LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

VHS COVER/SIDE

Length of film:  179 Minutes (Extended: 228 Minutes)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy

Director: Peter Jackson

Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Sean Austin, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Bean, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee

IMDB Rank: 8.8/10

Part 1 Time: 93 Minutes (Extended: 109 Minutes)

Part 2 Time: 86 Minutes (Extended: 119 Minutes)

Where does the first part end? 

Theatrical: Elrond (Hugo Weaving) calls a council to decide what should be done with the Ring in Rivendell. The ring can only be destroyed by throwing it into the lava of Mount Doom, where it was forged. Mount Doom is located in Mordor and is an incredibly dangerous journey. Frodo (Elijah Wood) volunteers to take the Ring to Mount Doom. He is accompanied by his hobbit friends, Gandalf (Ian McKellen), Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), the Elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom), the Dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) and Boromir (Sean Bean), the son of the Steward of Gondor. Together they comprise the Fellowship of the Ring.

Extended: Aragon gazing over Gilraen’s Memorial as Elrond approaches from a distance.

Final line of dialogue on the first part: 

Theatrical: Merry the Hobbit states “Great where are we going?”

Extended: Aragon states, “I do not want that power, I never wanted it.” Elrond responds, “You are the last of the bloodline, there is no other.”

First line of dialogue on the second part: 

Theatrical/Extended: “My old sword, here, take it take it!” Bilbo speaking to Frodo in Rivendell.

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Minimal, all characters are currently safe in Rivendell, but as seen in the first part, this is dangerous journey that is far from over and will bring the group of characters across Middle-earth.

Which part is better? Part two demonstrates the true strength of the ring, putting stain and fear among the members of the fellowship. The rings influence threatens to destroy the fellowship and be found by Sauron loyalists. Part two is given the edge.

Academy Awards: Best Cinematography, Best Makeup, Best Music- Original Score, Best Effects- Visual Effects, Best Picture (Nominated), Best Supporting Actor (Nominated-Ian McKellen), Best Director (Nominated), Best Writing- Based on Material Previously Produced or Published (Nominated), Best Art Direction- Set Decoration ( Nominated), Best Costume Design (Nominated), Best Film Editing (Nominated), Best Music- Original Score (Nominated), Best Sound (Nominated).

National Film Registry: 2021