The Perfect Start To The Perfect Trilogy

Rating: 10/10 (4 January 2017)

One of my biggest regrets in life is not seeing any of the Lord of the Rings movies in theaters. At the time, I just wasn't all that into them. Eventually friends and family members of mine convinced me to check it out. As soon as The Fellowship of the Ring ended, I knew I was hooked.
"The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" is based on the book by J.R.R. Tolkien and is set in the world of Middle Earth. In this world long ago, there lived an evil dark lord named Sauron, who forged the One Ring of power. Sauron is eventually defeated but his ring is lost for centuries, eventually ending up in the hands of a hobbit named Frodo Baggins. Frodo learns of the ring's past, as well as Sauron's return, and that if Sauron were to regain this ring, he could take physical form again and bring destruction to Middle Earth. Together with eight other companions, Frodo sets out for the land of Mordor to destroy the ring in the fires of Mount Doom.
So, where to start? First of all, this is a film that beautifully captured the world that it was trying to bring to life from Tolkien's novels. It never felt like a location that they were shooting the film in; it felt real and alive and made you want to go there. Not only that, but it added the mythology of Middle Earth in perfectly, not beating you over the head with it but using it as a way to advance the story and expand the world. After this movie, I wanted to go to New Zealand just so that I could be "in Middle Earth" (I still do).
The performances are also incredible, and you fall in love with every one of these characters. Elijah Wood, who was 18 when he started shooting these movies, showed that he could bring a lot of emotion and weight to the character of Frodo, and showed his shift from someone who lives in a peaceful world only to be sucked into this world of evil. Ian McKellen is also perfect as Gandalf and gives perhaps the best performance in the movie. Sean Astin is great as Frodo's undying companion Sam, Viggo Mortenson shines as the heroic but conflicted Aragorn, and Christopher Lee is great as the villain Saruman. As for the other cast members, they are all incredible and, overall, they not only play their characters but become them.
This movie is epic in every single way. Every aspect, from the battle sequences, to the cinematography, to the music, to visual effects, EVERYTHING about this movie is epic. Not to mention, the movie succeeds in every one of these aspects. The action and battle sequences in this movie, as well as the two sequels that followed, are the golden standard for battle scene filmmaking. The music, composed by Howard Shore, is able to combine the mystery and majesty of Middle-Earth with the epic feel that carries with the story; it's one of the best film scores ever written. The visual effects are top notch and still look fantastic even to this day. Everything about this movie is at a ten.
And did I mention how many great scenes are in this movie? From the opening prologue, to the cave troll fight in Moria, to the Bridge of Khazad Dumb sequences, there are so many memorable and incredible sequences. And at three hours (almost three and a half if you watch the extended cut), it never feels boring at all. Finally, the emotion of the movie is strong. This is not all spectacle without any heart. You feel the weight of this journey and also feel for the characters. The movie has a lot of heart, which makes it more than just your typical fantasy film.
Overall, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" is an outstanding achievement in cinema, and is a fantastic start to a fantastic trilogy. These three movies are among my favorites and nothing I say in this review can truly describe how good they are and how much I love them. Check them out and see for yourself.