A Perfectly realised story about being friends

Rating: 10/10 (24 March 2004)

These films stand out amongst all of cinema for technical accomplishent, storyline and formal elements. They really do have it all - anyone who cannot enjoy them must be too removed from the material to fully appreciate them, or feel that they have to disjoin themselves from everyone who loves or likes the films - just because they can.
But that is not what I want to dwell on. For me 'Fellowship' is the most powerful of the three films because anyone who has ever been part of a group of true mates can relate to the events within the film.
'Fellowship' - like Tolkien's book - is basically a 'road story'. On the journey new bonds are made and tragically broken. It also has alot to say about different races interactions, and how it is possible to all get on, if hangs-up were hanged up.
THe hobbits are naturally friendly creatures and so we sympathise with them straight away. We bond to Aragorn because he takes up the role of father to Frodo, Boromir becomes the dad of Merry and Pippin with Gandalf as the overseeing grandad that they all look to. Most importantly of all - they're a bunch of mates who really care for each other.
At first its just because they have to, but Jackson reminds us of the mutual bonding by including scenes such as the camping play fighting, Aragorn being calm and thoughtful with Pippin the idiot, or Frodo and Sam stumbbling home after a night on the razzle.
When the Fellowship breaks up (this really begins with Gandalf's death) there is a genuine tradgedy. None of us would like to think our own mates could be taken away from us but if there is a film that encaptures the sadness of such an event then its Fellowship. The results are truly heart wrenching - and I don't mind sounding like a big girl for saying it.
But as Gandalf says "Hope remains", when we see Aargorn and the lads set out to rescue their caputred friends Merry and Pippin. Frodo has Sam and Boromir showed his true worth when he gave his life for his boys.
And we know, through the strength of the relationships shoen on screen, that one day they might all be together again, which is bloody marvellous really.
Yes its a spectacle, yes its got a great storyline, but the essence of FEllowship is in the growing relationship between nine very different people, and how they come to rely on and love each other.
See it now. Its essential viewing.