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

Director:

Peter Jackson

Writers (WGA):

J.R.R. Tolkien (novel)
Fran Walsh (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

19 December 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy

Tagline:

The Legend Comes to Life

Plot:

In a small village in the Shire a young Hobbit named Frodo has been entrusted with an ancient Ring. Now he must embark on an Epic quest to the Cracks of Doom in order to destroy it.

Plot Keywords:

Ring | Hobbit | Doom | Middle Earth | Ancient

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 75 wins & 84 nominations

Cast

Alan Howard	...	The Ring (voice)
Noel Appleby	...	Everard Proudfoot
Sean Astin	...	Samwise 'Sam' Gamgee
Sala Baker	...	Sauron
Sean Bean	...	Boromir
Cate Blanchett	...	Galadriel
Orlando Bloom	...	Legolas Greenleaf
Billy Boyd	...	Peregrin 'Pippin' Took
Marton Csokas	...	Celeborn
Megan Edwards	...	Mrs. Proudfoot
Michael Elsworth	...	Gondorian Archivist
Mark Ferguson	...	Gil-Galad
Ian Holm	...	Bilbo Baggins
Christopher Lee	...	Saruman
Lawrence Makoare	...	Lurtz

Also Known As:

The Fellowship of the Ring (USA) (short title)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Motion Picture (USA) (promotional title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for epic battle sequences and some scary images. (also special extended edition)

Runtime:

178 min | 208 min (special extended edition)

Country:

New Zealand | USA

Language:

English | Sindarin

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES | Dolby Digital EX | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Finland:K-11 (re-rating) | Finland:K-15 (original rating) | Malaysia:U | Ireland:PG | South Korea:12 | Netherlands:16 (extended edition) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Denmark:11 | Denmark:15 (special extended edition) | Finland:K-15 (special extended edition) | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Germany:16 (special extended edition) | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:12 | Israel:PG | Italy:T | Japan:PG-12 | Mexico:B | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M (special extended edition) | New Zealand:PG | Norway:11 | Peru:14 | Philippines:G | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 (certificate #38473) | Greece:K-13

Filming Locations:

Arrowtown Recreational Reserve, Arrowtown, Otago, New Zealand

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

Although David Bowie was said to be keen on playing Elf Lord Elrond, the part went instead to Hugo Weaving.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Arwen and Aragorn are alone together on a bridge in Rivendell, her lips are moving while he is speaking.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Galadriel: The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it. It began with the forging of the Great Rings. Three were given to the Elves, immortal, wisest and fairest of all beings...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Conan: The Rise of a Fantasy Legend (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Flaming Red Hair

Wow!

Breathtaking. Unique. Captivating. Enchanting.

Within minutes of the start of this first chapter of an undeniably epic trilogy, the audience was left gasping at the intensity of the images on the screen. And we had nearly three hours to go.

The scope of Tolkien's masterpiece may have eluded film-makers for decades, but director Peter Jackson makes good on his promise: he has not only brought us the tale of Frodo and his bold companions, he has brought us Middle Earth. And believe me, it is BIG. Sweeping vistas and hang-onto-your-seat camera shots send us zooming through the towering cities and citadels of Tolkien's imagination.

But even more impressive than the stunning visuals and sound-effects-like-you've-never-heard-before are the actors who breathe life into the characters. Ian McKellen's portrayal of Gandalf is nothing short of awe-inspiring, and Elijah Wood's Frodo is one of the most unexpectedly captivating performances I've seen in a long time. The despair, terror, and determination of the Fellowship is all there, in spades. I left the theater aching...from tensing every muscle during the fight and flight sequences--the breathless and compelling kind we haven't seen since Spielberg gave us a desperate charge onto the D-Day beaches of Normandy.

Those unfamiliar with Tolkien's world may quickly find themselves lost in it, but happily so. The depth of his creation cannot be grasped in a few hours, and it doesn't need to be; the struggle of good against evil explodes on the screen, and leaves little room for complaint.

The movie ended with a stunned audience sitting on the edges of their seats, feeling somewhat bereft. We were exhausted, but no one wanted to wait a year for more.

Jackson's ambitious first chapter is truly unlike anything you've seen this year. George Lucas and Chris Columbus take note: this is how you deliver on a cinematic promise.

For everyone else: don't you dare miss it.