"The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring" Review

"The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring"

Directed by Peter Jackson

Starring Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, Cate Blanchett

 

RATING

10/10

"Epic" has become a subjective word over the past decade in films. Never has the word been used to adequately describe a film worthy of that title, and yet it's been used in everything from The "Bourne" series to television shows like "Game of Thrones". But none had ever earned its value like Peter Jackson's truly stunning vision of J.R.R. Tolkein's fictional literature, "The Lord of The Rings".

 

"The Fellowship of The Ring" begins with a prologue excellently voiced by Cate Blanchett describing the history of Middle-Earth, a lush and enormous fantasy realm filled with orcs, elves, men, dwarves, goblins, hobbits, and plenty of other strange creatures. There existed a time thousands of years ago when leaders of every race in Middle-Earth were gifted powerful rings, symbolizing their existence in the hierarchy of the world. However, when a Dark Lord, Sauron, forges a master ring to control all the other rings, he becomes a threatening force of Middle-Earth to be reckoned with. After a long-winded and grand battle forces Sauron into submission and possible death, the ring is endured and survives through countless ages until it lands up in the hands of a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins, who keeps it hidden until one very dark evening when Sauron is awakened once again and craves his ring... It's passed onto Bilbo's nephew, Frodo, and so begins the greatest journey ever put on celluloid.

 

Being the first part of a sprawling trilogy, "The Fellowship of The Ring" is already a masterpiece unto itself. Despite being close to 3 hours long (4, if you count the extended edition), it never feels like it overstays its welcome. In fact, you'll be wishing the movie won't end by the time the credits roll around. It's paced and edited so briskly and perfectly that it leaves you dangling at the edge of your seat its entire running length. Peter Jackson does a miracle job of directing this film, as it includes absolutely gigantic set pieces that any ordinary director would've crumbled at the thought. To obtain the enormity of his vision and hold true to Tolkein's novel, Jackson would have to work hand-in-hand with every single aspect of the film and that takes dedication, commitment, and true will-power. It's what separates this ambitious New Zealand-born filmmaker from Hollywood's elite. The casting is exceptional, too, as each actor is given a character that suits them so brilliantly and accurately, it's almost natural. Elijah Wood as the curious hobbit Frodo Baggins, Viggo Mortensen as the badass Aragorn, Orlando Bloom as master marksman elf Legolas, John-Rhys Davis as the bumbling dwarf Gimli, and of course, Ian McKellen as the grey wizard, Gandalf, who delivers the standout performance of the film. The cast works so well and articulately together, seeing their teamwork as the Fellowship is just pure awesomeness.

 

There's also plenty of action, and not your typical adventure-quest type either. These are a collection of some of the most jaw-droppingly huge and intense action sequences ever filmed. Jackson tugs at the emotional strings of the audience while simultaneously delivering visceral thrills for the eyes. It's destined to go down in history, especially a heart-stopping showdown of magic and darkness involving Gandalf and a large, flaming demon. While the action provides enough for the hardcore thrill-seekers, there's also plenty of character and heart to the script that strikes a perfect equilibrium. You are so absorbed into this beautiful and imaginative world, that for 3 hours, you're completely oblivious to the outside world if you immerse yourself. And it gives the characters very real and humanizing traits despite them being, you know, mystical creatures and all... You really do feel for these characters, and will find yourself attached and somewhat personally invested to their turmoils and troubles, especially if you're looking for consoledation beneath all the chaos and brewing evil. I have so much respect to the writers and production crew on these films for showing so much dedication to their craft and love for film, which really shines in this trilogy.

 

The production design is excellent, truly Oscar worthy. New Zealand was the location for Middle-Earth, and it couldn't have been a more ideal choice. The several shots of the landscapes and mountain skylines are breathtaking, and you feel as if you've really been transported to this fairy tale realm when, in fact, you're just looking at New Zealand and some pretty amazing CGI work. The sets created, especially places like Rivendell and The Shire, are remarkable (and destined to be 1000-piece puzzles at some point). The detailing in every single frame is what is imprinted in your mind forever. The stunning panoramic views of Isengard, Mordor, and the Mines of Moria is what sells you on the idea of Middle-Earth possibly being an actual place on earth that you could visit for set tours.

 

What works well with the intricate and well-thought out pacing is the legendary score by Howard Shore, fully capturing the majestic beauty and scope of the trilogy and translating it well into the tone and themes of Tolkein's books. If I'm not mistaken, it earned a few Oscars, and very well-deserved. "The Lord of The Rings" wouldn't be as memorable without it.

 

"The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring" stands tall above any film of the last 100 years, possibly even since "The Godfather". It's trilogy may have not been over, but it certainly began what would become a trilogy of epic proportions. Having a keen eye for cinematic perfection, Peter Jackson directed a masterpiece boasting vibrant and layered characters, mindblowing action and war sequences, beautiful and enormous scope and scale, and imagination that sets the bar for any fantasy adventure to come. "The Lord of The Rings" is, in every sense of the word, epic.