Spotlight

Spotlight Date: 12-October-03
Spoiler Rating: Low

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

This time next year, the phenomenon of Peter Jackson's groundbreaking, three-part epic "The Lord of the Rings" will be moving away from the theater and rental charts to enjoy a well earned and probably long lived position in private collections, All-Time-Best lists, and the annals of cinematic history. So now, before the finale brings it full circle and the trilogy gels into one long film, it seems like a good idea to look back at the movie that started it all. For while "The Fellowship of the Ring" may be part of a larger saga, it stands alone as a work of art, a picture of monumental beauty that picks you up whole and transports you somewhere you never dreamed of, but always wanted to go.

Based on the first book of J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy classic, "The Fellowship of the Ring" is set in motion by a quest, and from this it derives its greatest strength. More than either of its sequels (I think I can safely say), the first part of the trilogy induces the powerful impression of momentous travel, of leaving behind a simple and peaceful life and trudging off to faraway places full of wonder, majesty, and danger. The hero, a young hobbit (i.e., small, hairy fellow) named Frodo Baggins, inherits a Ring of dire power and must venture out into the world in order to destroy it. As he wends his way farther and farther from home --- first in the company of three other hobbits and then in fellowship with a wizard, a dwarf, an elf, and two men --- Frodo witnesses things he never imagined: magnificent landscapes; incredible cities of wood, earth and stone; an enlightening array of creatures and races; astounding evidence of magic at work; and incidents of camaraderie, bloodshed, and courage in which he plays in integral part. Director Peter Jackson and his co-visionaries take Frodo's journey of discovery and turn it into a palpable, penetrating experience; rooted to what has been left behind and committed to what lies ahead, we approach every new act with anticipation and absorb every new scene as a revelation.

Jackson and his partners (Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens) wrote a script that both honors and improves upon the source material, maintaining the overall tone and structure of Tolkien's work while bringing out certain themes which tighten the story (e.g., hope, which is embodied by Frodo's trusty friend Sam, sought by the destiny-driven man Aragorn, and inaccessible to the tragic hero Boromir). Even the much ballyhooed changes to the role of the elf maiden Arwen hit the mark; an attempt to generate an important female character ends up adding depth to the tale without harming its foundation. Jackson's careful attention to the screenplay is reflected in his selection of actors, a mix of little or moderately known Europeans, Americans, and Australians (now adored the world over) who bring not only talent but highly distinctive faces to the roles, allowing them to take some of literature's most fiercely cherished characters and make them their own. (Most notable here are Sir Ian McKellen as the wizard Gandalf and Sean Bean as Boromir.)

Of course, every great adventure film relies as much on breathtaking visuals as on character and plot, and this is where "The Fellowship of the Ring" really shines. The New Zealand locations provide the perfect backdrop for the creation of fantastical scenes, whether through set construction (the cozy and inviting Shire), digital wizardry (the great hall of Moria), or the simple application of a wide-angle lens. With a natural eye for beauty, Jackson manipulates detail as well as scope, turning the glint of gold on snow into a portrait of desire, and a silhouetted horseman into an image of dazzling terror. Just as fluidly, he mounts moments of action that bring to life the full impact of a cave troll's hammer, the terrible force of primeval fire, the deadly skill of an elf in battle, the ferocity of ignorant hatred, and the bloody defiance of a warrior's last stand --- in short, all the sights, sounds, and sensations involved in the gritty business of saving the world. The superb visual effects of "The Fellowship of the Ring" are in turn enhanced by Howard Shore's gorgeous soundtrack, the essential influence of which cannot be overestimated.

As Frodo once learned from his uncle Bilbo, it's a dangerous business going out your door, because there's no knowing where you might be swept off to. Watching "The Fellowship of the Ring" is like taking a step out onto the road: it leads to an adventure of such power that your dreams and fantasies may never be the same again. As such, it starts off the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy on the right foot, but it creates its own distinct memories as well.

Copyright © 2003 The Jujube (M. I. Kim). All rights reserved.