THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING

New Zealand, 2001, 180 minutes, Colour.
Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortenson, Ian Mc Kellen, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monahan, Cate Blanchett, Liv Tyler, Hugo Weaving, Christopher Lee, Sean Bean, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys Davies, Ian Holm.
Directed by Peter Jackson.

The Fellowship of the Ring is the first of a trilogy based on J.R.R.Tolkien's classic novel sequence, The Lord of the Rings, voted the novel of the 20th century. The movies were all made concurrently but scheduled for release at Christmas 2001, Christmas 2002 and Christmas 2003.

Animator, Ralph Bakshi, directed part of the trilogy in 1978. While critically well received, it was not a major box-office success, so no sequels were produced. New Zealand director, Peter Jackson, took up the challenge in the 1990s, co-writing the screenplay with long-time partner, Fran Walsh, and dramatist, Philippa Boyens and collaborating with New Line Films and the Weinstein brothers to produce the movies. Filming was all done in New Zealand, which provided spectacular scenery for Middle Earth locations as well as special effects companies who have excelled themselves in awe-inspiring images. Most of the technical crews are New Zealanders and the film is a tribute to skills which match any of those from Hollywood.

The cast is international. American Elijah Wood plays Frodo with both intensity and charm. Ian Mc Kellen is an imposing Gandalf. Christopher Lee is impressive as the evil Saruman. Peter Jackson has drawn unexpectedly fine performances from Viggo Mortensen, Sean Bean and Sean Astin as Sam.

What is impressive is the scope of the movie. Tolkien, like fellow Oxford don, C.S.Lewis, drew on English literary heritage to create a fantasy universe and describe it in meticulous detail. Jackson and his team match Tolkien's vision. They invited two illustrators of the Harper Collins edition of the novel to make numerous sketches which could be developed into sets. This means that the production design, costumes and make-up capture the Tolkien spirit.

The fantasy is mythic. It is an epic portrayal of the struggle between good and evil with huge armageddon-like battles. Yet, the focus of good is on a creature, barely a metre high, Frodo Baggins, a young hobbit. Frodo seems insignificant in his community. He rises to heroism in the crises, supported by friends, by warriors and by the sage wizard Gandalf. While Tolkien created this myth of Middle Earth, he drew on his religious background and his Catholicism to give his story stronger theological foundations. Peter Jackson is a cultural Catholic director in sympathy with this implicitly religious mythmaking.

1. The impact of the film? Cinematic achievement? The first of the trilogy? The intended audience? Audience response? Awards?

2. The work of J.R. Tolkien, the popularity of his books, the world that he created, the characters, the themes? Literary achievement? The adaptation?

3. The work of Peter Jackson and his team, the respect for Tolkien’s literature, their understanding of his books, the quality of the screenplay?

4. The re-creation of Tolkien’s world, Middle Earth? The three books? Fidelity, creative interpretation, dramatic interpretation? The visuals, the locations, the cosmic sense, Mordor and doom, the Shire and its lyrical presentation, the world of Saruman? The musical score?

5. Sets, costumes, special effects, the magic, the presentation of the Hobbits, the giant Gandalf, the various creatures, the battles, Gollum, the Ring itself?

6. The mythological world, the world of imagination? The influence of Tolkien and the films on world imaginations? The sagas? The religion dimension? The symbols? The Ring and good and evil? Magicians, elves, warriors, humans, Hobbits, heroes and villains? Quests and suffering? The end of part one and the anticipation of the second part?

7. The impact of the prologue, the formation of the Rings, the power of the Rings, the ninth Ring, Sauron and his power, the battles, the humans and the elves? The victory of Sauron? His cutting his finger, the explosion, the fall, the Ring going into the river, Gollum finding it, possessing it, losing it? Bilbo finding it? Keeping it for a long time?

8. Galadriel and the voice-over, the commentary, information, meanings?

9. The Shire, ordinary, its beauty, way of life, the Hobbits themselves, the introduction of Frodo, meeting Gandalf, laughing, Biblo and his small house, the visit of Gandalf? His birthday celebration, the fireworks, the speech and his vanishing, using the Ring as a joke?

10. Gandalf’s reaction? Bilbo, the effect of the Ring, wanting to possess it, Gandalf’s struggle? Bilbo and his leaving the Shire, going to write his memoirs? Frodo and his inheriting from Bilbo, the Ring?

11. Gandalf and his study, the meanings of the Ring? His own temptation? The commission to Frodo? Sam and his overhearing the story, Gandalf and his talking to Sam, Sam as Frodo’s guard, protection, friend?

12. Frodo setting out from the Shire, Sam and Frodo’s temptation about the Ring? Pippin and Merry? The Black Rider pursuing them, at the ferry, the inn and the suspicions of the people, Gandalf not arriving?

