Released: 2001
Directed By: Peter Jackson
Written By: J.R.R Tolkien (book) , Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh.
Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen
Rating: PG-13
Rent or Buy?: Definately Buy!!!
"One Ring To Rule Them All."
Story:
Prologue: It began with the forging of the great rings, three were given to the elves who were immortal, seven to the dwarves who are excellent craftsmen, and nine given to the race of man who above all desire power for withing these rings was the strength to govern Middle Earth but they were all decieved for within the land of Mordor, the dark lord Sauron forged a ring of power to rule them all. In this ring he poured his malice, cruelty and his will to dominate all races. The free-lands of Middle Earth fell to the power of the ring, but some fought against it, an alliance of elves and men fought against the ring on the slopes of Mount Doom where it was created. Victory was near when Isildur was able to cut off Sauron's fingers with his father's sword causing him to die. Isildur had the chance to destory the ring but the ring corrupted him. The ring lead Isildur to his death and lay waiting for years until it was picked up by the creature Gollum who took it with him into his cave in the Misty Mountains where it poisoned his mind for 500 years and then it betrayed Gollum and was picked up by a hobbit from the Shire by the name of Bilbo Baggins.
The story then takes place when Gandalf the wizard enters the Shire to celebrate Bilbo Baggin's 111th birthday and meets up with Frodo the nephew of Bilbo. Later that night Gandalf entertains the hobbits at Bilbo's party with fireworks and Bilbo makes a speech and at the end puts the ring on and disappears. Bilbo returns to his home so he can pack and leave the Shire to finish the book. Gandalf is waiting for Bilbo at his house and convinces him to leave the ring to Frodo. Gandalf goes to pick up the ring but before he does he sees the eye of Sauron. Frodo then arrives at Bilbo's home and Gandalf tells him to keep the ring safe while he secretly goes to investigate about it. After doing much research Gandalf realizes that this may be Sauron's ring and reads that fire can reveal writing on it. He returns to the Shire but while returning, orcs in Mordor have captured the creature Gollum and tortured him until he uttered the words "Shire, Baggins" revealing to the Ring Wraiths where the ring is. Gandalf checks the ring and realizes that it is the one ring. Gandalf then tells Frodo to go to the town of Bree and wait for him at the Prancing Pont Inn where he will meet him and decide what to do as he plans to ask the head of his order Saruman. Gandalf then catches another hobbit Samwise Gamgee has been eves dropping and tells Sam to accompany Frodo to Bree. Gandalf then councils with Saruman but Saruman turns on him and after a fight using their powers Gandalf is defeated and is flung onto the roof of Saurman's tower where he is trapped. Meanwhile as they are leaving the Shire Sam and Frodo run into two other hobbits Pip Took and Merry Brandybuck who accompany Frodo and Sam to Bree. After many encounters with the Wraiths, the hobbits are able to make it to the inn in Bree but they realize Gandalf isn't there waiting for them like he said. While at the inn, a ranger by the name Strider has been watching the hobbits and Frodo slips at one point and the ring falls on his finger making him invisible until he takes it off. Strider then speaks with Frodo and the other hobbits about how Gandalf asked him to help. Strider then begins to take them to the city of Rivendale. On the way there they camp out at an old watch post and as Strider leaves to walk around Wraiths find the hobbits and one stabs Frodo but Strider appears to save them fighting off five Wraiths at once eventually causing them to flee. Strider then notices that Frodo has been stabbed with a Mordor blade and if he doesn't get him to the elves at Rivendale he will turn into a Wraith. On the way to Rivendale they meet up with an elf from there, Arwen, who takes Frodo herself to Rivendale but on the way there all nine Wraiths start chasing her and she eventually gets to her city and using the magic of the elves causes a giant wave of water to wash the Wraiths away. Frodo then awakens a few days later finding Gandalf by his side and Gandalf explains how he escaped Saurman's tower by escaping on a giant hawk which he summoned. A council of men, elves, and dwarves are then summoned to a council at Rivendale to decide who is to take the ring to Mordor to have it destroyed. After the human Boromir claims that the ring should be given to the people of Gundor to fight off the forces of Mordor it is then revealed that Strider's real name is Aragorn and that he is Isuldur's heir. There is then much debating as to who should take the ring and the Frodo volunteers to take the ring and Gandalf, Aragorn, the elf Legolas, Boromir, the dwarf Gimli, and the other hobbits decide to accompany Frodo being the Fellowship Of The Ring. Before leaving for Mordor, Frodo meets up with his uncle Bilbo who gives him his old sword which glows blue when orc are near and his old armor which is made of ethreal thats is as hard as dragon skin. Also before leaving Arwen and Aragorn speak to each other and it is revealed that they are in love with each other. While making for the Gap of Rohan, Gimli suggests they go under the mountain in the mines of Moria which are ruled by Gimli's cousin, but Gandalf knows the all the dwarves in the mines of Moria have been killed by orc and a demon called Shadow Flame. The Fellowship is then followed by spies of Saruman and start going over the mountains toward Mordor but Saruman begins making the mountain collapse on the Fellowship, Gandalf then leaves it up the Frodo to decide whether to continue on the mountain, the Gap of Rohan or the mines or Moria and he chooses the mines. When they get inside the mine the Fellowship sees nothing but dead dwarves and try leaving but are attacked by a sea creature and are forced to go back in the mines as the sea creature collapses the exit on itself. In the mines, Frodo also sees Gollum and Gandalf tells him that he has been following them for three days. While making their way through the mines Gimli runs off and finds his cousin's grave. While there Pip accidentally knocks a skeleton down a well causing lots of noise, orcs hear this and start attacking the Fellowship along with a cave troll, the Fellowship is able to fight off the troll and orcs and make for