The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Every once in a while there comes along a film, or even a series, that changes the definition of what it means to be a movie. One that just sings along in such a grandiose manner that audiences can't help but be swept up by it, no matter the subject. 

Star Wars was a prime example of this phenomenon and it began one of the most creatively rich and enticing worlds/galaxies in storytelling history. 

For years though, decades even, not many films could get close to the level of escapism and sheer wonderment that franchise was able to capture, particularly in it's first introductory film. Or either that, their attempts resulted in movies that just weren't as good. 

But then, in 2001, in a reeling, post-9/11 world, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring started an entirely new franchise and for many, that film, that iconic piece of culture had been laid bare. Being in 6th grade I was of course too young to recognize the film's impact outside of, "Those fight scenes were so freaking cool!", and it was still too early to understand it's impact on history either. I've seen it several times since then, but the other night I deliberately set out to watch it, the Extended Edition I might add, with the intent to measure it on a grander scale, asking the question:

Most unrealistic part about LotR?
How this ring falls on Frodo's finger.
It defies physics!

Is this one of the most iconic films of all time?

I came away with an unequivocal "absolutely yes", but I was surprised by another conclusion that I stumbled upon at the same time: The Fellowship of the Ring is the best starting film to a trilogy, ever. And yes, I'd say even better than A New Hope. And just when I thought I ran out of conclusions to make about the film, I realized: this is my favorite of the trilogy. Sure, each film has its own selling point. The Two Towers has the exquisite Helm's Deep battle, while the scale of Return of the King is unrivaled, but as a complete tale and one that expertly delivers us from moment to moment, The Fellowship is unrivaled. 

Given the years it's been since the release of the film and the fact that most everyone knows it, I won't give any plot synopsis here, but what it boils down to is that this is Part I of III of one of the greatest literary stories ever told by J.R.R. Tolkien. Each character has their place and feels well rounded while the world itself is grand on a scale that, at the time of his books, was completely unrivaled. It's so rich in lore and mythology that there's even a 15-20 minute background sequence to get the whole film started and explain the rings of power. Some may complain about what was left out or where the film decided to end, but I am in firm agreement that, given the bulk of these novels, director Peter Jackson and Co. made the best possible decisions here. 

It may not mean much given the lack of competition, but
definitely one of the best horse chases ever.

I'd have loved to been a fly on the wall when the idea of making a Lord of the Rings trilogy on this scale was proposed. Cemented fairly deep in nerd culture, I wonder if the execs really thought it could be successful and earn back its budget. Of course, the rest is history as the trilogy went on to be uber-successful, but still...I can imagine it felt like a bit of a gamble, especially with a "new" director behind the chair too. What we're left with is a film that's so magnificently crafted, obviously by someone who understands the source material, that it truly transports us to Middle-Earth. It helps that New Zealand is the greatest/most beautiful place on earth, but despite that the sets and costumes and props all combine to make this a film that really transports you. Just as that first Star Wars did. The film's reliance on practical objects and effects is one of the best things about it and I think many would agree with me that it's what separates this trilogy (among other things) from The Hobbit trilogy that came later. Practical effects couldn't be used for ever instance though, but even then, the special effects are superb. They've aged a little, sure, but still remain solid and seeing as how they're sparingly used, they don't diminish the film's effectiveness. 

This is actually a photo from
Wal-Mart on Black Friday...

But what would a film be without its characters? And what would a character be if not cast by the appropriate actor/actress? The Fellowship of the Ring casts everyone so well, I'm actually a bit shocked that there are no weak links given its size. From Elijah Wood as Frodo to Ian McKellen as Gandalf to Hugo Weaving as Elrond and so on and so forth, everyone plays their part perfectly and immediately fits the mold of the role. Sure, there are no Oscar performances in here, but there are believable ones and it's hard to imagine anyone else filling the shoes of Samwise, Legolas, Pippin, Galadriel, Arwen, etc. Of course, Viggo Mortensen begins his star turn here as pretty much everyone's instant-favorite, Aragorn. To see him in this film and know what his story becomes, is quite a testament to his acting prowess to play such a humble, yet powerful character. Equally as impressive, through tragically short-lived, is Sean Bean as Boromir. Many jokes are made about how often Sean Bean dies on screen, but perhaps his best and most tragic one comes at the end of The Fellowship. It's one of the more memorable movie deaths ever, but it's also potent in emotional complexities as it's a man trying to redeem himself for falling prey to temptation, and eventually sacrificing, painfully, himself for those he just met, but cares for deeply. If there was an Oscar nom for acting in this film, it should have been for Sean Bean's final moments. 

