THE LORD OF THE RINGS:
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
dir: Peter Jackson
"A new ring was made. In the land of Mordor, in the fires of Mount Doom, the Dark Lord Sauron forged in secret, a master ring, to control all others. And into this ring he poured all his cruelty, his malice and his will to dominate all life. One ring to rule them all." - Galadriel
Brief Synopsis
In a quiet place called the Shire, an innocent Hobbit named Frodo becomes the owner of a ring so powerful a war is fought for it's discovery, he and his companions embark on a quest to destroy it.
Why It's Here
The all-time classic novel trilogy seemed impossible to correctly bring to screen. When it was announced that a relatively unknown director named Peter Jackson would be simultaneously filming all three novels on a huge budget, there was large room for failure. However, when "The Fellowship of the Ring" was released, all those fears were put to ease. It would not be a disastrous project, but instead introduce one of the greatest trilogies ever made.
"The Fellowship of the Ring" is able to feel epic and vast with a wide array of places explored, however behind the brilliant sets, costumes, and groundbreaking CGI, Peter Jackson's devotion to the material allowed for the film to be powerfully personal. Strong characters support the larger-than-life adventure and bring gravity to the epic feature. Sean Astin and Elijah Wood were overshadowed during the awards season, however it's their amazing on-screen relationship that makes the trilogy powerful. As well, Howard Shore created a classic score that complimented the actors, each brilliantly bringing to life the characters that generations of fans have loved.
This film, above the others, is fantastic for being our first taste of Middle-Earth. It set a standard for the next films to follow and amazed audiences, where as the sequels were unlucky to have this sense of awe already spoiled. The characters are represented well as already mentioned, but it's the villains that are the ones difficult to forget. The vast towering Eye of Sauron, the wicked Saruman and the unforgettable, demonic Balrog are so amazingly realized that it's almost unbelievable that a fantasy film like this was even able to be created. The talent and crew in every aspect of the film is top-notch, no expense spared. Perhaps the single greatest reason why "Fellowship" is the trilogies strong point is the concept of the fellowship itself. Where in the other films, the group is seperated, in the first feature they are united. Acting as a single unit each character serves his own purpose and is an equally important contribution to the group. Frodo, being the ring-bearer is the most important and each of his fellow adventurers offer him wisdom, protection, and friendship, themes that are comforting to the audience as well as Frodo, helping him resist his temptations towards the ring.
A film of such vast fantasy, "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy reintroduced a quality of filmmaking that seemed lost, a certain magic that ignites the experience and makes this film just as much of a masterpiece and classic as the book that inspired it.
"The Fellowship of the Ring" is able to feel epic and vast with a wide array of places explored, however behind the brilliant sets, costumes, and groundbreaking CGI, Peter Jackson's devotion to the material allowed for the film to be powerfully personal. Strong characters support the larger-than-life adventure and bring gravity to the epic feature. Sean Astin and Elijah Wood were overshadowed during the awards season, however it's their amazing on-screen relationship that makes the trilogy powerful. As well, Howard Shore created a classic score that complimented the actors, each brilliantly bringing to life the characters that generations of fans have loved.
This film, above the others, is fantastic for being our first taste of Middle-Earth. It set a standard for the next films to follow and amazed audiences, where as the sequels were unlucky to have this sense of awe already spoiled. The characters are represented well as already mentioned, but it's the villains that are the ones difficult to forget. The vast towering Eye of Sauron, the wicked Saruman and the unforgettable, demonic Balrog are so amazingly realized that it's almost unbelievable that a fantasy film like this was even able to be created. The talent and crew in every aspect of the film is top-notch, no expense spared. Perhaps the single greatest reason why "Fellowship" is the trilogies strong point is the concept of the fellowship itself. Where in the other films, the group is seperated, in the first feature they are united. Acting as a single unit each character serves his own purpose and is an equally important contribution to the group. Frodo, being the ring-bearer is the most important and each of his fellow adventurers offer him wisdom, protection, and friendship, themes that are comforting to the audience as well as Frodo, helping him resist his temptations towards the ring.
A film of such vast fantasy, "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy reintroduced a quality of filmmaking that seemed lost, a certain magic that ignites the experience and makes this film just as much of a masterpiece and classic as the book that inspired it.