AFI Top 100: #50
Catching up on massively beloved franchises that I have never experienced before is always one of the most rewarding things for me and even though this was my first time seeing Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, practically every expectation I had was met AND surpassed. This film is one of the most astounding sci-fi/fantasy stories ever made and might just well be the most faithful adaptation of an epic in modern cinema. There are so many aspects to adore about this film, from the devoted performances to the thrilling storytelling to the absolutely stunning visuals and there is frankly nothing that I (or anyone for that matter) could suggest to change regarding how impactful this story is. I have never been too into medieval content or anything along the lines of novel-based fantasy but I have a strong feeling that is going to change. This is the best start to a franchise I have ever seen and along with the perfect blend of heart, humor, and action, this might be the start of my new addiction.
In Middle-earth, there exist twenty rings, one of which belongs to the evil entity Sauron (Sala Baker), who devotes his life to corruption. Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) has entrusted a young hobbit named Frodo (Elijah Wood) and his group of allies to take Sauron's evil ring to Mount Doom to destroy it and along the way, he must endure some of the most terrifying and mystical trials to ever exist. Adapted from the classic novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, this film contains one of the most heartfelt and genuinely exciting stories I have ever seen. The script, written by Fran Walsh, Phillippa Boyens, and the director Peter Jackson himself, is absolutely wonderful and perfectly captures the inspiring sense of adventure that radiates throughout this entire film. As we start the film with an amazingly ominous prologue, the audience is able to get a great sense of the world that we are about to uncover and Jackson sets it up incredibly well. Traversing throughout the film, however, is the best part, as the script flawlessly maneuvers from drama to fantasy to wonder to comedy without ever missing a beat. This film actually had a much more lighthearted tone than I expected and even in the most dramatic or dire of scenes, I felt like there was an airiness to it that I genuinely appreciated. Too many fantasy and sci-fi films take themselves too seriously but with The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Jackson knows how to perfectly balance the tone of this story. He never lets the film get too serious but also never pretends like the story is to be laughed off and this embrace of joyously fantastical storytelling pays off quite handsomely. Jackson's direction was just spectacular and he paces this film with ease as his cast of characters journey from one distinct location to the next. The heart of this film, however, lies in its characters and while the cast itself may be enormous, it never felt overwhelming with how much diversity there was in the characters' backgrounds. I think that the very ending of this film speaks to just that because simplifying the story down to just Frodo and his friend Samwise (Sean Astin) while the rest of the characters go about their subplots is an absolutely stellar way to continue this franchise into its final two installments.
If there is one thing about this film that I have known about for years now but was not allowed to speak on due to me not having ever seen it is the visuals. Fantasy films are almost required to be interesting to look at but I feel as if too many, even from the time period around 2001, rely far too heavily on one technique. Either the entire film feels fake due to the overuse of CGI and computer animation or the entire film feels amateurish and cheap due to poorly designed costumes and sets. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, however, strikes the perfect balance between the two to make this universe as visually pleasing as all hell. The costuming throughout this film is wondrous and it was so mesmerizing to see how every character really had their own unique style. I could tell every race of mystical character apart very easily and the absolute range of costumes and set design build this world better than I would have ever believed. The computer side of the visuals is what really impressed me, however, as the CGI and VFX absolutely blew me away. It is no wonder why this movie has become so renowned for its visuals and at this point, it is practically a baseline for what your fantasy-adventure film should look like. Although I still do not think many other films have achieved the level of artistry and pure care that this one has, it is still flabbergasting to see how well this film has held up. The performances from the entire cast were also fantastic and it is so rare that a cast as big as this all get along so well and all actually seem like they are happy to be there on set. The performances from Wood, Astin, and McKellen were stupendous and while this film is also occupied by the talents of Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Sean Bean, Christopher Lee, and John Rhys-Davis among others, it was great seeing them all so devoted to their parts. This cast is one of the best ensembles ever assembled and the sheer passion that can be seen in their performances just truly cements how much better a film can be when it's made by a bunch of nerds.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is an undisputed work of pure art whose three-hour runtime flies by like no one's business. Peter Jackson has undoubtedly made a name for himself for a reason and with this franchise, I really believe that he might be one of the best fantasy filmmakers to ever have lived. Even though I have never been too into the fantasy genre, this film has undeniably helped to change my mind and I can thank Jackson for that as well. Now all I need to do is devote myself to watching the extended versions if I ever want to call myself a TRUE fan.
My Rating: ★★★★½
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