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“Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring”

© Debbie Ledesma

"One ring to rule them all. One ring to find them. One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them." (Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien) That is the inscription that appears on the One Ring. It is the object that starts the quest of a classic Fantasy book. After waiting many years. there is finally a movie for the lovers of this book. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is the first of three movies directed by Peter Jackson that debuted on December 19, 2001. Was the wait worth it? Most definitely yes.

After a short introduction into the history of the Ring, the movie begins with Gandalf returning to the Shire. Frodo inherits the ring from his uncle Bilbo and must flee when the Black Riders hunt him. The plot of the movie follows the main story of the book Fellowship of the Ring very closely. Peter Jackson tightens the plot by leaving out some scenes from the book, but it improves the movie immensely. Everything moves along in a smooth flow with action sequences and quiet times for the characters to develop. Every actor plays their part well, bringing Frodo, Sam, Gandalf and the others to cinematic life.

Another strong aspect of the movie are the special effects. Everything works to bring the story to life. New Zealand's scenery resembles many of the different areas of Middle Earth. Special effect images blend with this rich scenery and make everything look real. The Shire, Rivendell and mines of Moria are stunning. Actors playing the hobbits and dwarves, shrunk by computer techniques, blend seamlessly into the movie. They do not look contrived. Battle scenes are well choreographed, realistic and visually awe inspiring. Every special effect is not wasted and brings Middle Earth to vivid life.

Lastly, viewers will be moved by the themes of the movie. The overarching theme is the struggle between good and evil, but it is the other themes that make the story moving. Frodo's selflessness in volunteering to carry the ring into Mordor puts the others to shame. Friendship and devotion are present in Sam's and Frodo's relationship, Aragon's concern for Frodo and Gandalf's protectiveness. The bonds of friendship makes everyone stronger. Courage, honor and duty appear in several scenes of the movie. Aragon is the last heir to the throne of Gondor. He must find the courage to accept his duty. Boromir concerns himself with a struggle to retain his honor, but help his people. All of the themes makes the movie a powerful emotional experience.