The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Cinema Release Date: December 19, 2001
Film already available on DVD since: November 23, 2006
Directed by Peter Jackson
With Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, more
Original title: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
American feature film, New Zealand. Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Action
Time: 02h45min Production Year: 2001

                                          The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Trailer

The adventure had begun well before 2001. At the time I was still subscribed to Mad Movies and every issue, it was entitled to a little article in which they began to penetrate Middle Earth.

I knew absolutely nothing of what Lord of the Rings except that it was deemed inappropriate to the cinema. I understood why people liked it when I heard about it from my friends who had read the book.

For several years I have read many things about this movie. And I found it was curious that Peter Jackson does not try to defend his project to the incessant attacks journalists who accused him of taking strangers in his illustrious film or do not know how to manage settings or something like that. Then we know that no journalists were permitted question its legitimacy before reading it.

But Peter Jackson will say nothing, he'll be rather generous to his creitics. Until the Cannes Film Festival in which he was also locked in a room, in which 150 journalists asked him to spend 35 minutes to answer their questions. Then his project on the Lord of Ring was opened to its public. 

                                   The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Gandalf fights Saruman

Although finally newspapers were not unanimous on it and doubted his success in the future, he just did his job. Until December 2001, we discovered that he was a genius in directing this movie. I went to watch this movie in a local cinema before reading its literary adventure. Yet I knew that it was so fantastic. The discovery of this first episode opens a new path in film, with which Peter Jackson brings us full head in almost three hours. It introduces the characters and situation, helps us to know everything evolving around it.

                                 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Soundtrack with Orchestra

It magnifies his subject, leaving nothing to chance. He experimented with optical illusions, pushing the boundaries and using principles with the help of computer technologies. The natural settings are very few retouched, making it even more beautiful.

Yet, one feels a certain sense of unfinished business. The duration should not exceed 3 hours of footage. In any case, the door is open to the adventure that it had never been told until now. And Jackson always knew he had settled as a master in cinemas for three years.

In 2002, The Fellowship of the Ring was released in DVD. I knew then that in November, a collector would arrive in stores, but I was still doubtful about its content and especially on the half an hour that Jackson had added to his film. Most of the time, additions are not used very well and people even sabotage which was more perfect.

However, following November, I let myself be tempted by this edition. It is clear that Jackson is not a man to fuck the mouth of these fans. The added 35 minutes makes the film more understandable, more complete. So that when I speak of the Lord of the Rings, I systematically asked which version is meant. For those who persist in looking loop versions have never seen The Lord of the Rings.

With regard to bonuses and also the photos or production design, making of the game begins with 45 minutes of reporting on Tolkien. Then we know who this man was and how he came to write the most powerful work of the 20th century. The rest is devoted to develop the film, create sets, costumes, weapons, tracking, scenario, etc. ...

Packed with anecdotes, we learn everything about the film, the idea to the premiere. We learn, for example, that Jackson wanted to adapt King Kong, but his project was aborted by Universal, the company in which he must appear in each of these priority projects.

Back in New Zealand, frustrated, Jackson told his colleagues (who were already working on King Kong, believing that this would be the next film to box) that we should forget the gorilla and in return, then they offered the Lord of the Rings. Panic!

Everyone knows what Lord of the Ring and everybody knows it is deemed unsuitable. Yet Jackson does not disarm, he finishes a scenario in two parts. Although Universal is not convinced, Jackson was allowed to solicit other production houses. The doors are closed one by one finally. But his boss asked Jackson why he would do two films, while the customer would pay for three? The Lord of the Rings trilogy was born. And when you consider the money it has generated, we can rightly say that Universal has earned a lot.