13. Gandalf and his friendship with Saruman, Christopher Lee and his style as Saruman, his voice, presence, white robe, beard? The two talking, Gandalf confiding? The issue of Sauran and his power? Saruman and his betrayal, his saying the only option was to join Sauron and share in the power? The fight with Gandalf, trapping him?

14. The appearance of Aragorn, disguised at the inn, Pippinn and Merry talking loudly, Frodo and the Ring, his disappearance? Aragorn and his wanting to protect Frodo? The riders coming, the pursuit, Aragorn explaining the Ring? Saving the Hobbits? The decision to go to Rivendale, Aragorn safeguarding them in the attack, Frodo’s danger?

15. Saruman, his crystal ball, his spells, evoking the Orcs, the monstrous nature, the attack on Frodo, the Ring and his defence? The accumulating aspects of terror in the pursuit, Frodo and the Hobbits escaping?

16. Arwen, appearing to Frodo, speaking in Elvish? Arwen and Aragorn meeting – the basis for the future and the end of the saga? Rescuing Frodo? Arwen talking to her horse, galloping across the plains, the wraiths in pursuit, the protection from the river, the flood and the white horses in the river? Arwen and her comment about the grace that had been given to her, to Aragorn? The vision of Elrond? Elrond and Gandalf and their arrival?

17. Elrond and Gandalf, the discussion about the Ring, the memories of Isildur and his keeping the Ring during the prologue, the flashback, his being possessed by the desire to have the Ring? The Council? The hope that would be in the future for men only, the elves dying? Introduction to Gimli, trying to destroy the Ring? The need to go to Mordor? The arrival of Boromir, his speeches, his revealing who Aragorn was? Legolas and his being part of the Council, Legolas and Gimli and their arguments?

18. Arwen and Aragorn, the lyric aspects, romance, the pledge and vision?

19. Frodo and the power of the Ring, his decision in the fact of the Council to go alone to Mordor, the establishing of the Fellowship, even including Sam, Pippinn and Merry? Frodo and his meeting Bilbo, Bilbo giving him the sword? Bilbo wanting to see the Ring once again – and his vicious shadow face emerging?

20. The trek, the Fellowship of the Ring and their mission, things going well, the birds? Then the snow, the hardship, Boromir and his temptation to have the Ring, the snow packs, along the paths? Sarumin watching? The voice and the avalanche?

21. The mines, the visuals of the mines, the plaques, Gandalf and his trying to get the password, the doors opening, the lake? The tombs? The monsters in the water, the fight with the swords and arrows? The background of the dwarfs, the cathedral-like ruins, the tomb and Gimli’s grief, the well for escape?

22. The Orcs at the door, the arrows, the giant monster and Frodo threatened, Aragorn saving him, the Hobbits fighting for Frodo? His being saved by the gift of Bilbo’s armour? The chase, their being surrounded, the fire? The Orcs fleeing? The Demon of the Ancient World in pursuit and their running? The pit, the bridge, Gandalf and his leap, the steps, firing the arrows, the collapse, Aragorn and Frodo cut off, the incline of the steps and their leaping to safety? Gandalf confronting the demon, saving the others? The demon and the sword – and falling, Gandalf falling into the abyss?

23. After Gandalf, the Lady of the Wood, her abode, the cathedral-like building, the ice-like cathedral? The arrival of Galadriel, her prophecy?

24. Boromir, the voices, his hopes, Aragorn and the memories of his father, his father, the people and loss of faith?

25. Galadriel – being presented as an icon? The feminine? Frodo following, the steps down, the water? Urging Frodo to look in the mirror? Seeing in the well? Seeing the attack on the Shire? Sam in chains? Frodo drawn into the well? The voices in Frodo’s mind, Galadriel and her prophecy? Galadriel and her heart – the test, greatly desiring the Rings? Passing the test? Not the Dark Lord but the Queen? The special effects of her temptation, the test, and her remaining as Galadriel, encouraging Frodo? “Even the smallest person can change the course of the future”? The gift of the star, the light, the image of the Virgin Mary?

26. Saruman, explaining the Orcs as captured and tortured elves? His hold over them, his use of them?

27. The entry by the vast river, the huge statues, a place of rest? Gimli and Legolas and the emerging of their characters, their tactics, Legolas and his sense of fear? Frodo alone? Boromir and his argument about the Ring, wanting it, the pursuit? Frodo using the Ring to disappear? Boromir, frantic and the curses?

28. Frodo, Aragorn and the test, Boromir fighting and his death? Aragorn under threat? The Hobbits leading off the monsters?

29. Frodo, his grief, Sam, remembering Gandalf, going to the boat, Sam chasing him, his saving Sam? The decision to go to Mordor? Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli and the sense of failure?

30. The end of the first part, the Fellowship – its quest, failure, the mission of Frodo and the sense of anticipation?