Fans flock to heavily anticipated finale of ‘Rings’

BANGOR – For fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, last Wednesday couldn’t have come soon enough.

“I’ve been waiting three years for this,” noted Jason Patterson of Orrington while lined up with his wife, Carrie, for one of the Saturday matinee shows.

“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” set a Wednesday opening record of $34.1 million, according to published reports. The movie also has been doing well locally, generating long lines and long waits for fans of the fantasy series. Two other installments – “The Fellowship of the Ring” and “The Two Towers” – were released in 2001 and 2002.

Dan Pete, manager of Hoyts Cinema near the Bangor Mall, said that since the last installment of the $300 million trilogy was released last week, Hoyts has been offering nine showings a day in three different 220-seat, stadium-style theaters.

“Oh, everybody loves it,” Pete said. As of late Saturday afternoon, he noted, only two shows had not been sold out.

Elmer Nickerson of Belfast was one of the “Rings” fans who dressed up for the occasion. He showed up Saturday in a heavy black wool cape he made himself and has worn to other movie events, among them the earlier installments of Tolkien’s three-parter and “Star Wars.”

According to the Tolkien Society, the trilogy’s plot goes something like this:

In ancient times, the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths. Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him and although he sought it throughout Middle Earth, it remained lost to him.

After a lengthy period, the ring falls into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit. Baggins disappeared on his “eleventy-first” birthday, leaving his young nephew, Frodo, the ring and a dangerous mission – to journey across Middle Earth, deep into the shadow of the Dark Lord and destroy the ring by casting it into the Cracks of Mount Doom.

“The Return of the King” concludes the epic tale and its numerous characters, their relationships and rivalries. It shows that with courage, commitment and determination, even the smallest can change the world in huge ways.

Katie Rydell, 13, of Hermon was among the estimated 2,000 “Rings” fans who have been flocking to Hoyts since the more than three-hour movie came out last week.

“I’m psyched,” said Rydell, while waiting to get into one of the Saturday shows. “My friend saw it opening night. She said it was really good.”

Afterward, Rydell said the movie – with a great “stand-up-and-fight-for-what-you-want” message – was well worth the wait.

“The movie was amazing,” she said when asked for her assessment. “All of the graphics were phenomenal. The spider, Shelob, seemed as alive as Elijah [Frodo].

“Every battle scene had me on the edge of my seat even though I had just read the book and knew every turn,” she said. “The whole movie had my eyes glued to the screen.”

She noted, however, that the movie contained some scenes that probably weren’t appropriate for younger viewers, like her brother.

“One part that gave me the creeps was the Army of the Dead and the close-up of their leader,” she said. “With his bones showing through his translucent skin, he was a sight to give the chills. Other scenes, like the throwing of the heads of the dead Gondor soldiers also squeezed the stomach.”