The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the Earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it...."

In this first instalment in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy (based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic masterpiece), director Peter Jackson has brought to life one of the most intricate fantasy worlds ever conceived. The result is an absolute visual spectacle, bound to impress even the harshest of critics. Released in 2001, the film boasts an all-star cast, including Elijah Wood as hobbit Frodo Baggins and Ian McKellen in the role of the wandering wizard Gandalf. 

When Frodo Baggins inherits a mysterious golden ring from his uncle Bilbo, he soon discovers that his ring is actually the One, forged by the dark lord Sauron long ago and the source of all his power. Accompanied by a fellowship led by the wizard Gandalf, Frodo must now embark on a seemingly hopeless mission: to find the fires of Mount Doom in the Enemy’s land—the only place where the ring can be destroyed and Sauron defeated once and for all. The question is: will he succeed? 

Using the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand, the film is set in the fantasy world of Middle-earth—a realm populated by all sorts of races and beings, from tall, immortal Elves to hairy-footed little Hobbits. The soundtrack is beautifully composed by Howard Shore and the awe-inspiring production design sends Tolkien’s story leaping off the pages. Moreover, you can expect some spell-binding performances from across the cast—all made possible through the wonderfully adapted screenplay which, despite some minor changes here and there, remains pretty faithful to Tolkien’s original source material.

To conclude, I would highly recommend The Fellowship of the Ring. I think it embodies everything that you could possibly want in a fantasy film. It’s an outstanding production which manages to find a perfect balance between action and emotion. Overall, a superb adaptation of a timeless epic that will have you hooked from beginning till end.

So begins The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, directed by Peter Jackson and based on the book of the same name by J. R. R. Tolkien. The first installment of the famous Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring is set in the fantasy realm of Middle-Earth, where the races of Men, Elves, Dwarves, and little people known as Hobbits live among each other. However, the race of Men is in decline with no king to rule, and tensions have risen between Elves and Dwarves. The Hobbits live in peace in the Shire, and they (mostly) keep to themselves. But all of these races must unite when a long-believed-dead ancient evil rises once again: the Dark Lord Sauron, ruler of the fiery lands of Mordor.

FotR is centered around Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), a Hobbit who lives a peaceful life in the Shire with his uncle Bilbo (Ian Holm) and his friends Samwise "Sam" Gamgee (Sean Astin), Peregrin "Pippin" Took (Billy Boyd), and Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck (Dominic Monaghan). Together with his fellow Hobbits and the wizard Gandalf (Ian Mckellen), Frodo begins a long, torturous journey to Mount Doom, a dangerous volcano deep in Mordor, to destroy the ancient One Ring, the source of Sauron's power. Other cast members include Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn, Liv Tyler as Arwen, Orlando Bloom as Legolas, John Rhys-Davies as Gimli, Cate Blanchett as Galadrial, Sean Bean as Boromir, Christopher Lee as Saruman, Hugo Weaving as Elrond, and Andy Serkis in a brief appearance as Gollum.

I'll be honest and say that I hadn't seen any of the LotR movies until a year ago, and I've never even read a page of Tolkien's works. However, these films are quite entertaining, and they hold a special place in the hearts of many people. A little refresher course for newcomers: the whole trilogy was filmed back-to-back in New Zealand over several years, and production had begun even years before then. Peter Jackson and his team went to great pains to make these films a faithful adaptation of Tolkien's text, and it comes through in each frame of this trilogy. The costumes are beautifully detailed/handmade, the weapons are real, and a vast majority of the locations, such as Rivendell, Amon Hen, Lothlorien, and the Shire, were filmed in real places in New Zealand. It's also noteworthy to mention that very little CGI was used, mainly as a last resort. And while some of the visual effects show their seams, they largely hold up, especially when it comes to the Balrog in Moria.

Also deserving of praise is the music composed and conducted by Howard Shore. From the opening notes that play over the beginning logos to the main theme of the film, Shore does a bang-up job of capturing this fantasy realm and its inhabitants. Without giving much away, a personal favorite track of mine would be the music that plays after the Fellowship escapes Moria and they've just lost a comrade; the choir that plays in the background along with the soft instruments really bring you into the pain and sadness of such a terrible loss.

The performances in this film are also worthy of mention. Wood perfectly captures a bright-eyed Hobbit being thrust into a high-stakes adventure, and he has a great dynamic with everybody around him, especially McKellen and Astin. Speaking of which, McKellen sells Gandalf as an aloof, goofy wizard with knowledge and wisdom beyond his years, while Astin perfectly conveys Sam's initial bumbling demeanor and later bravery as he resolves to help Frodo in his quest. Mortensen is more calm and reserved as heir to the throne of Men, but with a strong moral compass. Bloom and Rhys-Davies fill their respective roles as Legolas and Gimli quite well, and Bean's conflicted performance as Boromir makes the ending of the film all the more impactful.

Give the trilogy a watch, and I hope you enjoy it as much as countless others.