The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
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This film has been preserved in the National Film Registry in 2021.
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 "One ring to rule them all, one ring to guide them."
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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a 2001 epic fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Jackson, based on the 1954 novel The Fellowship of the Ring, the first volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. It is the first installment in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Fellowship of the Ring is set in Middle-earth, 50 years after the events of The Hobbit trilogy, telling a story of a young hobbit, Frodo, who has found the One Ring that belongs to the Dark Lord Sauron, begins his journey with eight companions to Mount Doom, the only place where it can be destroyed. It was produced by Barrie M. Osborne, Jackson, Fran Walsh and Tim Sanders, and written by Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Jackson. The film features an ensemble cast including Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Sean Bean, Ian Holm, and Andy Serkis. The Fellowship of the Ring was cofinanced and distributed by American studio New Line Cinema, but filmed and edited entirely in Jackson's native New Zealand, concurrently with the other two parts of the trilogy.
The film premiered on 10 December 2001 at the Odeon Leicester Square in London and was theatrically released worldwide on 19 December 2001, and it received universal acclaim from critics, audience and fans alike, it received high praise for its visual effects, performances, Jackson's direction, screenplay, and faithfulness to the source material. It grossed $880 million worldwide in its initial release, making it the second highest-grossing film of 2001 and the fifth highest-grossing film of all time at the time of its release. Following subsequent reissues, it has as of 2021 grossed over $897 million. The film received numerous accolades; at the 74th Academy Awards, it was nominated for thirteen awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor for McKellen, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Original Song for "May It Be" and Best Sound, winning four: Best Cinematography, Best Makeup, Best Original Score and Best Visual Effects. It was followed by The Two Towers, which was released in December 2002.
Plot
"The world has changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost. For none now live who remember it."
— Galadriel
Prologue
The film begins with the three, seven, nine rings with the elves, dwarfs, and the humans. However, Dark Lord Sauron forging the One Ring which he can use to conquer the lands of Middle-earth through his enslavement of the bearers of the Rings of Power powerful magical rings given to individuals from the races of Elves, Dwarves, and Men. The Last Alliance of Elves and Men is formed to counter Sauron and his forces at the foot of Mount Doom, but Sauron himself appears to kill Elendil, the High King of Arnor and Gondor, and Gil-galad, High King of the Noldor. After Elendil falls his son, Isildur, grabs the hilt of his father's broken sword Narsil and slashes at Sauron's hand. The stroke cuts off Sauron's fingers, separating him from the Ring and vanquishing his army. However, because Sauron's life is bound in the Ring, he is not completely defeated until the Ring itself is destroyed. However, he is later ambushed and it betrayed Isildur and he was killed by orcs and the Ring is lost in the River Anduin, into which Isildur fell. 2,500 years later, the ring was later found by a hobbit, and eventually, it comes to the creature Gollum, who takes it underground for five centuries, giving Gollum "unnaturally long life." The Ring leaves him however and is found by the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, much to the grief of Gollum, who called it his "precious".
Main story
Many years after Bilbo Baggins found the rings, (in the extended cut, he is seen writing a book called "There and Back Again", and it introduces the town of Shira, filled with Hobbit, great warriors, without any bad things happened.) Frodo is seen reading his book, and he hears that Gandalf, exciting, and he claimed that he was late, he replied that the wizard is never late, and they chuckle and laugh, and Frodo was happy to see Gandalf again, just in time for Bilbo's 111th birthday. That night, during Bilbo's 111th birthday, Bilbo puts his One Ring behind him and he goes back to his house, surprising the visitors, including Frodo, and Gandalf. Gandalf later comes to his home and saying goodbye to Bilbo as he leaves to Rivendell. The other night, Frodo came home from the bar, Gandalf attempts to destroy the ring but it didn't work, and he sends and sends him to Bree with Sam after he soon learns it is the One Ring, with plans to meet him there after Gandalf goes to Isengard to meet the head of his order, Saruman. Saruman reveals that the Nazgûl, or Ringwraiths, have left Mordor to capture the Ring and kill whoever carries it; having already turned to Sauron's cause, he then imprisons Gandalf atop Orthanc.
The next day, Frodo, Sam, and Gandalf left the town of Shire, and they stop at the start point, and Gandalf leaves Frodo and Sam behind, and the two set off to the town of Bree. Along the way, they see a group of people, leaving Middle-Earth as they went to sleep. The other day, Gandalf arrives to his long friend, Saruman, he reveals that the Nazgûl, or Ringwraiths, have left Mordor to capture the Ring and kill whoever carries it; having already turned to Sauron's cause, he then imprisons Gandalf atop Orthanc. Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam were still on their way, passing through a cornfield, where they meet Merry and Pippin, who were also on their way to the town of Bree. They were later chased by a farmer and they fell off into the forest below. Just then, Frodo heard a breeze, which it's Ringwraith, where they hide in a tree, Frodo attempts to put the ring on but was stopped by Merry. That foggy night, they were chased by Ringwraith, they successfully escape by using a moving bridge from the river, and they manage to reach Bree, where they only discover that Gandalf hasn't arrived yet. At the bar, Frodo accidentally fell down and the rings were put on his finger, causing him to disappear as a result, inside, Frodo was in his vision, and Sauron, a statin that he couldn't hide only get to see him, and he take it off, and he meets a man called "Strider", who agrees to lead them to Rivendell. Suddenly, the Ringwraiths arrive at the town of Bree, only to find out that the ring was hidden in Bree.
