The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Two Disc Theatrical Edition) [DVD] [2001]
![The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Two Disc Theatrical Edition) [DVD] [2001]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VVEH85HRL._SL160_.jpg) RRP £15.99 Lowest New Price £1.19 
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Parental Guidance Entertainment in Video Release date: Tuesday 6th of August 2002 Starring: Director(s): Format: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen, Number of discs: 2 Region code: 2 Running time: 171 minutes Language: English (Original Language) Language: English (Subtitled) |
Jackson’s abiding love for the source material comes across in the wealth of incidental detail (the stone trolls from The Hobbit, Bilbo’s hand-drawn maps); and even when he deviates from the book he does so for sound dramatic reasons (the interminable Tom Bombadil interlude is deleted; Arwen not Glorfindel rescues Frodo at the ford). New Zealand stands in wonderfully for Middle-Earth and his cast are almost ideal, headed by Elijah Wood as a suitably naïve Frodo, though one with plenty of iron resolve, and Ian McKellen as an avuncular-yet-grimly determined Gandalf. The set-piece battle sequences have both an epic grandeur and a visceral, bloody immediacy: the Orcs, and Saruman’s Uruk-Hai in particular, are no mere cannon-fodder, but tough and terrifying adversaries. Tolkien’s legacy could hardly have been better served. On the DVD: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring two-disc set presents the original theatrical release (approx 171 minutes) on the first disc with a vivid Dolby 5.1 soundtrack and a simply splendid anamorphic print that allows even the darkest recesses of Moria to be glimpsed. The second disc contains 15 short behind-the-scenes pieces originally seen on the official Web site plus three substantial featurettes. The Houghton Mifflin "Welcome to Middle-Earth" is a 16-minute first look at the transition from page to screen, most interesting for its treasurable interview with Tolkien’s original publisher Rayner Unwin. "Quest for the Ring" is a pretty standard 20-minute Fox TV special with lots of cast and crew interviews. Better is the Sci-Fi Channel’s "A Passage to Middle-Earth", a 40-minute special that goes into a lot more detail about many aspects of the production and how the creative team conceived the film’s look. Most mouth-watering for fans who just can’t wait is a 10-minute Two Towers preview, in which Peter Jackson personally tantalises us with behind-the-scenes glimpses of Gollum and Helm’s Deep, plus a tasty three-minute teaser for the four-disc Fellowship special edition. Rounding out a good package are trailers, Enya’s "May It Be" video and a Two Towers video game preview.--Mark Walker
RRP: £15.99
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
A marvellously sympathetic yet spectacularly cinematic treatment of the first part of Tolkien’s trilogy, Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is the film that finally showed how extraordinary digital effects could be used to support story and characters, not simply overwhelm them. Both long-time fantasy fans and newcomers alike were simultaneously amazed, astonished and left agog for parts two and three.
The staggering start of best ever trilogy
Review date: 2009-06-22 Rating: 10 out of 10
Frodo Baggins (Wood) is entrusted with the legendary Ring of Power and along with a group of follows, is asked to travel to Mount Doom to destroy it.
Based on J.R.R Tolkien's worldwide smash novels, the anticipation behind Peter Jackson's first adaptation was huge and fans and neutrals alike were rewarded with one of the most sophisticated films ever shot.
As far as trilogies go, the biggest up until 2001 was The Star Wars saga, written and directed by George Lucas. Lucas' films were a break away from the norm, a light in the darkness and something so vastly different that viewers flooded to theatres to see and the films, though arguably hampered by modern prequels, are still appreciated and viewed consistently in today's modern time. But now, they have been pushed back by this fascinating fantasy series, which started shooting in 1999 and lasted an incredible 274 days that shows the commitment put in by the vast crew.
The start of the biggest trilogy to ever grace screens began in 2001 with this utterly astounding motion picture that grips and enthrals on a consistent basis to fascinate viewers of arguably any age and like Star Wars, there has never been anything like it.
