Top 12 Stories of 2003:

#9: The greatest movie trilogy of all time comes to an end

Thinking back to almost four years ago, when the first teaser trailer for the films showed a fellowship of two men, a wizard, an elf, a dwarf and four hobbits crossing the top of a mountain, is almost surreal. How a simple journey blossomed into an epic battle between good and evil, as presented in Return of the King, is quite awe-inspiring, especially considering that the other trilogy that concluded this year went out with such a whimper.

There is no doubt that Return of the King is the event movie of the year. Financially, it will end up being one of the most successful franchises in history. This success will likely be punctuated with some very well-deserved Oscars at the 2004 ceremony. As a body of work, Lord of the Rings has taken on its own legend; the stories of how the films were made and how much work went into all of them received as much press as the films did.

Ultimately, the experience of The Lord of the Rings will stand the test of time because it will likely never be repeated. Peter Jackson caught lightning in a bottle as fate conspired to bring together the right story, the right cast, the right creative forces and the right technology to create something incredibly special. When Return of the King finally leaves theatres in the spring of 2004, cinemas across the world will say goodbye to what will likely be remembered as the most unique, powerful and endearing overall film experience of our generation. (Walid Habboub/BOP)

The Top 12 Stories of 2003: