A transporting film with the definitive metaphor for human strength and weakness

Rating: 10/10 (31 March 2020)

"The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" (2001) is such a definitive adventure, perfectly realised through the intention of Peter Jackson.
The truly awe-inspiring production design, the perfect casting of everyone from Elijah Wood to Ian McKellen, the haunting score by Howard Shore, the perfect editing (in both versions, in my opinion). It is simply a work of art, and perfectly realised.
But what to me is the most beautiful message of Tolkien's masterpiece delivered for the screen by Jackson is the symbolism in the world of Middle Earth. The ring is perhaps the purest ever depiction of the fragility of the human condition. Our search for power, influence and the ego. At the same time, the way in which love is portrayed by Frodo, Gandalf, Aragorn, and perhaps most of all Sam, is daringly beautiful - in fact all Tolkien's caricatures of Christ.
A definitive statement - not only for the fantasy genre - but one which has cemented itself in cinema history.