One of the greatest fantasy series of all-time, J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” is often considered one of the most celebrated pieces of literature in modern history. The book’s story beginning with “The Hobbit” and its trilogy for “The Fellowship of the Ring”, “The Two Towers” and “The Return of the King” are read by millions all over the world and has a devoted fan base while rivaling all other books including the recent Harry Potter stories by J.K. Rowling. While Tolkien brought great imagination and stories into the “Lord of the Rings” books, some wondered if it could be transferred into a film. In the late 70s/early 80s, cult animator Ralph Bashki made small animated films on “The Hobbit” and “Lord of the Rings” that got some acclaim from fans but didn’t capture Tolkien’s epic story at its fullest. For many years, many wondered if the “Lord of the Rings” story would ever be made into a film that could truly capture Tolkien’s vision without conforming to the pressures of Hollywood. Finally in the late 1990s, New Line Cinema announced plans to make the film series by having cult New Zealand filmmaker Peter Jackson to helm the project.

The choice for Peter Jackson was a very strange choice since he was known for acclaimed cult masterpieces like “Meet the Feebles”, “Heavenly Creatures”, and “Dead Alive” with only one Hollywood film to his credit, 1996’s “The Frighteners”. Unlike more mainstream directors, Jackson was more devoted to Tolkien’s story as he along with screenwriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens wrote drafts on each of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy stories. The end result was New Line Cinema giving Jackson control as he decided to shoot the film in his home of New Zealand as well as getting a group of respected actors ranging from film veterans Ian Holm, Ian McKellan, John Rhys-Davies and Christopher Lee to such younger stars like Elijah Wood, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Viggio Mortensen, and Sean Bean. The end result is what could possibly one of the greatest film franchises of all-time as it begins with “The Fellowship of the Ring”.

“The Fellowship of the Ring” is where everything begins for the series as a young Hobbit by the name of Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) is set to take a powerful ring of destruction back to its homeland while being pursued by evildoers who want the ring to resurrect its leader Sauron. Along the way, he gets help from his fellow Hobbits, an elf, a dwarf, a wizard, and two humans on a journey to destroy the ring at its homeland. Along the way, Frodo is overcome with the ring’s dark power and is wondering about the quest he is being given. Peter Jackson’s approach to the film remains very true to the book as he brings elements of drama, comedy, fantasy, and action all into one epic proportions. With its brilliant visuals of CGI creations ranging from monsters and characters to its detailed look at the mountainous tone of New Zealand. “The Fellowship of the Ring” is just the beginning of a film trilogy that is so grand; it might even surpass George Luca’s “Star Wars” series.

When the film begins, it doesn’t go into “The Fellowship of the Rings” but it starts out with an introduction about the ring of Sauron (voiced by Sala Baker) who creates a ring that overpowers anything including the ones owned by the people of Middle Earth that included elves, dwarves, and humans. The forces of Middle Earth fight Sauron as Isildur (Harry Sinclair) cuts the ring off of Sauron but is mystified by the ring’s power that unfortunately led to his death and the remaining soul of Sauron still lives. The ring was then found by a creature named Gollum (a CGI-creation voiced by Andy Serkis) who kept it for many years and kept calling it “precious” but the ring abandoned him. Then the most unlikely creature then found the ring, a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm) who kept the rings in the hobbit homeland, the Shire.

The movie now begins with Frodo reading a book in the calm, peaceful area of the Shire as he sees an old wizard named Gandalf (Ian McKellan) arriving in the Shire to meet his old friend Bilbo. Frodo rides with Gandalf in the Shire as the hobbits plan to create a birthday party for Bilbo. Bilbo meanwhile is writing a book and looking at maps as he meets up with Gandalf while trying avoiding relatives. Gandalf shoots fireworks for the parties while having a fun time with the hobbits as Frodo hangs around with his best friend Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) while their troublemaking friends Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) decides to cause trouble with a dragon fireworks. Bilbo is happy with the celebration but decides to leave everyone and he disappears mysteriously in front of the hobbits. Gandalf comes to Bilbo’s home and learns that Bilbo has a mysterious ring that he calls “precious” and it was the thing he used to become invisible. Gandalf threatens Bilbo about the ring and Bilbo decides to leave the ring to Frodo as he leaves the Shire to work on his book alone.

Frodo finds the ring and asks Gandalf where Bilbo went. Gandalf meanwhile is wondering about the ring that he couldn’t touch and learns it’s the ring of Sauron as Frodo wants Gandalf to take it but only Frodo can take it to the land of Mordor, the home of Sauron and his evil creatures. Accidentally eavesdropping was Sam who goes with Frodo to Mordor as Gandalf decides to seek the counsel of old friend and wizard Saruman (Christopher Lee). Gandalf learns that Saruman has an orb that belonged to Sauron and Gandalf tries to flee to save Frodo but he gets into a duel with Saruman as he is taken prisoner. Frodo and Sam walk out of the Shire to meet with Gandalf in a pub for humans where they meet up with Merry and Pippin as they first see Sauron’s evil horsemen. They reach for the pub but Gandalf isn’t there as Frodo learns about the ring’s power as it fell on his finger and he became invisible. A man named Strider (Viggio Mortensen) sees what Frodo has done and has decided to accompany the hobbits out of the land and help them on their way to Mordor.