the exit but are then surrounded by orc when the demon Shadow Flame scares them off and the Fellowship can do nothing but run. Near the exit, Gandalf stands his ground on a bridge and causes Shadow Flame to break part of the bridge from his own weight but Shadow Flame is able to grapple Gandalf with its whip causing him to fall as well. The Fellowship exits the mines but must push on even though they have a loss. They make their way into woods where they meet up with elves and the Lady Of The Realm Galadriel. While there she exchanges words with Frodo and has him look into mirror water where he sees the Shire on fire and hobbits being enslaved and then he sees the eye of Sauron. He then offers the ring to Galadriel but she is able to resist the temptation of the ring and tells him that the Fellowship will break and one within will try and take the ring. The Fellowship then takes off on water continuing their journey to Mordor. Meanwhile Saruman has been making a huge army of orcs to take out the Fellowship and has them go to hunt them down. The Fellowship then takes rest on land and while out collecting wood Boromir falls to the corruption of the ring and tries taking it from Frodo, Frodo then puts the ring on and escapes. Frodo is then approached by Aragorn and then Aragorn realizes that Frodo must continue on by himself or else all of the members of the Fellowship will fall to the ring. Frodo's sword is then shown glowing blue, Saruman's army has found the Fellowship. Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas then start fighting off the huge army of orc giving Frodo time to escape where Pip and Merry then realize he is leaving, they then join in the battle too. The two hobbits then look like they are about to be captured when Boromir rushes in and starts fighting along side them killing many orc in the process. The leader of the orc army then shoots an arrow into Boromir, he falls to the ground but refuses to give up, he continues fighting off orc, then another arrow is shot into him, once again he refuses to give up, then a third arrow is shot into him and he falls to the ground and Pip and Merry are then captured by the orcs. The leader of the orc army then points his bow at Boromir's head, this looks like the end for him, when Aragorn then attacks the orc and they get into a fast paced battle but Aragorn eventually cuts off the orc's head. Then before he dies, Boromir tells Aragorn that the orcs took the two hobbits and Aragorn promises to Boromir that he will not let the race of men fail. While crossing the river, Sam catches up with Frodo and accompanies him to Mordor. Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn then make a vow to find Pip and Merry and chase after the remnants of the orc army. Frodo and Sam then look from a hill at the fires of Mount Doom and wonder if they will ever see Pip, Merry, Legolas, Gimli or Aragorn ever again.
Justin Whittaker's Review:
Peter Jackson is finally able to bring the story of the Lord Of The Rings to the live-action big screen. Although there are a few very small differences from the book and the movie Jackson does an excellent job of making this movie and I look forward with high hopes to "The Two Towers" and "The King Returns." Also alot of excellent acting by all the actors in this film and the special effects are top-notch for today.
* * * * stars out of 4 stars
SPECIAL TRIVIA: Look for a camero by Peter Jackson as one of the hobbits at Bilbo's party.
Hilarious/Memorable Quotes
Aragorn: Are you frightened ?
Frodo: Yes.
Aragorn: Not nearly frightened enough. I know what hunts you.
***
Boromir: (Gazing at ring as Gollum does) It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing. Such a little thing.
***
Aragorn: If by my life or death I can protect you, I will. You have my sword
Legolas: ...and you have my bow...
Gimli: ...and my axe.
Boromir: You carry the fate of us all little one.
***
Elrond: Nine companions, so be it. You shall be The Fellowship Of The Ring.
***
Gimli: Nobody tosses a dwarf!
***
Boromir: What is this devilry?
Gandalf: A Balrog. A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. Run!
***
Frodo: (talking about Gollum) It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance.
Gandalf: Pity ? It was a pity that the ring stayed in Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them Frodo ? Do not be too eager to deal out death and judgement. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or evil before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule that fate of many.
***
Aragorn: Gentlemen, we do not stop until night fall.
Pip: What about breakfast ?
Aragorn: You've already had one.
Pip: We've had one yes. What about second breakfast ?
Merry: I don't think he knows about second breakfast Pip.
Pip: What about elevenses ? Luncheon ? Afternoon tea ? Dinner ? Supper ? He knows about them doesn't he ?
Merry: I wouldn't count on it.
***
Boromir: (speaking of ring) It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this ring? Long has my father, the Steward of Gundor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay. By the blood of our people are your lands kept safe. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against them.
Aragorn: You cannot wield it, none of us can. The ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master.
Boromir: And what would a Ranger know of this matter?
Legolas: He is no mere Ranger! He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your Allegiance.
***
Saruman: We must join with him Gandalf. We must join with Sauron. It would be wise my friend.
Gandalf: Tell me, "friend," when did Saruman The Wise abadon reason for madness ?
***
Gandalf: (reading log in mines or Moria) They have taken the bridge and the second hall. We have barred the gates but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes, drums...drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A shadow lurks in the dark. We cannot get out...they are coming.
***
Gandalf: (standing ground against Shadow Flame) You cannot pass! I am a servent of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun. Go back to the Shadow. YOU SHALL NOT PASS!
***
Gimli: I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox
Haldir: A dwarf breaths so loudly, we could have shot him in the dark.
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Gimli: Let them come, there is one dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath.
***
Gandalf: Always remember Frodo, the ring is trying to get back to its master. It wants to be found.