THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY Warning - Spoiler Alert. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Ultimate fantasy brilliance from director Peter Jackson, who takes on the legacy of J. R. R. Tolkien.
A small hobbit named Frodo has his world collide with evil, when he inherits a special ring that has a dark and violent history with its maker Sauron. The ring, with a power of its own, is trying to find its way back to its maker, and if the two are reunited, the future of Middle Earth will be extremely bleak. So, with help from a few special friends, Frodo must make his way to the ring’s birthplace, a fiery mountain, the only place it can be destroyed.
Frodo journeys with three other hobbits: Sam his best friend, and twin horrors Merry and Pippin, as well as Gandalf, a mysterious but kind-hearted wizard. Along the way, Frodo also meets an Elf called Legolas, a dwarf called Gimli, and a ranger called Stryder. As the fellowship attempts to make its way to destroy the ring, they face violent attacks from monstrous Orcs, as well as the powerful interference of a traitorous wizard called Saruman.
A wonderful introduction to the trilogy, Peter Jackson tackles the unending mythology and characters with wonderful competency. His attention to detail is incredible, and the visual delights of the film are truly moving. From the outset, a gorgeous fantasy world is thrust upon the viewer, where escapism is at its best, and we can delve into this magnificent world. The peril of the characters is utterly terrifying, moving from bad to worse with superb fluency.
Orchestral music accompanies the film beautifully, flowing through and between scenes, and the use of landscapes, mostly shot in New Zealand, creates a cinematic tapestry that is impossible to resist.
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
The second film, picking up right where the first leaves off, sees Frodo and Sam take off on their own, heading towards Mordor without the rest of the fellowship. The remaining members, are left to begin the fight against Sauron’s armies, including taking on the White Wizard Saruman.
Pippin and Merry are captured by Orcs, who take their catch back to Saruman. However, the hobbits manage to escape along the way, and run into a nearby forest for cover. There they learn about the dark secret that lies amongst the trees.
Stryder (whom we now know as Aragorn), Gimli and Legolas are in hot pursuit of the Orcs who took Pippi and Merry. But, along the way they discover another threat, Helms Deep, a massive fortress for King Theoden is likely to be attacked by the armies of Saruman, and the fellowship rushes to its aid.
Arguably the best film of the trio, The Two Towers is a gripping and sensational epic. The battle scenes, in particular the one at Helms Deep, are magnificent cinematic achievements, and the sheer devotion that has gone into the filming should be respected. The use of several storylines, or journeys, is put to good use in this film, making the three and a half hours fly by.
The same filmic genius has gone into this film as the first and last, it just seems the story is at its best, for me, within this section.
One of the best films ever made.
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
The last instalment, with so much ground to cover.
Frodo nears the end of his quest, but his success looks mightily unlikely, even those of the fellowship begin to lose hope. But, in the darkest of hours, some light will break through for the small hobbit.
Having claimed victory over Saruman at Isengard, the fellowship hope to strengthen their fight against the evil eye in the sky Sauron by using it to their advantage. However, the separate clans of man that spread across Middle Earth will have no chance against the mighty Orc armies if they cannot unite.
In a bid to improve Frodo’s chances in Mordor, Gandalf, Aragaorn and the others make their way towards Sauron as well, hoping to distract him whilst the hobbit destroys the ring. However, this means coming face to face with the unnerving numbers of monstrous creations that threaten the safety of man.
Another wonderful film, this time tying up all ends of an extraordinary story. The characters are fully blossomed, we are deeply involved in their struggle, and the epic battle scenes keep coming in all their medieval glory. Jackson stays on form, with some brilliant set pieces involving spirits and dragons that renew our interest, and keep things hot.
Performances within all three films are superb, in particular Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn, whose dark and gruff exterior juxtapose brilliantly with his heroic and honourable heart. Ian McKellan is also a mighty force within the films, taking on the legendary Gandalf with superior abilities.
The screenplay, written by Fran Walsh, is a compelling concoction. The moments of inner monologue that happen for several characters are truly revealing, and the film avoids any awkward, clichéd moments, and instead delivers captivating heart-felt honesty.
In conclusion, these films will stand up amongst the legendary feats of cinema. The magnitude of what Peter Jackson has achieved is extraordinary, and all gratitude is given to him and the cast and crew for delivering such awesomeness.
No comments:
Post a Comment