*If in the course of reviewing this and the other two movies, I’m unable to convey how incredible The Lord of the Rings is, I will consider it a personal failure.*
FINALLY! I get to talk about this trilogy! Deadline recently reported that Amazon and Warner Bros are in talks for a T.V. adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. While I’m not on board with that, I do get an excuse to review this amazing series. The first installment of Peter Jackson’s epic high fantasy saga debuted on December 19th, 2001. Costing $93 million to make, it went on to earn over $871 million worldwide along with dozens of accolades. Originally to be made by Miramax, the film was meant to be a two-part series, before internal pressure moved down into just one movie. God knows the neutered version we would have gotten, but New Line Cinema was shown a 35-minute concept video. Afterwards, after the executive asked why there weren’t 3 movies, the whole trilogy was moving forward. Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s celebrated novel and set in the fictitious landscape of Middle-Earth, the story centers on a mysterious Ring of Power. According to legend, the Dark Lord Sauron poured all his contempt for life and will to dominate into the Ring, which has since been in the possession of a Hobbit named Bilbo Baggins for 60 years. When it’s adopted by Bilbo’s nephew Frodo, it’s revealed that Sauron’s power is regrowing for another assault on the world. Now, with the help of a Fellowship of 9 companions, he must set off on a quest to destroy the Ring by throwing into the very place it was created: Mount Doom in the heart of Mordor. This is probably going to sound insane, but I’d just like to put this out there: I have seen this movie more times than the original Star Wars trilogy. And that’s REALLY saying something. And it’s not just a piece of childhood nostalgia that I like to wrap myself in a blanket with. I have rewatched each film at least once a year and find more things to appreciate about it as an adult. And all these years later, I still love them. The first one is basically a masterpiece, and they came swinging out the gate with the trilogy. This time around, I tried to block out every memory I had of this film. I’ve memorized virtually everything; the dialogue, the music, the action. On this rewatch, I decided to try and watch the film with as much objectivity as I could, as if I were watching it for the first time. And what I noticed is how natural the worldbuilding is. Within the first 30 minutes, we learn everything needed to know about the history of the Ring through a brilliantly narrated prologue and get a glimpse of the rest of the world through The Shire. But halfway through, the titular Fellowship hasn’t even formed yet. You’re just appreciating all the awe-inspiring storytelling and character development. Growing up himself in the role of Frodo, Elijah Wood is fantastic as the leader of the massive ensemble. He shows a naive resilience to the corruption of the One Ring of Power. By his side for almost the entire movie is Sean Astin as Samwise Gamgee, a humble and caring gardener Hobbit. Never afraid to share his true feelings, he also proves himself adept at combat with nothing but a frying pan. Meanwhile, Aragorn is given an excellent introduction with Viggo Mortensen dominating the role. Apparently brought in at the last minute, his arc is extremely important and you really grow to care about him. But Sir Ian McKellen steals the show here as Gandalf the Grey. An eons-old Wizard, the Oscar-nominated performance sees him trading Old Toby with ass-kicking in just a scene. Meanwhile, from a technical standpoint, Fellowship is absolutely breathtaking. Filmed in Jackson’s home country of New Zealand, every single location is utterly gorgeous to look at. Thanks to both the outstanding production design and the swooping cinematography by Andrew Lesnie, we get the entire scope of Middle-Earth just through the camera. Even the Hobbits and Dwarves are shortened using old-fashioned cropping tricks with the editing. Conceptual artists John Howe and Alan Lee clearly knew what they were doing when they had signed on. Meanwhile, the special effects are simply awesome. Then-emerging company Weta Digital put themselves on the map with huge battle setpieces and glorious creature designs that are ingrained in my eternal memory. Though some may complain that they look dated today, I still believe they are as convincing as they were the first time I watched it. They integrate perfectly with the beautiful costumes by Ngila Dickson and Richard Taylor. I’ve waxed poetic about this film and not even mentioned the musical score by Howard Shore. Quite possibly the best soundtrack of 21st-century cinema thus far, the composer uses a full orchestra and choir to his best advantage. Whether it’s the eery strings regarding the history of the One Ring or the bright and homely woodwind of “Concerning Hobbits,” you can feel a true sense of immersion and worldbuilding through the music alone. It also features a song in the end credits by Enya called “May it Be,” which, like many other vocal tracks, utilizes lyrics written in various forms of Elvish. I genuinely can’t express to you how happy I feel every time I put the soundtrack on, whether it’s in the background or the foreground. What Peter Jackson accomplished with this movie, many considered impossible or “unfilmable.” He took a beloved novel and transformed it into a tangible fantasy world with fully realized characters and a clear mythology that was accessible. It’s the type of movie that Hollywood had never made before, nor is it ever likely to make again. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a monumental achievement of literary magic and cinematic art. Tolkien himself likely would have been proud, even if his son Christopher wasn’t.
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