This is in reply to 'About the endings'. You are so right. The movie had to show the sadness of the passing of elves and wizards and magic from Middle Earth. The time of Man had come, and how diminished it would be without all the beings that once shared Middle Earth with men.

I was disapointed not to see the four hobbits cleanse the Shire of Grima Wormtongue and his minions. I, for one, wouldn't have minded sitting there for another 1/2 hour.