It's difficult to explain to younger people just what a big deal Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" movies were. What a relief that after two years of waiting, "The Return of the King" was the grand finale it was promised to be.
I enjoyed "The Two Towers" in 2002, although the extended edition on DVD was far better than the cinematic version (we also went to see the Two Towers exhibit at the old McLaughlin Planetarium in Toronto before the show.)
Jackson's conclusion to the film trilogy far exceeded most people's expectations, sweeping the Academy Awards with 11 Oscars, including Best Picture (which remains the most awards ever won by a single film, to date).
I can still remember how spellbound I was, watching Annie Lennox perform "Into the West" at the 2004 Oscars. When I was in high school, I never would have imagined a pop icon such as Lennox singing a song inspired by Tolkien.
A year later, I cradled my newborn son upon my chest as I read "The Silmarillion". When he was old enough, I read him a little part of "The Lord of the Rings" each night before going to bed, for the better part of a year.
Tolkien's masterpiece remains a touchstone of my existence, although I'm not certain when I'll get a chance to read it again. More probably, I will listen to the story as an audiobook, some day. Few tales withstand the test of time, like that.
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