Unfortunately, the hobbits do have an encounter with the evil horsemen as Frodo gets hit with one of the horsemen’s blade until Strider comes and saves them but Frodo is ill from the sword’s poison. He is near death until an elf Arwen (Liv Tyler) helps Strider and the hobbits as she takes Frodo to her elf settlement of Riverdell while evading the evil Dark Riders. Frodo is saved as he sees Gandalf, who escapes Saruman, and his fellow hobbit friends and Bilbo. Frodo also meets Arwen’s father Elrond (Hugo Weaving). Elrond tells Gandalf about the day of Sauron’s fall as he tells Isildur to drop the ring into Mordor’s volcanic mountain to destroy the ring but Isildur ended up keeping the ring. Meanwhile, Strider is learned to be Aragorn, the last remaining heir of Isildur and a future king, who has fallen for Arwen while meeting with another old friend, a human named Boromir.

Elrond and Gandalf hold a meeting with all representatives of humans, elves, and dwarves about the ring, which is the ring of Sauron that manipulates things for darkness and evil. One of the head dwarves, Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) tries to destroy the ring but it has to be destroyed in the volcanic mountain in Mordor. Boromir wants to use the ring for power but Gandalf refuses as everyone argues on who should take the ring and Frodo decides to bring the ring to Mordor but needed help on the way to Mordor. Aragorn, Boromir, Gandalf, decide to help him along with elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Frodo’s fellow hobbit friends on this quest as the Fellowship finally begins. Bilbo gives Frodo an old shield as he revealed his strange behavior to the ring and is filled with shame on the task Frodo is given.

The Fellowship walk through the treacherous and snowy mountains of Middle Earth as Boromir is seduced by the ring’s dark powers as Aragorn stops him from the ring’s power. Saruman however, creates his army of fellow creatures called Orcs to go after the Fellowship as he tries to stop Gandalf and the Fellowship from going into Mordor as they enter the mines of dwarves and later on reach the elf forest of Lothlorien that is the home of elf queen Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) who takes the Fellowship as she tests herself on the ring’s power as Frodo is becoming more overwhelmed with his own task. Even as tensions ensue, the Fellowship fights Saruman’s army and other huge creatures as the hobbits show their bravery in battle as they can fight with the elves, humans, and dwarves as the quest to return the ring to Mordor ensues.

In a recent extended version of the film shown on Starz, the film really begins in Bilbo’s home as he writes his book and comments on the Shire while that is followed by an extended conversation between Frodo and Gandalf about Bilbo’s behavior as well as the party scene. Also extended is scenes between Sam and Frodo on their way to the pub and later scenes in Lothlorien where Galadriel gives the Fellowship new cloaks and equipment where Legolas eats a piece of elfish bread that is enough to fulfill a man’s stomach where Pippin ate four and got sick. The film’s extended scenes does enhance the film’s greatness.

The length of three hours might seem too much for some moviegoers but on an epic film like “The Fellowship of the Rings” it has to be big in length as well as in presentation and storylines. Fans of the book will enjoy the film’s visuals and script as it is carefully put into detail while remaining true to J.R.R. Tolkien’s vision. Peter Jackson deserves credit for capturing the film’s earthy visuals in its forest and mountain settings of New Zealand as well as the CGI creations that is easily the one of the most visually enticing films of all-time and it is certain that same magic will be brought in the next two films.

The performances of the film is also noting, particularly Elijah Wood’s role as Frodo which is the easily the best film role he did in his young career after being well-known as a child star in movies like “Avalon” and “Forever Young”. Wood’s performance captures the tortured emotions of Frodo as his friends including Sam, who serves as the voice of reason for Frodo that is captured perfectly by Sean Astin; help him especially in a moment where he tells Frodo a promise he made to Gandalf to not leave him. Christopher Lee brings in a great performance as the villainous Saruman that should be added to his resume of great villains while Ian McKellan brings a masterful performance as Gandalf. Veterans Ian Holm and John Rhys-Davies bring out masterful performances in their roles while Viggio Mortensen is a standout as Aragorn who just plays the film’s ultimate bad-*ss while newcomer Orlando Bloom standouts as well as Legolas who rules with his bow and arrow. Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, and Hugo Weaving also deserve praises for their roles as elves while the duo of Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd provide great comic relief in their respective roles as Merry and Pippin. Another actor that should be noted although his role in “The Fellowship of the Ring” is small is Andy Serkis who provides the voice of Gollum while Sean Bean’s performance as the tortured Boromir is captured with brilliance.

“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” is undoubtedly a cinematic masterpiece and a great way to start a new film trilogy that is likely to surpass all. Peter Jackson’s visual presentation is spellbinding with earthy images and great fight scenes while capturing the drama and humor in Tolkien’s classic novel. It’s not surprising that “The Fellowship of the Ring” is currently rated at # 6 in the IMDB website of all-time greatest films with its sequel “The Two Towers” also in the top ten. Brilliant performances, visuals, storylines, and presentation is everything that is wanted in a film based on Tolkien’s novel and Peter Jackson finally made a movie that is worthy of Tolkien’s grand vision. “The Fellowship of the Ring” is easily an artistic achievement that will be hard to live up to.

LOTR Film Reviews:

The Two Towers (2002):

http://www.epinions.com/content_113854811780

The Return of the King (2003):

http://www.epinions.com/content_122758205060


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older