I’m Sorry, but The Lord of the Rings Movies Turned This Army Into an Overpowered Cheat Code

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Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is widely considered a cinematic masterpiece. For over two decades, these films have set the standard for fantasy movies – and even films in other genres – and they remain impressive today. This success was built on a strong foundation: J.R.R. Tolkien’s original books were themselves brilliant works of literature, providing a fantastic basis for the movies.

Even though many people consider them classics, the Lord of the Rings films aren’t without their faults. While fans readily discuss problems with The Hobbit movies or the show The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, they often treat the original trilogy as flawless. However, the first three films did have weaknesses – for example, one army was depicted as being far too powerful.

The Army of the Dead Was Ridiculously Overpowered

I always loved how in The Return of the King, Aragorn finally steps up and becomes the king he was meant to be! A huge moment for me was when he decided to call on the Army of the Dead – those ghostly Oathbreakers – to help win the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. It felt like such a bold move, and it was essential to defeating Sauron and ultimately winning the war!

Instead of portraying ghosts as realistically as possible, or at least giving them limited powers, The Return of the King goes to extremes. They’re not just unstoppable, but capable of slaughtering huge numbers of enemies – and that’s ultimately how the battle is decided. The army sweeps across the Pelennor Fields and into Minas Tirith, destroying everything in its way.

The movie is fantastic! Many fans of Lord of the Rings even consider The Return of the King to be the best film ever made. However, despite its quality, the army featured felt overwhelmingly powerful. Their presence essentially acted as an easy win, quickly moving the story forward in a way that didn’t feel earned.

The Books Didn’t Have This Problem

Peter Jackson largely remained faithful to the original story, though he did make significant alterations – for example, he removed sections like ‘Fog on the Barrow-downs’ and characters like Tom Bombadil. However, his depiction of the Army of the Dead in The Return of the King represents one of his biggest departures from Tolkien’s writing. The army itself appears in the books and maintains a similar relationship with Aragorn, but Jackson’s portrayal differs considerably.

Unlike the films, Tolkien’s depiction of the Army of the Dead doesn’t portray them as an unstoppable force. They aren’t overwhelmingly powerful or capable of easily defeating enemies. Instead, they function more like traditional ghosts – a frightening presence meant to intimidate rather than physically destroy. This approach makes them feel more believable within the story compared to their portrayal in the movies.

Fans Still Forgive The Movies (And They Should)

Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy remains a landmark achievement in fantasy cinema, but it’s important to acknowledge its imperfections. While minor, the handling of the Army of the Dead stands out as a particular weakness. Making them so overwhelmingly powerful feels like an easy fix, allowing Jackson to avoid a full-scale battle – likely to create space for the film’s extended ending.

Look, as much as I adore The Return of the King, I have to admit there’s a slightly silly part where it feels like the army suddenly becomes unbelievably powerful. Some fans try to handwave that away completely, but most of us just accept it’s a bit over-the-top. Honestly though? It barely matters. The movie is so phenomenal overall that this little thing doesn’t ruin it at all! Plus, Peter Jackson was clearly going for what looked awesome – and I totally get that. We call it the ‘rule of cool’, and in this case, it absolutely works.

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2026-06-14 16:10