Lurtz: legitimately one of the more terrifying on-screen villains in years.
And also one of the most disgusting

Once the film establishes these characters that we care for, it brisks them away on adventure and peril, with a collection of setpieces that dazzle. A strong eye for great cinematography goes into each of these, definitely helping matters, but there are just so many iconic scenes within the film, it's hard to not reminisce. A Nazgul leaning over a tree branch sniffing for the Hobbits below, Arwen's horse race to the river against the Ringwraiths, the Mines of Moria, the Balrog, and the final battle against the newly-bred Uruk-Hai. Each of these holds their own special element whether that be mystery, horror, suspense, action, or some combination of all those things, but they're easily seared into your mind after watching them. Will anyone ever forget the cave troll in the Mine of Moria, or Gandalf whispering, "Fly you fools!" before plummeting into the dark abyss? Or how about that stupendous final fight between Aragorn and Lurtz (aka one of the best final boss fights ever)? It's a film with an insane collection of memorable scenes and one of the grandest adventures you could ever go on as a movie-goer. 

My one final call out is the object that links this whole film together, tying scene to scene and keeping you humming long after you've watched it. The original score for not only The Fellowship, but the series as a whole, is one of the greatest ever created. And not because of its themes, beats, etc. Those are all fantastic, but because of the way it fits so perfectly. The fellowship's theme as they go into battle, the ominous drums of the armies of Isengard, and the mysterious, ethereal singing of elves...these are all just as iconic staples as any scene or character in the film and, in my eyes, this is an example of a near-perfect film, blasted into the stratosphere by its original score. 

An iconic cast for an iconic fellowship

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a momentous occasion in the history of film making. It's THE best example of a trilogy starter done right as well as being so many other great things. I won't list them again as this review has already become lengthy, but even now, after all these years since my first time watching it with my 6th grade class (yeah, it was awesome), I still couldn't help but be whisked away to Middle-Earth for the adventure of a lifetime. 

And oddly enough, it felt like that first time all over again. 

CONS:

• These films are pretty long, even without the Extended Edition. If I had to pick a place to knock off some minutes, it would be from the Shire introduction
• A handful of green-screen CGI that hasn't aged as well as some of the other special effects 

PROS:

• A near-perfect adaptation of one of the most exciting stories ever told. It picks its scenes well and the ending occurs at a place that leaves the audience wanting more, but also with a sense of finalization
• Great direction by Peter Jackson and his knowledge of the source material bleeds over into the memorable costumes, sets, and props
• A fantastic cast that was chosen perfectly for the cast of characters. Each one owns their role and brings a particular gravitas to their character that makes them feel real
• Shout-outs to Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, and Sean Bean in particular
• The world and mythology of Middle-Earth feels alive and looks gorgeous thanks to some great scouting in New Zealand
• Great cinematography that creates many memorable scenes
• Iconic set pieces. A grander list is above in the review's body but the fight sequences are enthralling, and there are moments of real fear/loss
• The final battle is one of the best "final" battles ever and features one of the most memorable and heart-breaking on-screen deaths ever. And then one of the best revenge deaths ever
• Practical effects elevated this film. No doubt about it. The Uruk-Hai are terrifying because they look so real and a lot of that would've been lost had they been CGI. Lurtz in particular is incredibly menacing and the fact there is a real human underneath all that makeup makes him that much more realistic
• One of the best original scores of all time that fits each and every scene its in perfectly. So many themes come from this film that it's hard to not be humming various ones days later
• A film that truly transports you to this world it has created and delivers one hell of an adventurous ride and a perfect start to what became one of the best trilogies of all time

Retro Rath's Review Score:

10/10 -- Instant Classic