The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: As the triumphant start of a trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring leaves you begging for more. By necessity, Peter Jackson's ambitious epic compresses J.R.R. Tolkien's classic The Lord of the Rings,
but this robust adaptation maintains reverent allegiance to Tolkien's
creation, instantly qualifying as one of the greatest fantasy films ever
made. At 178 minutes, it's long enough to establish the myriad
inhabitants of Middle-earth, the legendary Rings of Power, and the
fellowship of hobbits, elves, dwarves, and humans--led by the wizard
Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and the brave hobbit Frodo (Elijah Wood)--who
must battle terrifying forces of evil on their perilous journey to
destroy the One Ring in the land of Mordor. Superbly paced, the film is
both epic and intimate, offering astonishing special effects and
production design while emphasizing the emotional intensity of Frodo's
adventure. Ending on a perfect note of heroic loyalty and rich
anticipation, this wondrous fantasy continues in The Two Towers (2002). --Jeff Shannon
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
is a seamless continuation of Peter Jackson's epic fantasy based on the
works of J.R.R. Tolkien. After the breaking of the Fellowship, Frodo
(Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) journey to Mordor to destroy the One
Ring of Power with the creature Gollum as their guide. Meanwhile,
Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and Gimli (John
Rhys-Davies) join in the defense of the people of Rohan, who are the
first target in the eradication of the race of Men by the renegade
wizard Saruman (Christopher Lee) and the dark lord Sauron. Fantastic
creatures, astounding visual effects, and a climactic battle at the
fortress of Helm's Deep make The Two Towers a worthy successor to The Fellowship of the Ring,
grander in scale but retaining the story's emotional intimacy. These
two films are perhaps the greatest fantasy films ever made, but they're
merely a prelude to the cataclysmic events of The Return of the King. --David Horiuchi
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: With The Return of the King,
the greatest fantasy epic in film history draws to a grand and glorious
conclusion. Director Peter Jackson's awe-inspiring adaptation of the
Tolkien classic The Lord of the Rings could never fully satisfy
those who remain exclusively loyal to Tolkien's expansive literature,
but as a showcase for physical and technical craftsmanship it is
unsurpassed in pure scale and ambition, setting milestone after
cinematic milestone as the brave yet charmingly innocent Hobbit Frodo
(Elijah Wood) continues his mission to Mordor, where he is destined to
destroy the soul-corrupting One Ring of Power in the molten lava of
Mount Doom. While the heir to the kingdom of Men, Aragorn (Viggo
Mortensen), endures the massive battle at Minas Tirith with the
allegiance of the elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom), dwarf Gimli (John
Rhys-Davies) and the great wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen), Frodo and
stalwart companion Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) must survive the schizoid
deceptions of Gollum, who remains utterly convincing as a hybrid of
performance (by Andy Serkis) and subtly nuanced computer animation.
Jackson and cowriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens have much ground to cover; that they do so with intense pacing and epic sweep is impressive enough, but by investing greater depth and consequence in the actions of fellow Hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd), they ensure that Return of the King maintains the trilogy's emphasis on intimate fellowship. While several major characters appear only briefly, and one (Christopher Lee's evil wizard, Saruman) relegated entirely to the extended version on DVD, Jackson is to be commended for his editorial acumen; like Legolas the archer, his aim as a filmmaker is consistently true, and he remains faithful to Tolkien's overall vision. If Return suffers from too many endings, as some critic suggested, it's only because the epic's conclusion is so loyally inclusive of the actors--most notably Astin--who gave it such strength to begin with. By ending the LOTR trilogy with noble integrity and faith in the power of imaginative storytelling, The Return of the King, like its predecessors, will stand as an adventure for the ages. --Jeff Shannon