What's the difference between a story and a plot?
To answer that let's take a look at The Return of The King.
BOMBASTIC MUSIC
FINALE OF BOMBASTIC MUSIC
As far as Academy Award statistics go, The Return of The King is still the King.
It won all 11 categories it was nominated for. Tying with Ben Hur and Titanic as the most awarded film in history.
And there's probably not a single other film that so frequently puts me in man tears.
(Sobs)
But while I could talk for literally the entire length of The Lord of The Rings about the incredible score,
the interesting characters, the compelling story,
the stunning cinematography, the suspenseful battles and the big emotional moments.
SAM: "I can't carry it for you...
but I can carry you! Come on!"
I want to focus in on a frequent criticism of the film:
that the ending is too long.
Because I think that the ending of The Return of the King is one of the most brilliant aspects of the entire trilogy.
And that's because it becomes more about story, than it does about plot.
Put simply the plot is just all the stuff that happens.
The story is what that stuff is actually about.
And the Lord of the Rings is a very plot-heavy narrative. Characters are constantly moving from place to place,
there's always a battle being fought somewhere, and there are frequent debates over which direction to go in.
FRODO: "Are you saying there's another way into Mordor?"
GIMLI: "We could pass through the mines of Moria."
MUSIC, GANDALF IS SILENT
BOROMIR: "One does not simply walk into Mordor."
This is just the necessary things that need to happen in order to tell the story.
What The Lord of The Rings is actually about:
is resisting the temptation of power, the unbreakable bond of friendship,
overcoming isolationism, etc., etc.
Themes define the story.
Another thing that defines a story is when characters make decisions that change who they are as a person.
And not every decision is like this.
When Frodo decides to go through Moria instead of over the mountain, that's just a plot point.
It doesn't feed into the greater themes of the story.
But when Frodo decides to NOT destroy the Ring, THAT is story.
So with that in mind, let's take a look at the ending of the film.
Now, if I asked you when the climax of the story is, I think most people would agree:
it's when the ring is destroyed, right?
But what I'd argue is: that's the climax of the plot.
The climax of the story happens much, much later.
Okay, so ending number 1: Sauron and all of his armies are defeated,
but even when he is announcing his victory, Frodo isn't jubilant, he's relieved, but he's not smiling.
FRODO: "It's done."
Because he's confused and partially longing for the Ring, while regretting not having the strength to destroy it.
He is inwardly conflicted.
If I had to give him an emoji right now, it'd be this one.
He then imagines The Shire, which is something he was unable to do before the Ring was destroyed.
But he speaks about it as a distant dream, a past version of it,
the natural environment only and not the people in it.
In contrast: Sam is thinking about a future there, the wife he would want to have.
This sets up a wedge that is driven between these two characters in the final act of the story.
Ending number 2: Frodo is reunited with the rest of the Fellowship.
This scene allows the audience to remember the time they spent with these characters.
But it's also here for another reason.
When Frodo wakes up, he celebrates,
but this is immediately undercut when Sam enters the room, bringing Frodo back to reality.
The jubilation... fades.
Ending number 3: Aragorn is crowned King, reunites with Arwen
And then we get this line:
ARAGORN: "You bow to no one." MUSIC SWELLS
But notice the expressions on the Hobbits faces.
Merry and Pippin are smiling while Sam and Frodo look uncomfortable,
as if the admiration of the world is undeserved.
Ending number 4: the Hobbits return to the Shire.
And while its exactly the same, THEY have changed.
This is actually why I like that Jackson left out "The Scouring of The Shire" chapter from the book.
In that chapter, the Hobbits discover that Saruman and Wormtongue had taken over the Shire, and have to fight to get it back.
But part of the reason the Shire works so well, is that it represents purity.
Its almost supernaturally separated from the events of the rest of the world,
and that shows in these last few scenes.
We cut to Sam's wedding, and once again we see Frodo's happiness undercut by remembrances of what happened on Mount Doom.
If you're keeping score, that's the third time this has happened.
The third time the story continues to develop, even while the plot is wrapping up.
Soon after he's reunited with Bilbo, and is reminded that Bilbo did not truly defeat the Ring either.
BILBO (WEARY): "Any chance of seeing that old Ring of mine again?"
Frodo doesn't laugh like the audience does,
because its a reminder to him that he may have to carry his wounds around until he is as old and frail as Bilbo.
Then here's another tearjerker:
SAM, IN TEARS: "You can't leave!"
Which is soon followed by the true climax of the story.
STRINGS PLAY MELANCHOLY
STRINGS SWELLING WITH FEELING
Did you see it? Frodo smiles.
THAT is the climax of his character arc and the climax of the story itself.
Remember: Frodo failed to let go of the Ring, back on Mount Doom.
Sauron was defeated, but the Ring was not.
The world was saved, but Frodo was not.
Only when Frodo steps aboard the ship to the Grey Havens, is the influence of the Ring finally defeated within himself.
And if we define the main story of The Lord of The Rings as Frodo's quest to destroy the Ring,
then this is when that goal is ultimately achieved.
So, why does this matter?
Well, firstly because the ending truly would be unbearably long without this underlying story.
It literally would just be: "And then they walked home."
But more importantly: the separation of the plot and story climaxes
teaches a few pretty important lessons when it comes to writing.
1: The story is more important.
I don't know about you guys, but this moment is another one of those scenes that...
MELANCHOLY MUSIC
The shot when the ring is destroyed? Not so much.
Oh, sure, it's cathartic to see the characters accomplish what they've been trying to do for 14 hours.
But it doesn't hit you in the feels, that's because it's plot.
The story moments are what the audience will truly remember.
But lesson 2:
separating the two climaxes isn't always going to work.
The Lord of The Rings is in a bit of a bind here.
There is simply so much plot to wrap up that it needs to have five different endings.
So in this case, having a story-thread run through them, is a good idea.
It changes what the entire film is about.
It's not just about the battle, but about what happens to those who fought, after the war.
It's basically the Hurt Locker, before the Hurt Locker was.
But I still can't ignore that most people's reaction to the ending was: "End already!"
And while I think a lot of that might have to do with how these scenes are filmed:
They're almost entirely in slow motion with REALLY long takes.
Part of that reaction is because of the separation of the plot and story climaxes.
Ideally you want to have those two climaxes hit the audience like a one-two punch, almost in the same moment.
CUTTING SOUND, OLIPHAUNT FALLS
The original Star Wars probably has the best example of this.
Luke relies on the Force instead of on technology. That's the story climax,
and about two seconds later...
LASERS FIRE
HEAVY BREATHING
BIG EXPLOSION
So when you're writing your eventual Best Picture winner:
Make sure you know what your story is, and what your plot is.
And think carefully on how you write the climaxes for both of them.
But personally speaking, I adore the ending of The Return of The King,
because it remains about the characters, right up to the very last shot.
And that is just one of the reasons it is one of the best pictures ever made.
OUTRO MUSIC
Thanks for watching everyone! Make sure to subscribe for more lessons from the Best Pictures.
Next Wednesday: I'll be covering Million Dollar Baby.
And if you liked The Lord of The Rings but hated The Hobbit,
check out this video series I did on why The Hobbit sucks.
And leave me your own rants in the comments about something that stuck out about the movie for you.
But until next time, I've got to get a few figure eights in before chow!
OUTRO MUSIC
FILMREEL BEEP
BOING
Which elf started Scientology in Middle Earth?
Elrond Hubbard?
EXPLOSION
How do you confuse a Dwarf?
Offer him two shovels and tell him to take his pick.
HELMET THUDS