Snowy mountains, vast green hills that reflect in the clear water, angry volcanoes,
intimidating towers contrasting the magical kingdoms, wizards, elves, dwarves, monsters,
orcs, hobbits…whatever part of fantasy fiction you enjoy, The Lord of the Rings has it all.
Published between 1954 and 1955, The Lord of the Rings originated as a series of three books written by J.R.R. Tolkien, written as a sequel to The Hobbit.
Advance 50 years, and in 2001, The Lord of the Rings was beautifully transferred from page
to screen by Peter Jackson. And now, a further 25 years later, many cinemas around the
country are re-releasing the extended versions of the franchise for fans, or for first-time
viewers, as in my case, to enjoy on the big screen, to celebrate this milestone.
The award-winning franchise begins with ‘The Fellowship of the Ring, with the extended
version clocking in at 3 hours and 28 minutes long. This film lays the story premise out for the
viewer, introducing the characters and the map of Middle-earth. We’re first introduced to
The Shire, the land where the hobbits reside. With a quainter feeling than some of the later
scenery, the town has a real homely feel, though by the end of the film, you’ll realise that
this intro scene is the calm before the storm.
If you’re like me and dive blindly into this fantasy world, the story makes sure we’re not left
out of the background knowledge. The short but sweet tale of how the ring came to be, and
how it has ended up in the hands of hobbit Frodo Baggins, portrayed by 18-year-old Elijah
Wood doesn’t leave you delirious with detail and perfectly summarises the history.
The film is the first from a series of three that follows Frodo on his journey from the Shire
to Mount Doom, a vicious volcano whose fire is the only thing able to destroy the
treacherous ring. He is accompanied by three more hobbits, a wizard, a dwarf, an elf, and
two men, a strange array of species that create a group you grow to cheer on.
Samwise Gamgee, played by Sean Astin, who many may recall as ‘Bob’ from Stranger
Things is Frodo’s main companion. His gradual development from fearful to brave, all while
staying loyal to protect Frodo, is incredibly moving and leaves the viewer worried whenever
he is put in danger.
Merry and Pippin, hobbits portrayed by Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd, provide comedic
relief on the dark adventures with their whimsical nature. And of course, Sir Ian McKellan
brings Gandalf to life with a great sense of wisdom and wit, that add a great sense of
emotion to his heartfelt and heartbreaking story. Yet the performances are just a part of
this great tale.
The visual effects in the film are sublime for its time. If you’d told me that the casting
directors had sought out real-life orcs, I’d have believed you. The Black Riders, despite their
ghost-like appearance, seem like they would live in our world, their scariness not too
dissimilar to that of dementors in Harry Potter. The Eye of Sauron, the battle between
Gandalf and Saruman, Mount Doom…all carry an incredibly unnerving and immersive
experience as a result of some incredible visual effects.
It’s not all doom and gloom, however, as the prettier surroundings are also worth
mentioning. Rivendell (The land of the high elves) is a standout; the creamy white buildings
against the backdrop of waterfalls and mountains create a dream-like effect. The elves
themselves are equally as enchanting, the scene of the passing of the wood elvesis
particularly striking with its beautifully haunting melody that leaves you entranced. Though
who needs visual effects when the beautiful New Zealand has perfect scenic actors for the
background roles.
Drama is found in more than the film’s landscapes, however. Despite having less battle
scenes than its successors, The Fellowship of the Ring still includes action, with the fellowships run-in with orcs being a key point of the film. You may think it’s immediately
over for them because of the orc-to-fellowship ratio; however, the gruesome orcs are no
match for Aragorn’s sword fighting and Legolas’ bow and arrow. While in awe of their skills,
the scene still leaves you with that little bit of stress, making you feel like you were fighting
with them when you can finally settle back from the edge of your seat.
The ending leaves us with a perfect cliffhanger that makes you want to watch The Two
Towers immediately. Though if you don’t, it lets your imagination run wild with what could
possibly be next for the fellowship.
If you’ve never seen The Lord of the Rings before, spare a few hours on a rainy day to dive into this action-packed, mystical fantasy world. Even if you spend triple your hourly wage on your
ticket, some popcorn and a drink, I’d say you get your money’s worth.
Featured image credit: Chiswick Chap File:El Señor de los Anillos lectura (cropped).jpg – Wikimedia Commons
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Studying JMC & Politics in year 2