rating:
(out of
4 stars)New Zealand, United States; 2001
Directed by Peter Jackson; produced by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Barrie M. Osborne, Tim Sanders; screenplay by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens
Starring Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Sean Bean, Billy Boyd, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Cate Blanchett, Liv Tyler, Hugo Weaving, John Rhys-Davies, Andy Serkis, Dominic Monaghan, Sean Astin
The first film from the trilogy stays the best I guess, although it is hard to choose between this one and 'The Return of the King'. The latter has more action and was a little more entertaining, but 'Fellowship' really tells a story, introduces and develops characters, feels fresh and completely new in the way how everything is presented. It is at least way better than the first sequel, 'The Two Towers', although that one introduced Gollum.
'Fellowship' starts with a history of the Ring that brings them all, and in the darkness binds them. Then the introduction can begin. We meet wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) and hobbits named Bilbo (Ian Holm), Frodo (Elijah Wood), Sam (Sean Astin), Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) on a party because hobbit Bilbo is leaving. He leaves a couple of things, including a ring, to Frodo. Soon Gandalf discovers what the ring really is, evil at least, and Frodo has to start his journey to Mount Doom where the ring can be destroyed. On the way the Fellowship is formed. Gandalf, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Boromir (Sean Bean), an elf named Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and a dwarf named Gimli (John-Rhys Davies) join Frodo on his quest to save the world. The creator of the ring, Sauron, wants it back and does everything to achieve his goal.
With great visual effects and a stunning cinematography director Peter Jackson shows us this story. He gives smaller characters like elves Elrond (Hugo Weaving), Aragorn's love interest Arwen (Liv Tyler), and Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), enough screen time to make them interesting, but not too much, which would make it distracting. The world of the elves is one of those computer generated world that seems flawless; it looks beautiful.
Although most things are done pretty good the movie has its flaws. The first part of the movie is a little slow since a lot of characters need to have some introduction. I have also some problems with the fact that you can create anything, anytime, anywhere in a fantasy movie. As soon as things get close to boring you can make up a monster, and here the movie does that a couple of times. Maybe I have to blame Tolkien's book here, but you notice these things better in a movie. A third flaw are the performances from especially the hobbits. They are not always that good. Sean Astin becomes pretty annoying after a while. On the other hand, Ian McKellen is close to perfect as Gandalf and Viggo Mortensen is superb as a hero. It is very easy to believe why people would follow a guy like that.
Although I think the single movies are overrated, as a trilogy 'The Lord of the Rings' is some kind of a masterpiece. In the end 'The Fellowship of the Ring' itself is perfect entertainment. Flaws are easy to forget in a movie like this. A visual feast nicely directed by Peter Jackson. Everyting is accompanied by a very memorable score from Howard Shore, who has a big hand in the grand feeling the film will give you.