Over the hills and far away

Rating: 10/10 (21 May 2007)

Peter Jackson risked his reputation and millions of dollars when he made a movie based on one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century. Considering the numbers of pages and characters in The Lord of the Rings, Jackson reached the best outcome possible. The film trilogy is loved by serious Tolkien fans and also by the people who have never read the book.
As Beowulf is the Anglo-Saxon, not purely English epic, Tolkien wanted to create an English mythology. He used myths and legends of many nations, and finally invented a fantastic world with its own races, history and languages. Many, though not all of it has been taken to the screen.
One main thing that stuns about The Fellowship of the Ring (as about the two following films) is the image of Middle-earth which was created from the landscapes and nature of New Zealand. Romantic villages and bridges of the Shire, beautiful waterfalls and rocks in Rivendell, mysterious us Misty Mountains with dark passages of Moria in it, magic Elven forest of Lorien and the most impressive view in the film, giant statues of Argonath on the banks of the Anduin River. Sunrises also offer a great sight, though the Sun rises from the west, not from the east, as it should in Middle-earth, a prototype for Europe.
Landscapes and music alone make a great film but the story also carries the viewer away from the opening scenes. During the prologue where a short history of the One Ring is told, the audience sit silently and stared at the screen with excitement in their faces. They even stopped eating popcorn. I have never seen such thing before. The tension grows as we find out that the Ring is dangerous to its barer and many dark and terrible forces want to have it. The gathering and the journey of the Fellowship is a touching tale about friendship, bravery and loyalty. In the end, after defeating many enemies, losing their leader and reaching the Rauros Falls, they are like brothers.
There are many characters in the film, therefore Legolas, Gimli, Merry and Pippin remain quite unknown or we see only a few sides of them. We will learn more about them in the other two movies.
Frodo, as the Ringbarer, is the most important character. It is obvious that he does not want to go on a journey to Mordor. But that is not because he is scared, he just wants to stay in the Shire, his beloved home. Yet he, unlike mighty men, wizards, elves and dwarfs, recognizes the responsibility which was left to him by his uncle Bilbo. He receives the admiration and sympathy form both his companions and viewers.
Sam fears even more going out of the door than Frodo. Still he is brave and determined enough to follow Frodo alone when his friend is heading to Mordor. His great loyalty to Frodo and inability to prove that Gollum is a villain, although it is obvious, makes him somewhat ridiculous and stupid in the later parts of the story. In the first film though he shows some wisdom being the only of the four hobbits who does not trust Aragorn in the beginning, gaining the pathfinder's respect.
Gandalf persuades Bilbo to give up the Ring and Frodo to destroy it; he escapes from Orthanc and leads the Fellowship through Moria. He is wise, witty, kind and brave at the same time, almost stealing the show from Frodo. He never gives up rational thinking nor hope. When we see him falling in the fight with Balrog, we know that he will return as Sauron cannot be defeated without him.
Aragorn doubts his ability to reclaim the throne of Gondor and needs encouraging from Gandalf, Elrond and Arwen. He looks young but his face and speech tells us that he has been wandering for many years, just like Tolkien described him.
Boromir is my favourite as he suffers the most. He has promised to help Frodo destroy the Ring but he desires to take it to give some hope to his country Gondor, which has been fighting Mordor for many years. He talks about his trouble to Aragorn in Lorien and wins his sympathy. He tries to take the Ring from Frodo but immediately understands his mistake and dies defending Merry and Pippin and asking for forgiveness from Aragorn.
Finally, Saruman seams too powerful and too wise to join Sauron. His voice is truly magical. I hoped that he would come to senses and become a good guy again but I learned from the book that he would come not. Anyway, the way he frightens Gandalf in his minds is totally fantastic.
A genuine combination of a fairytale, art and special effects, with solid actors and camera-work makes the Lord of the Rings trilogy one of the greatest movies of our time.