With THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, director Peter Jackson has achieved a meticulous and captivating adaptation of the first book of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic fantasy trilogy. The setting is Middle-earth, a mythological land populated by elves, dwarves, humans, and the gentle, diminutive hobbits upon whom the story centers. One hobbit, Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), unexpectedly comes into possession of an ancient magical ring so powerful it invariably corrupts anyone who wears it. In order to prevent the ring's erstwhile owner, the dark lord Sauron, from reclaiming the ring and taking over Middle-earth, a motley band of comrades set out to destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom, where it was forged. Included in the group are Frodo and hobbits Sam (Sean Astin), Merry (Dominic Monoghan), and Pippin (Billy Boyd); the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen); human warriors Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) and Boromir (Sean Bean); the dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies); the elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom). Along the way, they wage battle with monsters, demons, and Sauron's evil minions, all brought to life by spectacular digital technology.
Jackson's grandiose production represents the first of three films that he wrote and directed, derived from Tolkien's beloved novels. Fourteen months in the making, at a cost of $270 million, all three installments were filmed at once in New Zealand where diverse landscapes lend themselves particularly well to the mystical realm of Middle-earth. The trilogy also includes THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS and THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING.
critical reviews
"...The playful spookiness of Mr. Jackson's direction provides a lively, light touch..."
- New York Times
"...A faithful and visually spectacular adaptation of the first volume in Tolkien's trilogy....RINGS has moment of edge-of-the-seat excitement..."
- USA Today
"...FELLOWSHIP is the real deal, a movie epic that pops your eyes out, piles on thrills and fun, and yet stays intimately attuned to character..." - Rolling Stone
"...[The film] looks to please the book's legions of fans with its imaginatively scrupulous rendering of the tome's characters and worlds on the screen....McKellen delivers Gandalf with great relish and gusto..."
- Variety
"...Jackson has captured something of the depth, breadth, and melancholy grandeur of Tolkien's vision. And that is magic, indeed..." - Box Office
"...Jackson has translated the best-loved fantasy novel of our age into a commanding screen adventure, one with a sense of human terror and danger and grit under its nails..."
- Sight and Sound
"...Well-made and well-cast....Masterfully paced and one of those rewarding movies that seems to get better as it progresses..."
- Hollywood Reporter
users who liked this item also liked these items...
"I still remember when I went to the theater to see this, dragged along by my DH. I had low expectations -- and I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY. I went home and read the whole series, starting with The Hobbit. I love the books and the movies. These are the classics that defined fantasy for many authors and readers to come. A MUST SEE."
"It's good moviemaking; this series deserved the Oscar.... However, this first installment just cuts off without notice. I know it's to be continued, but there should be some sort of wrap up and some sort of set up. The Star Wars trilogy was made to be a trilogy from the start, too, but each movie can stand on it's own while delivering excitement..." see more
For personal
use only. All rights reserved. (click for more)
books
music
movies
games
have it
we want to hear what you think!
rating saved!
