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| STORYLINE: Mainly just about this hobbit, Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), who is left a ring by his uncle, Bilbo and is intrusted to keeping it away from its Dark Lord master, Sauron. He journeys along, at first with his friend Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin), and they are then joined by two other hobbits, Pip (Billy Boyd) and Merry (Dominic Monaghan). As the action begins and the power of the Ring becomes more evident, they meet up, just in time, with a friend of Gandalf�s (Ian McKellen), named Aragorn (Viggo Mortenson). The five of them journey the long days, until they meet ring wraiths, Nazgul, who are after the ring. One of them stabs Frodo, and Arwen Evenstar (Liv Tyler), an elf, comes to deliver Frodo to her father, Elrond (Hugo Weaving) for recovery. In Rivendell, after much drama, it is decided what to do with the Ring- to destroy it- but only in the fires of Mount Doom, Mordor. Nine chose to accept the responsibility and challenge of accompanying the ring bearer, Frodo, to Mordor. Frodo, Legolas (Orlando Bloom), Gimli (John-Rhys Davies), Boromir (Sean Bean), Aragorn, Gandalf, Pippin, Merry and Sam set off from Rivendell on the long, endearing quest to Mordor. The basis of the movie is the Ring- it�s power and purpose and the affect it will have on Middle Earth. The film is formed around the aspect of what history will be like if the evil Ring is not destroyed. Many remarkable, unforgettable characters are evolved in this epic. It will leave you crying, smiling, open-mouthed and frustrated. Beautifully developed. Well worth it. RECOUNT: In Tolkien�s novels, the �Fellowship of the Ring� is the first book in the trilogy, but it came AFTER the novel named �The Hobbit�. In which, you are introduced to the character, Bilbo Baggins, and an old friend of his, Gandalf the Grey (a wizard). Now forget everything about reality, and step into the world of magic, fantasy and long-lasting spirit. CHARACTERS INCLUDE: Elves, hobbits, wizards, men, dwarves, orcs and goblins (and the occasional horse). FOCUS: That of a ring, which possesses all evil, as the Dark Lord Sauron forged it in MORDOR, Mount Doom. During a great war between the Dark Lord and elves and men, a man named Isildur had destroyed Sauron with a disoriented slash of his father�s broken sword. Though the ring was not destroyed � obviously. All evil was still enclosed inside the ring, with a mind of its own, and Isildur took it and kept it from himself (actually he got a chance to destroy it, but the ring took his greed). Isildur, a man of great greed, died soon after, as the ring soon betrayed him. It sank to the earth, and there, it was forgotten. After many years, a creature called Gollum discovered it in the soils and kept it for 10, 000 years (a hell of a long time). During that time Gollum lost all identity and went mad � until the ring abandoned him, only to be unintentionally picked up by a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. This is where it begins! If you have read the novel, �The Hobbit�, you would have already followed Bilbo through his countless adventures. Bilbo keeps the ring for 500 years, and hardly ages during that time. When Bilbo leaves his humble home The Shire, in Hobbiton, he also leaves behind the ring to his nephew, Frodo Baggins. Frodo immediately becomes the protagonist, after Gandalf discovers that the Dark Lord Sauron has awakened and is after his ring of power so he can conquer all evil. Frodo is appointed to Ring-Bearer, and, along with his companion Samwise Gamgee, sets out to keep Sauron away from its ring. Quickly, the two trouble-makers of The Shire, �Pippin� Took and �Merry� Brandybuck join up with the duo to make a foursome. They begin running from nine creatures called �Nazgul� that are neither living nor dead. They sense the ring at all times and constantly hunt the ring-bearer. The evil Nazgul chase the four hobbits to Brie- an inn called the Prancing Pony, where there unintentionally meet up with a man by the name of Strider (who is later revealed as Aragorn- heir of Isildur). Strider saves them from the Nazgul as they enter the inn, and then becomes the leader of the journey. On the way to Rivendell, the tiresome five stop at an old lookout to rest for the night, where the Nazgul catch up with them and attempt to steal the ring. A Nazgul stabs Frodo in the shoulder, but Strider comes to the rescue and fights them away. Arwen, an elven princess, finds them when Frodo is near death and takes him on her horse to Rivendell. There, the Nazgul chase her until the river envelops them in waves. At Rivendell, Frodo recovers with the help of Arwen�s father, Elrond, and a council is held to decide the fate of the Ring. Dwarves, elves and men attend. Legolas, Gimli, Boromir, Aragorn, Gandalf, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin set off on their quest to destroy the One Ring. They travel upon cliffs, rocks, slopes, freezing snow and pitch-black mines. A great fight with orcs and a cave troll is included as the group pass through Moria (dwarf mines). But, they encounter more fire and devilry than they intend. Really radical scenes as they approach the bridge of Kaza d�m. Legolas is the hero, of course. By the time they reach Lothlorien, the elven woods where the elf witch Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) roams, there are only eight companions remaining. After a peaceful sleep, the fellowship leave the shores in elf boats and head to Amon Hen, where little do they know the Uruk Hai is following them. When they reach the shores once again, Boromir tries to steal the powerful ring from Frodo. It drives him mad! Frodo then decides to take the Ring to Mordor, alone. He flees. The Uruk Hai arrive, leaving Aragorn, Legolas Gimli and Boromir with nothing to do but fight. Pip and Merry hide behind trees, but decides to destract the orcs so Frodo can leave. Boromir defends them � and dies; three arrows to the chest. The remaining Uruk Hai takes the two hobbits captive, and Sam finds Frodo and accompanies him to Mordor. Legolas makes the cutest faces. All in all, heads are cut off, arrows are fired, promises are made and evil grows. I find it amazing how a movie can be based on a teeny little ring. I agree with Boromir when he says, �It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing � such a little thing �� ONE WORD: Everything |
| ~ Movie Review ~ Fellowship of the Ring. |