The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring review

The first part of director Peter Jackson’s phenomenal movie trilogy is based, of course, on the first of JRR Tolkien’s famous three books about the hobbits, elves and other creatures who populate the land known as Middle Earth.

Hobbit (a small, hairy-footed creature) Frodo Baggins (Wood) is entrusted with a dangerous ring that can give the wearer great power. On the advice of wizard Gandalf (McKellen), Frodo and his friend Sam (Sean Astin) must leave their home and travel great distances to the one place, Mordor, where it can be destroyed, and they are accompanied by a fellowship elected to protect them: Gandalf, warriors Aragorn (Mortensen) and Boromir (Sean Bean), elf Legolas (Bloom) and dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies).

Translating a much-loved series of books to the screen was a massive task for Jackson to undertake – as well as including all the details and minor plot points fans would demand, he had to keep it exciting and interesting for viewers who had never read the novels – and he managed it brilliantly, filming the three movies in one go, over sixteen months, against stunning New Zealand scenery.

It’s a classic quest, packed with epic moments and an impressive cast (also including Christopher Lee as Saruman, Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, Liv Tyler as Aragorn’s love Arwen, and Hugo Weaving as Elrond). It’s dark and sinister and scary in places, funny and light in others – and brilliant throughout.

Do note that this is not a film for small children (who would have trouble sitting through the movie’s three-hour running time anyway), owing to elements such as the frightening-for-grown-ups-too Ringwraiths.