The opening prequel outlines the main point of the entire trilogy as we learn about the forging of the rings and the one ring to rule over. The fantasy sequences continue in a marvellous collection of fantasy, war and high drama that spills entertainment. One particular exquisite moment in Jackson's opening comes from the arrival of Sauron and the battle of the lands which gave us an insight of what was to come from Jackson.
Jackson's name had appeared on a few films before this release, but there can be no argument as to this being his biggest picture of all time, the film that launched him into Hollywood stardom and secured him a handful of Oscars along the way. His exquisite appreciation of timing helps settle this film into the fantasy genre and depict the story's much needed concepts. The manipulation of the Ring and its powers was certainly the biggest mystery and concept of the film, which the New Zealand director comprehends. We see close up shots of Frodo's expressions as the power takes him over, the toying of the ring as well shows the feel of temptation which Jackson delivers well.
The host of names included are now big Hollywood stars all playing their parts with vigour and spice, in particular Ian McKellan as Gandalf and Viggo Mortensen as Aragon with Elijah Wood carrying the film well.
However this film is all about Jackson as he took the heavy responsibility of adapting one of the biggest book sellers of all time and turning into a spellbinding masterpiece that enthrals and entertains and like Star Wars, will be loved for many years
8.5/10
Accessories
- The "Lord of the Rings" Official Movie Guide
- The Lord of the Rings (Animated Version) [DVD] [1978]
- The Lord of the Rings (animated version) [VHS] [1978]
- The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring
Reviews
In the beginning
Review date: 2009-04-12 Rating: 10 out of 10
One of the classic love it or hate it epics, Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy is widely regarded as one of the great pieces of imaginative fiction, and the books are amongst the most popular ever written in the English language. Tolkein preferred to call his books 'romances' rather than 'novels' - they deal with an epic quest and follow in a European 'romance' tradition of epic tales of knights and adventures (not love stories).
The film trilogy could never have been made before CGI attained a certain standard and the special effects potential existed to film hobbits in scale, create a cast of thousands, most of them non-human, and build a fantasy world of castles, caves, forest dwelling elves, and fiery finales. The films, however, are not just a triumph of technology over the imagination, they are outstanding pieces of cinematography in their own right.
The films are reasonably faithful to the Tolkein romances, though they don't necessarily strictly adhere to the structure of the books: director Jackson has made some omissions and changes, and has developed the characterisation of various players in order to give the film more visual and dramatic intensity than the books required, weaving a tapestry of subplots around the central story of Frodo's quest to destroy the ring. While the books focus firmly on the task of the Ring bearer, the episodic nature of the films - with the nine characters of the Fellowship all facing their own adventures - requires greater balance of subplot / main plot.
'The Fellowship of the Ring' introduces us to the situation and the characters. It's a brave piece of film making - the opening requires a lengthy narrative to establish the background to the plot and familiarise the audience with the history (and geography) of Middle Earth, the mythical location of the action. We are plunged into a world of hobbits, little people, halflings with hairy feet. Unbeknown to the quiet, contented hobbit population of the Shire, one of them has possession of a ring - the Ring, a potent weapon for evil forged thousands of years earlier by Sauron, the evil lord of the rings.
Sauron, it was thought, had been destroyed, but is even now re-establishing his power and reaching out across Middle Earth to recover the Ring. Faced with the danger of its recapture, which will guarantee the triumph of the evil lord, the magician Gandalf instructs the young hobbit, Frodo, to take the ring to safety. Accompanied by three other hobbits he sets off, and the adventure begins.
It is actually a very slow film - even slower if you watch the extended version released some time after the original. It says something about the compulsive nature of Tolkein's story telling and Jackson's adaptation for the cinema that audiences have been so gripped and absorbed by the tale they have embraced the film.
