“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001)

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Grade: A+

More imaginative than Star Wars, more magical than Harry Potter and more intricate than Game of Thrones, Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is truly the greatest fantasy epic ever put to film, and The Fellowship of the Ring stands out as the best movie among equals. A few more notes on The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (DISCLAIMER – I’m reviewing the theatrical version of the film):

Directing:

Peter Jackson uses too many slo-mo shots (anytime a character gets hurt or dies), and his use of CGI is occasionally over the top (blue Galadriel makes us cringe rather than cower in fear as intended). But these are just nitpickings. Through beautiful natural scenery and impressive costume design, Jackson brings Middle Earth to life, from The Shire to Rivendell to the Bridge at Khazad-dûm. His vision is engrossing and all-encompassing — despite being a high fantasy taking place in a mythical land, there’s nary a single frame that feels fake. It’s as engrossing as J.R.R. Tolkien’s original book, maybe even more so.

Acting:

Every member of the Fellowship is perfectly cast, though some are better actors than others. For instance, Elijah Wood and Viggo Mortensen are highly believable as reluctant heroes with crosses to bear and agony to display. Meanwhile, all Orlando Bloom has to do is look handsome and shoot arrows. But because the story is so finely detailed and adventurous, every character takes on a life of their own. And in a story with so many characters, it’s remarkable that each hobbit, elf, dwarf, wizard and man is so clearly defined.

Writing:

Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is a very faithful adaptation of Tolkien’s 1954-55 series of novels, which is perhaps the greatest story ever told. That’s why the undertaking is such an impressive balancing act — it’d be a disaster if the tale fell into the wrong hands, but the tale will practically tell itself if done right. Jackson trims some of the fat (unfortunately, no Tom Bombadil) and helps make the mythology easily digestible without ever clearly devolving into exposition. We’re entranced from opening narration to closing dialogue.

Music:

Just like John Williams did with Star Wars, Howard Shore composes a memorable orchestral soundtrack that perfectly covers the action and emotion depicted onscreen and also stands by itself as a great piece of classical music. It’s one of the best film scores of the modern era.

Ending (SPOILERS):

At the end, The Fellowship is broken, and all factions go their separate ways (and won’t see each other again until the end of The Return of the King). Despite the disbandment, the conclusion of the film is emotionally uplifting and inspirational, with Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee (and even Boromir) providing the audience hope in the face of impossible circumstance — a perfect segue to the next chapter, while also doing a fine job as a standalone conclusion.

“One does not simply walk into Mordor.” – Boromir

Why The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring gets an A+:

Nothing says “pure cinema” like an all-encompassing fantasy epic. For three hours, we’re whisked away to a fictional world that is unlike anything in movie history. In its attention to detail and epic storytelling, The Fellowship of the Ring is the most immersive film ever made.

Accolades:

Colin’s Review Best Films of the 2000s

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