Review of "The Lord of the Rings"

Rating: 10/10 (23 April 2016)

Written by J. R. R. Tolkien and directed by Peter Jackson, The Lord of the Rings is a trilogy that carries its audience to a different time and place, starting in the Shire. A young hobbit, Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) is given a tremendous gift by his uncle, Bilbo Baggins, only to find out that it is a dark weapon forged by the darkest of souls, the Dark Lord Sauron, who, when creating this dreadful ring, "he poured all his cruelty, his malice and his will to dominate all life." Given guidance by an elderly and wise friend, Gandalf (Ian McKellen), Frodo seeks to rid himself of his enormous burden by returning the ring to the "fiery depths from which it came," and thence beginning the Fellowship. Frodo sets off with his closest of friends, Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) and joins with two more along the way, Merry and Pippin. They begin the journey at a running pace, barely escaping the evils that are sent to dissuade their progress, and retrieve the ring. Encountering many dangerous foes, such as the Nazgul, Gollum, and the greatest evil of all, Sauron, Frodo must overcome the dark temptations of the ring before he is apt to destroy it. Nearly losing their lives, the hobbits must rely on new friendships and allies in order to aid Frodo in his journey to destroy the "one ring to rule them all." After overcoming many horrendous obstacles, including death, Frodo and Sam reach Mount Doom, where the ring was forged, and after a final battle are able to return it to where it belongs; out of the reach of all men.