The group and Srider fleed into the wild, and the rest here at the night at Weathertop, until they were attacked by the Nazgûl. Strider battles the spectres and fights them off, but Frodo is grievously wounded with a Morgul blade, and they must quickly get him to Rivendell for healing. While chased by the Nazgûl, Frodo is taken by the elf Arwen to the elvish haven of Rivendell, and healed by her father, Elrond. In Rivendell Frodo meets Gandalf, who explains why he didn't meet them at Bree as planned -- while imprisoned atop Orthanc, he was able to escape with the aide of Gwaihir, a giant eagle. There are many meetings between various peoples, and Elrond calls a council to decide what should be done with the Ring. Elrond warns against keeping the Ring in Rivendell for long, knowing that the Elven realm could come under attack from both Mordor and Isengard. The Ring can only be destroyed by throwing it into the fires of Mount Doom, where it was forged. Mount Doom is located in Mordor, near Sauron's fortress of Barad-dûr, and will be an incredibly dangerous journey. Frodo volunteers to take the Ring to Mount Doom as all the others argue about who should or shouldn't take it. Frodo volunteers to take the Ring to Mount Doom and is accompanied by his hobbit friends and Gandalf, as well as Strider, who is revealed to be Aragorn, the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor. Also traveling with them are the Elf Legolas, the Dwarf Gimli, and Boromir, the son of the Steward of Gondor. Together they comprise and become, "The Fellowship of the Ring".
The Fellowship set out and try to pass the mountain Caradhras, but they are stopped by Saruman, who uses his wizardry to create an avalanche. They are forced to travel under the mountain through the Mines of Moria. Frodo agrees, but while traveling they are attacked by the Watcher in the Water, forcing them to travel through the mines. After journeying partway through the Mines, Pippin accidentally gives away their presence to a band of orcs. The Fellowship encounter a Balrog, an ancient demon of fire and shadow, at the Bridge of Khazad-dûm. Gandalf confronts the Balrog on the bridge, allowing them to escape, and shouts,
"YOOOUUU'LL... SHALL NOT... PAAAASSSSS!"
— Gandalf
And he brakes the stone bridge, leaving Balrog falling down, before Gandalf walks back to the group, he was suddenly grabbed by Balrog's web, and they tell them to get away, as he falls into the abyss below. The group escapes the underground realm, and they feel very remorse, thought that Gandalf was dead, but they had to get away from the cave and moved into Lothlórien before the night falls, where they are sheltered by its rulers, Galadriel and her husband Celeborn. That night, Frodo meets Galadriel, who tells him that it is his destiny to handle the Ring and ultimately destroy it.
Before they leave, Galadriel gives Frodo the Phial of Galadriel, a light source. After landing at Parth Galen, Boromir, affected by the ring's power, tries to take the Ring from Frodo, who manages to escape by putting the Ring on his finger and vanishing. Knowing that the Ring's temptation will be too strong for the Fellowship, Frodo decides to leave them and go to Mordor alone. Meanwhile, the rest of the Fellowship are attacked by Uruk-hai, larger and stronger orcs bred by Saruman that can withstand sunlight. Merry and Pippin, realizing that Frodo is leaving, distract the orcs, allowing Frodo to escape. As Boromir rushes to the aid of the two hobbits, he is mortally wounded by the Uruk commander Lurtz. Before Lurtz can finish off Boromir, Aragorn arrives and attacks Lurtz, decapitating him after a short but brutal fight. As he lies dying, Boromir regrets having attempted to steal the Ring and is forgiven by Aragorn. Merry and Pippin are then captured, prompting Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas to begin their pursuit of the orcs with the intent of rescuing the hobbits - leaving Frodo to continue his quest. They decide to pursue the orcs and rescue the hobbits, leaving Frodo to his fate. Sam appears and swims out after him, insisting he has promised Gandalf he would look after Frodo. Frodo accepts Sam's presence and together they continue their journey through the hills of Emyn Muil.
Why It Rocks
- This film gives a very solid, but an amazing start to the Middle-Earth film, and it nearly catches the spirited from the first Lord of the Rings novel, The Fellowship of the Ring, and the film stays exactly faithful to what Middle Earth look like in the film. There are more reasons down below.
- The film's performances, like Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Christopher Lee, and Cate Blanchett are absolutely amazing, and many of the cats did a well done at acting of what they were in the novel itself.
- It is very, very faithful to the novel and its source material, and the movie fits the source material of the novel in the whole film very well.
- The costumes and makeups on the characters from the novel are excellent, Some of them are reminiscent of 70's rock bands.
- Memorable, and iconic quotes, such as a scene where Gandalf faces Balrog, shouting "YOOOOU... SHALL NOT... PAAASSSS!".
