – an ancient army that once betrayed the king of Gondor in the distant past. Despite the dangers, Aragorn knows that the spirits will heed the heir of Númenor, and he also knows that the ghost army will turn the tide for their side.

In the extended edition of the movie, the scene is much longer and adds a lot more details. As the three heroes trek through the dark tunnels into the lair of the Dead Men, Gimli becomes more and more spooked by their surroundings. The idea of seeking an army of ghosts for help doesn’t seem to thrill him too much, either. The group find themselves wading through a thick supernatural fog. Green smoke begins to circle them like ghostly hands, and Gimli in particular has a hard time.

As a wisp of smoke approaches him, Gimli gives it the side-eye and tries to blow it off like a pesky fly. Undeterred, the smoke continues to pester him, and his blowing gets more frantic, combined with swatting his hand at the mist, until he nearly goes cross-eyed with the effort of keeping the ethereal fog at bay. Though it’s only a brief gag, it’s a hilarious one.

Faramir Comforts Eowyn

The shield-maiden of Rohan, Eowyn’s story is rife with both triumph and heartbreak. Her unrequited love for Aragorn is just a small part of her tale, and though some fans may have wished for Aragorn and Eowyn to end up together, it just wasn’t meant to be.

In The Return of the King, Aragorn makes it clear once and for all that he does not love Eowyn. However, a scene in the extended version offers the promise of a romantic relationship for Eowyn in the future. After the Battle of Pelennor Fields, Eowyn recovers from her injuries in the House of Healing. There she meets Faramir, who comes upon her as she gazes through a window. Troubled, Eowyn remarks to Faramir that the sun has no warmth, and she feels cold. This is clearly a metaphor for Eowyn’s depression, yet Faramir assures her that the cold is just the precursor to the first rain of spring. The two hold hands while gazing into each other’s eyes, and Eowyn lays her head on Faramir’s shoulder.

In the original novel, it is also hinted that Eowyn and Faramir get together. The idea of Eowyn finding happiness with another man is a comforting thought for fans of the character, although some may speculate that she is simply settling for Faramir. Either way, the scene sparks hope for both characters, that one day they will be able to move on to a brighter future.

The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings is one of the most iconic names in entertainment. The franchise started with novels from J. R. R. Tolkien before being adapted onto the big screen by Peter Jackson in one of the most critically-acclaimed film trilogies of all time. There have also been numerous The Lord of the Rings video games of varying quality. 

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