Who's In It?

Elijah Wood is Frodo Baggins, Ian Mckellen as the wizard Gandalf, Liv Tyler plays Arwen, Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn, Sean Astin is Sam, Cate Blanchett as Galadriel PLUS many more. 

Who Made It?

Peter Jackson

Where's The Web site?
The Lord Of The Rings:  The Fellowship Of The Ring

What's It About?

The Lord of the Rings has a new cast of characters in this 2001 start to a trilogy of new films featuring the hobbits, wizards and all the other inhabitants of Middle-earth.  The classic J.R.R. Tolkien tale of these magical creatures has been around for many generations and comes to the big screen in this unprecedented trilogy of films made simultaneously over a year and a half of production.  (The second and third installments are set for the next two Christmas’).

The first tale finds the young Hobbit named Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) stepping into the legend of the rings and the daunting task of destroying the one ring.  His Fellowship that takes up the daunting task includes the wizard Gandalf (McKellen), his friend Sam (Astin) plus Merry, Pippin, Aragorn (Mortensen) and many more.  The journey will be long and the road won’t be easy, but the fate of the many inhabitants of Middle-earth is in the hands of one small Hobbit named Frodo.

Common Guy's Thoughts

Since 1954, people have read the first volume, The Fellowship of the Ring, of the J.R.R. Tolkien epic trilogy The Lord of the Rings.  So many people have come to the table with so many visions of what the Lord of the Rings.  Now in 2001 we are treated to Peter Jackson’s vision of The Lord of the Rings.  And let me tell you, this vision is spectacular. 

The setting for filming Middle-earth is the spectacular landscapes of New Zealand.  The visuals in this film are amazing.  Whether it is the scene of a peaceful river, an intertwined forest or wide-open land, New Zealand was obviously the perfect location to bring Middle-earth to life.  Jackson does a magnificent job of shooting this landscape, and making it become Middle-earth. 

To cast this monumental epic undertaking, Jackson turned to Elijah Wood for the role of Frodo Baggins, and this decision is a homerun.  Wood brings to life the small Hobbit that is Frodo along with all of his frailties.  When Frodo displays fear, Wood embodies that fear.  When Frodo experiences wondrous things, Wood stands in awe like no other young actor has.  Wood’s success as Frodo helps keep this film together as without a successful portrayal of Frodo, the film would be left at the starting gate.  The supporting cast that surrounded Wood and joined the Fellowship was star studded to say the least.  From the exquisite portrayal of Gandalf (Mckellen) to the courageous Aragorn done splendidly by (Mortensen) the cast is phenomenal in every way.  There are even smaller roles for Cate Blanchett and Liv Tyler that make an impact that can be felt throughout this nearly 3 hour delight. 

But let’s be honest here, the real star of The Lord of the Rings:  The Fellowship of the Ring is the age old story that J.R.R. Tolkien has given us.  This story has withstood the test of time and Peter Jackson gives us a truly loving vision of the first book from the trilogy.  The film is like a boulder at the top of a hill.  As the movie starts the boulder starts rolling down the hill, and by the end of the film the boulder is going at full steam and you don’t want this film to end.  I’m waiting for the second installment already.

Grade

A-

Parents Guide

Rated PG-13 for epic battle sequences and some scary images.  This one is a tough call for me.  The general storyline, of course, deals with the struggle of good versus evil.  Some of these types of things may not be the best for younger kids to deal with, but I believe that most older kids will be able to view the film as the fantasy that it is.  I think for those under 13 or 14 years old that parents should prescreen the film to make sure that some of the battle sequences and “visionary” sequences are not to intense for their kids.
 

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