- Not only that but in the opening scene where Frodo arrives at Gandalf thought he was late, Gandalf replied that he is never late, nor early, and tells him that he arrives precisely when he means to before the chuckle and laugh.
- In addition to the movie's performances, almost all of the characters in the entire films (especially the two sequels) are very likable and memorable, such as:
- Frodo Baggins is a young-type hobbit who was the son of Drogo Baggins, inherits the One Ring from his uncle Bilbo, Tolkien's most renowned character for his leading role in the Quest of the Ring.
- Gandalf the Grey is an Istari wizard and mentor to Frodo.
- Aragorn "Strider" Elessar II is a Dúnedain ranger and heir to Gondor's throne.
- Tons of epic, thrilling, suspenseful action sequences, especially when it comes to darker scenes, like the prologue scene, dark riders come to look for Frodo, chased by a group of orcs in the mines while managing through collapsing steps before going down the stairs below.
- Besides the action sequences, there are many shocking, and emotional scenes, such as Gandalf falls down into the abyss below after being dragged by Balrog before the Fellowship group were able to escape, and even the death of Boromir near the end of the film.
- Awesome visual effects, like the scenery, the fireworks display at the beginning, and the even town of Rivendell.
- Peter Jackson, who was a director of the previous horror movies in the 1990s before this film, gives a very stunning, and nice direction and he follows the novels of the plot of the Fellowship of the Ring and the other Middle-Earth stories.
- The scene where Gandalf created many different kinds of fireworks at night during Bilbo's 111th birthday, especially the firework dragon is very fun to watch.
- The soundtrack that was performed by Howard Shore is incredibly epic, which he did a fantastic job to fit the tone of the movie.
- Very beautiful cinematography, as the cinematography itself, fits the Middle-Earth movies pretty well, especially with The Hobbit trilogy.
- The extended cut of the movie, especially with the other movies are even better, which it adds more details of the novel that were never shown in the theatrical cut, especially Gandalf reveals Gollum’s real name to Frodo, sealing up a plot hole in the next film.
Bad Qualities
- There is a plot hole in the theatrical cut that Gandalf didn't actually reveal Gollum's real name to Frodo; however, the extended cut solved it.
- While the action scenes are well intense, and exciting, the action scenes can sometimes feel like you're playing a video game.
- Liv Tyler's performance is rather minimal at best and didn't get much to do in the movie.
Reception
Box office
On its opening day, The Fellowship of the Ring broke many records, it grossed $18.2 million in the United States and Canada from 3,359 cinemas and $11.5 million in 13 countries, including $3 million from 466 screens in the United Kingdom. It also opened at number one in 29 international markets and remained there for a second week in all but the Netherlands. It set a record opening day gross in Australia with $2.09 million from 405 screens, beating the record $1.3 million sets by Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Following subsequent reissues, the film has grossed $315.7 million in the United States and Canada and $581.9 million in the rest of the world for a worldwide total of $897.7 million.
Response
The film received universal acclaim from critics , audience , moviegoers, and fans of the books, calling it one of the best fantasy films ever made. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 91% approval rating based on 234 reviews, with an average rating of 8.19/10. The website's critics' consensus reads, "Full of eye-popping special effects, and featuring a pitch-perfect cast, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring brings J.R.R. Tolkien's classic to vivid life.". Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 92/100 based on 34 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale. At the 74th Academy Awards, it received thirteen Oscar nominations and ended up winning four for Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Makeup, and Best Visual Effects. It also won four BAFTA Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four stars and stating that while it is not "a true visualization of Tolkien's Middle-earth", it is "a work for, and of, our times. It will be embraced, I suspect, by many Tolkien fans and take on aspects of a cult. It is a candidate for many Oscars. It is an awesome production in its daring and breadth, and there are small touches that are just right". Time magazine's Richard Corliss praised Jackson's work: "His movie achieves what the best fairy tales do: the creation of an alternate world, plausible and persuasive, where the young — and not only the young — can lose themselves. And perhaps, in identifying with the little Hobbit that could, find their better selves"
Trivia
- Originally, the narration at the prologue was to be spoken by Elijah Wood, but it was felt that the information imparted had little bearing on the character of Frodo. Sir Ian McKellen also recorded a narration, but once again, it was felt that Gandalf wasn't the right character to speak it; neither he nor Frodo was present at the events described in the prologue. They eventually settled on Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, as it emphasizes the timelessness of the elves.
- This movie, along with The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King were filmed simultaneously. The back-to-back-to-back shoot lasted a record-equalling 274 days across sixteen months, exactly the same time as taken for the principal photography of Apocalypse Now (1979).
- When Frodo is leafing through Bilbo's book in Rivendell, a page with dwarven runes is shown. The runes translate thus: "Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks, and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole." This is a reference (actually a direct copy) to a map in the book "The Hobbit," and the runes tell of the secret entrance to The Lonely Mountain. Another page, to which Frodo turns, shows two illustrations of swords on one page, and a key on the other. While varying visually from their movie counterparts, these swords are Glamdring and Orcrist, the two swords Bilbo and the Dwarves found in the troll cave. The key is the key used to enter stone troll's hoard from The Hobbit novel which did not take place in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012).