The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Movie Review

The Fellowship of the Ring is the first installment of NewLine’s cinematic adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's literary trilogy. As a person who has never read the books, I was curious and interested but not overly excited to see how it all turned out. The film does not disappoint, and even those who have not read the books can enjoy the movie.

The film has its flaws, but it still manages to succeed in several areas where other movies of this type have previously failed. The movie is directed and co-written by Peter Jackson, who infuses it with a great deal of "real-world" edge and sensibility. Jackson brings humanity to the film's characters, making their situations involving and legitimizing a genre that often comes across as silly, distancing, gimmicky, and garish.

One of the most significant achievements of the movie is how it immerses us in its remarkably accessible on-screen world. Jackson is so effective in his world-building that when the film slides towards expected genre trappings and clichés, those moments seem incongruous and inorganic, hitting like a clap of thunder.

One of the film's essential characters is Frodo Baggins, played by Elijah Wood, a little person tasked with a big undertaking. Despite being upstaged by everything and everyone around him, the character's portrayal is not a criticism, per se, as that is precisely what the character is meant to be. Ian McKellen's performance as Gandalf is a showstopper in both power and subtlety. Liv Tyler's brief appearance in Fellowship also conveys surprising intensity and integrity, a commendable effort despite receiving snotty digs in previous reviews.

Christopher Lee, best known for portraying villains like Dracula in various unrespectable "B" movies, has a significant role in the LOTR trilogy. Lee is poised to enter general public awareness in the coming year with his portrayal of intergalactic super-badass Count Dooku in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. Lee's performance is a triumph for the underappreciated actor, and his cult status, which has been nearly mythological for decades, may finally break through mainstream awareness.

Fellowship does have a few bumps along the way, and some of the film's visual effects are not quite there yet. There are moments where things look a little too animated and artificial, such as the falling domino effect of an army being knocked down by an energy shockwave in the movie's prologue.

While the film's visual effects are not always seamless, they are still impressive and contribute to the film's immersive world-building. The costumes, set designs, and practical effects are all top-notch, further enhancing the film's sense of realism and grounding it in a tangible, lived-in world.

One of the most impressive aspects of the film is how it balances action, drama, and character development. There are plenty of thrilling action sequences, but they never feel gratuitous or mindless. Instead, they serve to advance the story and develop the characters. The drama is also expertly handled, with plenty of emotional moments that feel earned and genuine. This is due in no small part to the fantastic performances from the entire cast, who bring their characters to life with nuance and depth.

Overall, The Fellowship of the Ring is an incredibly impressive film that does justice to its source material while also standing on its own as a remarkable work of cinematic art. It's a testament to the power of film to transport us to other worlds and make us care deeply about characters and stories that are not our own. If you have yet to see it, I recommend you watch it.