The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Sauron's forces have laid siege to Minas Tirith, the capital of Gondor, in their efforts to eliminate the race of men. The once-great kingdom, watched over by a fading steward, has never been in more desperate need of its king. But can Aragorn answer the call of his heritage and become what he was born to be? In no small measure, the fate of Middle-earth rests on his broad shoulders. With the final battle joined and the legions of darkness gathering, Gandalf urgently tries to rally Gondor's broken army to action. He is aided by Rohan's King Theoden, who unites his warriors for history's biggest test. Yet even with their courage and passionate loyalty, the forces of men--with Eowyn and Merry hidden among them--are no match for the enemies swarming against Gondor. Still, in the face of great losses, they charge forward into the battle of their lifetimes, tied together by their singular goal to keep Sauron distracted and give the Ring Bearer a chance to complete his quest. Their hopes rest with Frodo, a tiny but determined hobbit making a perilous trip across treacherous enemy lands to cast the One Ring into the fires of Mount Doom. The closer Frodo gets to his final destination, the heavier his burden becomes and the more he must rely on Samwise Gamgee. Gollum--and the Ring itself--will test Frodo's allegiances and, ultimately, his humanity.
Also Known As:
Lord of the Rings 3
Part Three: The Return of the King
Tales of Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: The Return of the King
The Return of the King
Production Status:
Released
Genres:
Action/Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Adaptation and Sequel
Running Time:
3 hrs. 20 min.
Release Date:
December 17th, 2003
MPAA Rating:
PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and frightening images.
Distributors:
New Line Cinema
Production Co.:
WingNut Films
Studios:
New Line Cinema
Financiers:
Hannover Leasing
U.S. Box Office:
$376,853,002
Filming Locations:
Wellington, New Zealand
New Zealand
Produced in:
United States

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

The galaxy is weary after three long years of war. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi have become legendary heroes in their campaigns against the droid forces of the evil General Grievous. Anakin and his secret wife, Padme Amidala, have been separated for months, and he finally reunites with her to learn that she is pregnant. He is plagued by visions of her dying in childbirth, haunting images of a possible future. Anakin is determined to stop her from dying--no matter the cost. This leads Anakin down a dark path to commit terrible deeds. Obi-Wan Kenobi must face his former apprentice in a ferocious lightsaber duel on the fiery world of Mustafar.
Also Known As:
Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars Episode 3
Production Status:
Released
Genres:
Action/Adventure, Science Fiction/Fantasy and Sequel
Running Time:
2 hrs. 22 min.
Release Date:
May 19th, 2005
MPAA Rating:
PG-13 for sci-fi violence and some intense images.
Distributors:
20th Century Fox
Production Co.:
JAK Productions, Lucasfilm, Ltd.
U.S. Box Office:
$380,262,555
Filming Locations:
Sydney, Australia
Guilin, China
Mt Etna, Italy
Grindelwald, Switzerland
Phuket, Thailand
Tozeur, Tunisia
England
Produced in:
United States

Spider-Man (2002)

Orphaned at an early age, Peter Parker lives in Queens, New York with his beloved Aunt May and Uncle Ben. Peter leads the life of a normal student, working as a photographer at the school paper, pining after the beautiful Mary Jane Watson and hanging out with buddy Harry Osborn. On a school trip, during which Peter and his classmates are given a science demonstration on arachnids, Peter is bitten by a genetically-altered spider. Soon after, he discovers that he has unusual powers: he is endowed with the strength and agility of a spider along with a keen, ESP-like "spider-sense." Peter first uses his powers to make money, but in the face of a tragedy that hits close to home, he vows to dedicate his life to fighting crime, taking to heart the words of his beloved Uncle Ben: "With great power comes great responsibility." Meanwhile, megalomaniacal businessman Norman Osborn, Harry's father, is undergoing some changes of his own. An experimental formula has gone awry, increasing his intelligence and strength but also driving him insane. He is now the Green Goblin, Spider-Man's arch enemy, who will put young Peter Parker's vow to fight crime and help innocent people to the ultimate test.
Also Known As:
Spider Man
Spiderman
Production Status:
Released
Genres:
Action/Adventure, Science Fiction/Fantasy and Adaptation
Running Time:
2 hrs. 1 min.
Release Date:
May 3, 2002 Nationwide
MPAA Rating:
PG-13 for stylized violence and action.
Distributors:
Sony Pictures International, Sony Pictures Releasing
Production Co.:
Laura Ziskin Productions, Marvel Studios
Sony Pictures Imageworks, Inc.
Studios:
Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group
U.S. Box Office:
$403,706,375
Filming Locations:
New York, New York, USA
Los Angeles, California, USA
Culver City, California, USA
Produced in:
United States