Highly emotional in places - possibly even overly sentimental - the film explores themes of love, friendship, loyalty, duty, obsession, courage, and, of course, the struggle of good against evil. An extraordinarily courageous piece of film-making - shooting three films at the same time, taking on the mythical world of Tolkien (everyone who reads the book has their own vision of what it looks like), and relying so heavily on special effects there was a danger these might swamp the drama and narrative. What you end up with is viewing so compulsive, even after sitting through a very long film, you watch the final scene and can't wait to see what happens next in "The Two Towers".
Excellent cast, if I had to single out exceptional performances, then Ian McKellen gives the role of Gandalf a gravitas and authority which dominates the screen, Viggo Mortensen displays dignity in the role of Strider / Aragorn and delivers a convincing portrayal of a man carrying a superhuman burden of responsibility while enduring the all too human pangs of love, and Sean Bean exemplifies the brooding, flawed Boromir, the anti-hero, or is that anti-villain? And then, of course, there are the Nazgul - ominously pictured! The nine characters of the Fellowship all win and hold your sympathies throughout the three films - an achievement in itself.
No sex please but a blend of slow moving love stories, at times intense and poignant, this is a film which shifts effortlessly from slow pace and humour through swashbuckling action, intense drama, to battle scenes with limited gore but a body count which runs into thousands. If you love it, you can watch it again and again and never fail to be wholly absorbed - if you hate it, don't even try.
It's a film, a trilogy which should be experienced at the cinema - the bigger the screen and the louder the volume the better. On the big screen, it is truly epic ... if you can cope with being pinned back in your seat long enough for your backside to appreciate the full meaning of epic. If you watch it on DVD, go for the extended version with its outstanding addition of extras (commentaries on the film, interviews, making-of documentaries, and more) - exceptional value, and so many more hours of watching for any fan already bordering on a need for treatment. One of the great film experiences, and a yardstick for future film quality.
Extended Edition is a MUST HAVE
Review date: 2009-02-15 Rating: 10 out of 10
Two words 'ABSOLUTELY AMAZING' thats how I would describe Jackson's take on LOTR , and also those two words describe this Extended Edition dvd pefectly
Jackson has included 45min-50min of extra scenes ,and boy do they work well , an already deep story in the theatrical cut is given even more depth in this Ext Edit,and the special features/Appendices [2disc worth]will keep you entertained for hours and hours
When Jackson makes these Ext Edit/Directors cuts of his movies he really delivers the good's , 'King Kong', 'The Frightners' and LOTR parts 2,3 are also fantastic Ext Edit packages .....check them all out and ENJOY
Beyond breath-taking!
Review date: 2008-10-30 Rating: 10 out of 10
A magnificently beautiful film. Remaining loyal to the book, Peter Jackson has made a huge leap from his earlier (and FANTASTIC) blood-soaked gore-fests (BAD TASTE, MEET THE FEEBLES and BRAINDEAD) - keep your eye out for a cameo from Lionel's mother from BRAINDEAD as a hobbit in the extended version of this. The action is brilliant, the shots are stunning, the special effects are breath-taking, the acting is superb, and the music is beyond phonemenol. Definetly one of the greatest film (if not the greatest trilogy) since 2000. A MUST SEE!"
A Masterpiece
Review date: 2008-10-09 Rating: 10 out of 10
If I could, I would give this movie 100 stars. There's nothing I can really say that hasn't already been said - so I'll sum up the trilogy in a few words.
Epic. Beautiful. Masterpiece.
A true diamond of modern cinema.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Elijah Wood|Ian McKellen|Liv Tyler|Viggo Mortensen
Creators:
Elijah Wood|Ian McKellen|Liv Tyler|Viggo Mortensen (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Entertainment in Video
Manufacturer: Entertainment in Video
EAN: 5017239191695
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2002-08-06
Number of discs: 2
Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 171 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2001-12-19
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: English (Subtitled)
- The "Lord of the Rings" Official Movie Guide
- The Lord of the Rings (Animated Version) [DVD] [1978]
- The Lord of the Rings (animated version) [VHS] [1978]
- The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring
Tech info, cast and quotes/trivia when available. Exclusions may apply with free delivery. Price and availabiltity subject to change
