#23: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
In our internet age, the word ‘epic’ has been perfectly and ironically reduced. Where the word was historically used primarily in academic circles to describe something truly grand in scale or scope, it has so seeped into our nomenclature that something as common and mundane as injuring an ankle in an ill-advised dance move or tripping over an uneven sidewalk can be described as “epic” fails. A meal can be “epic” if it tastes good enough; a joke can be “epic” if it sparks enough laughs; a video game moment can be “epic” if it simply impresses enough people. The word epic has become a punch line more than a pertinent artistic category.
The result is an increasing lack of sincerity: epic stories of the past—filled with tragic heroes and extended rises and falls and genuine thematic exploration of such grandiose topics as bravery and courage and love and justice—are received more often with sarcasm than with seriousness. When anything can be “epic,” a true epic story faces the daunting task of piercing through the skeptical and cynical contemporary mind, which sees all such efforts as self-absorbed, over-serious, or just flat out cheesy.
In spite of this dynamic, there are some gems that simply make it through, some stories that are filled with such intrigue or profundity or beauty that even the most reduced definition of “epic” cannot dilute it. Peter Jackson’s 21st-century filmic adaptations of Tolkien’s high fantasy work The Lord of the Rings serve as a standout example.
With its expansive lore, thematic richness, depth and breadth of characters, and intricate world-building, The Lord of the Rings had seemed for decades to be, in many ways, unadaptable. Tolkien himself wrote numerous letters to publishers and filmmakers claiming the story was “unfilmable,” providing numerous negative comments on scripts he had received from screenwriters attempting to adapt the story; even cinematic master Stanley Kubrick was quoted saying the story was too large and grand to adapt—and if Kubrick couldn’t manage it, who possibly could? So when the rights for the story were obtained and production began on Peter Jackson’s trilogy, skepticism was the primary response.
Yet Jackson’s commitment to research, fidelity to the story, effective usage of CGI, and steadfast commitment to the highest levels of artistry in all facets of filmmaking produced some of the most indisputably great films in Hollywood history. In attempting to capture its truly epic scope, a review like this will ultimately always fall short: a proper treatment of its themes, scope, and cinematic achievement have taken up extensive essays, academic papers, and even entire books. I chose the first film in the series as a part of the 25 from 25 series for a few different reasons in particular:
Its ability to establish the world of Middle Earth in a way that remains equal parts expansive and accessible: in just the first thirty minutes, a small expository overview of thousands of years of lore gives way to incredible “showing, not telling” in the Shire. We get a glimpse into the idyllic nature of the place, the passivity and unremarkableness of hobbit culture, the personalities of the hobbits and the wizard who will occupy the center of the frame for most of the three movies, the spiritual and emotional power of the ring over Bilbo, and the driving conflict of the narrative. None of this is overly expository, and all of it is incredibly immersive
Its fidelity to the text while taking on a life all its own: the film is certainly a love letter to Tolkien’s text. In most cases with film adaptations of books this beloved, fans of the source material grip and rage at the choices made, but it is difficult for even the most devout fan not to sit back in awestruck wonder at the ways the film brings the book to life while maintaining its own narrative thrust (and, admittedly, having to omit certain details—RIP Tom Bombadil).
Its tone-setting effect that remains incredibly enticing: as the entry point into such a large and long trilogy, a film like this could find itself victim to too much foundation building, and therefore too much slowness, but Fellowship never slips into tediousness. A credit to the performances, the remarkable writing, the propulsive action, and the character development
One could certainly make a case that either of the next two films in the trilogy deserves a slot in the Top 25, but this is also an easy way to cheat: by naming Fellowship, I am implicating the whole series. So certainly watch this one, but you can just keep on watching once you have…
Other Recommendations If You Like The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Dune: Part I and Dune Part II, The Green Knight, Kingdom of Heaven