If you can't tell the difference between an Elf or a Hobbit, or an Orc and an Ent,
have no fear, for the first ten minutes of director Peter Jackson's magnificent
The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring will effectively introduce you
to the imaginative realm that was originally created in the fertile mind of author
J.R.R. Tolkien. Tolkien's three novels--The Fellowship Of The Ring, The Two Towers
and The Return Of The King--encompass the epic fantasy story known as The
Lord Of The Rings.
3000 years before our story begins, rings of power were created for the leaders of all the great
races in Middle-Earth. However, the evil tyrant Sauron secretly forged a master
ring, known as "the one ring to rule them all". With this, he came terribly
close to seizing power over the known world. But during a climatic battle at
Mount Doom, the tyrant's home base, future King Isidur barely manages to defeat
Sauron. Instead of destroying the ring of power, Isidur takes it for
himself, and it eventually leads to his doom. Over time, as the spirit of Sauron
gains strength, the ring finds its way into the ownership of a young Hobbit named
Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood, who is perfectly cast).
After some research, Gandalf the Grey (the terrific Ian McKellen), a wise old
wizard who is a friend of Frodo's, recognizes the ring for what it truly is and quickly
tells Frodo to take the ring away to safety. They agree to meet at a tavern in
the town of Bree--however, Sauron's forces of darkness have already gathered,
and Frodo, his fellow Hobbits Sam (Sean Astin, who is superb), Pippin (Billy
Boyd), and Merry (Dominic Monaghan) soon find themselves being stalked by
frightening, inhuman creatures known as the Ring Wraiths. And as bad as this
may be, their grand adventure has only just begun.
Thanks to Peter Jackson's assured direction, The Fellowship Of The Ring is a
confident beginning to an extraordinary film fantasy trilogy. It is a darker,
more ominous film that is filled with subterfuge and danger lurking in the
shadows. With Frodo and friends dodging the Ring Wraiths, and the Fellowship's
later descent into the hellish mines of Moria--which is overrun with goblins,
trolls, and a demonic menace known as the Balrog--the Fellowship Of The Ring
plays more like a flat out horror movie, and it works. The script, by Jackson
and writing partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens is literate and smart. And
the special effects, by the New Zealand-based WETA Company, manage to be
astounding without taking over the story. Viggo Mortensen gives a solid
performance as Strider, a Ranger with a destiny who meets with the Hobbits at
the tavern in Bree and winds up joining the Fellowship. Orlando Bloom shines as
Legolas, a lethal Elf archer and steadfast ally, and John Rhys-Davies provides
much needed comic relief as Gimli, a no-nonsense dwarf warrior. Liv Tyler is
memorable as Arwen, Strider's Elf lover. And Cate Blanchett,
who is always interesting to watch in any movie, stands out here as the Lady
Galadriel, an Elf sorceress who shows Frodo the dire outcome should he fail in
his quest to destroy the ring.
The DVD I reviewed is the extended version, to which Jackson has added 30
minutes of footage. Rather than drag out an already long movie, both the added
and extended scenes deepen the story, as well as set up the characters for their
future exploits--such as the newly restored scene where Galadriel outfits the
Fellowship with special cloaks, weapons and tools, all of which will be seen
being used in the next two movies. There are also commentaries from the cast
and crew, as well as two separate discs filled with special features on the
making of the movie. The "making of" documentaries are splendid; they cover the
entire production, in every department, with insightful detail. As far as I'm
concerned, this extended version has become the definitive version of The
Fellowship Of The Ring. --SF