A Reel 20 - THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING

 “Even the smallest of things can change the world.”

This month marks the 20^th anniversary of Peter Jackson’s THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. 

 

Prior to 2001, J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy world of Middle-Earth, populated with wizards, dragons, elves, trolls, hobbits, and magic rings…was restricted to the world of animation with mixed results. There were two made-for-TV films in 1977 and 1980, and one bizarre and incomplete feature film in 1978. The fanbase was low-key and under the radar, and most studios and filmmakers considered the large and dense books to be unfilmable. 

 

That began to change in 1997, when New Zealand filmmaker Peter Jackson finally overcame many starts, stops, and legal challenges to bring Middle-Earth to the big screen. The original plan was adapt the books into two parts, but upstart studio New Line Cinema committed to three, and the road to the One Ring began. 

 

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING was a labor of love for Jackson, who considered the text to be his favorite book. Along with screenwriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, and long-time Tolkien artists Alan Lee and John Howe, Middle-Earth and it’s fantastic characters and places began to take form. 

 

The large cast would be forged of well-established actors. Elijah Wood would take on the role of Frodo Baggins; the young hobbit who comes into possession of the One Ring…the small, yet powerful object which would eventually lead to a war. He was joined by Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Sean Astin, John Rhys-Davies, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Orlando Bloom, Sean Bean, Ian Holm, Andy Serkis, Billy Boyd, and Dominic Monaghan. Stuart Townsend was originally cast as the heroic Aragorn/Strider…the exiled future king of men, only to be replaced by Viggo Mortensen. Filming for all three movies would begin in New Zealand and would last an entire year. Visual effects would be a combination of practical and new techniques in CGI. Howard Shore would compose the score. 

 

Upon release, THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING would become a hit with fans, critics, and the rest of the world…setting a box office record (at the time) for a December release and earning high acclaim. At the 74^thAcademy Awards, it would win four Oscars out of 13 nominations; Cinematography, Makeup, and Original Score. It would win Best Film at the BAFTA’s, with Jackson winning Best Director. Ian McKellen would take home a SAG Award. 

 

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Today, THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING is considered to be one of the best, and most influential films of all time. It elevated fantasy to a higher level of legit cinema; becoming a genre now accepted by stuffy critics and award circles, and high-brow actors, actresses, and filmmakers. The works of J.R.R. Tolkien became household names, and the film, along with its two sequels released over the next two years, would be the biggest entry into pop culture since STAR WARS. Its visual effects techniques would set a new standard into the modern era, and its long-form storytelling would blaze the trail for future, big-budget sci-fi and fantasy films. 

 

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In December of 2001, This Blogger and a group of friends gathered to see FELLOWSHIP for the first time. That night would be the first step in a journey that has lasted to this day. We would all re-unite each December for the next two years and two films, and along the way we would discover our own Fellowship. The themes of loyalty; being true to each other despite challenges, time, and distance…resonated with us then and is everlasting now. Three members of our Fellowship were in This Blogger’s wedding, and over the years our bonds have proven to be hard as dragon scales. THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING was an instant landmark for us and for cinema; presenting us with visuals never seen before, and its overarching themes of hope and loyalty was exactly what the world needed as it arrived just two months after 9/11. THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING was no small feat, but it changed the world, and still retains its timeless appeal. Each December This Blogger runs a marathon of all three films; for his Fellowship, for the last 20 years, and for the next 20. 

 

“All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you.”