Superlatives and sniffles over last 'Rings' instalment

By NATASHA HARRIS

Tissues were everywhere last night as Auckland staged Australasia's first public screening of The Return of the King.

Nearly 500 people turned up to Skycity Theatre for a charity screening in central Auckland, paying $100 a ticket, with one man describing it as the best movie he'd ever seen.

"I thought it was fantastic, I don't think Peter Jackson could have done it any better. It's the best movie I've ever seen," said Richard Gill of Ellerslie.

Sniffing and clutching a tissue, Devonport resident Lauren Sleeman said the movie was a masterpiece.

"I'm a bit overwhelmed ... "

Hillsborough resident Laura Van der Kley said she had cried through half the movie. "It was amazing, it was everything I expected and more."

One person who had more to crow about than everyone else was self-confessed "big LOTR fan" Chris Latimer, who won a replica sword used by Strider (Aragorn), played by Viggo Mortensen in the trilogy.

Mr Latimer was all smiles when he went on the stage to collect the sword, made by special effects company Weta Workshop and engraved with director Peter Jackson's signature.

Money raised by the event goes towards completing the heart unit at the Starship children's hospital.

Regular screenings of the movie started at 12.01 this morning.

* The Return Of The King opens in New Zealand theatres today

Herald Feature: Lord of the Rings