The first time I watched “The Lord of the Rings” films was not ideal. I enjoyed the films immensely, but my 13-year old self chose to watch them on a 7-inch screen as my family drove from our home in Illinois to Orlando, Florida. Since that first viewing, I’ve seen these movies countless times and they remain some of my favorites. I consider them strongest trilogy ever made. Today, I’m watching all three of the movies for the first time since I became seriously interested and educated in film. If each movie holds up as well as “The Fellowship of the Ring,” I will be in for a good day.
In case you are somehow unfamiliar with this legendary tale, these movies follow a Hobbit named Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) as he attempts to destroy the One
…show more content…
(Lesnie won an Oscar for cinematography for his work). I also love a certain camera movement the duo uses several times, where the camera soars and zips through an environment, as it does when travelling from the top of Saruman’s tower into the pits below. Those shots are epic and exciting.
A final way Jackson is able to make us feel like we’re in Middle-Earth is by using the Oscar-winning score from Howard Shore, one of the best ever. Shore’s work can be hauntingly beautiful, stirring and downright creepy. The epic, trumpet-filled theme that plays at heroic moments never ceases to feel rousing. The use of operatic, choral chanting for the minions of evil, like the Nazgul, was also a brilliant choice as it wonderfully accentuates their villainy.
A final aspect of “The Fellowship of the Ring” that should be praised is the script by Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. I love how they adapted this book, one of my favorites, for the cinema. They make excellent choices on the parts to condense and parts that need to be fleshed out, like the backstory of Saruman’s betrayal. Sure, there are some things from the book I’d love to see brought to life (Tom Bombadil anyone?), but for the most part I’d point to this as the best example of how to lovingly adapt a beloved