“I can’t carry it for you… but I can carry you!” Such a powerful and beautifully acted scene, never fails to bring a smile to my face. These films are an absolute masterpiece of a trilogy.

Not a lot of movies are able to be as good as the books, especially these days, because of what the readers picture in their heads, but because of the great cinematography and the score, etc. Lord of the Rings accomplished exactly that.

Also being helmed by someone who is actually a fan of the original work helps immensely. Current day adaptations that underperform are ones that are produced and directed by people who have little understanding of or liking for the source material, people who actively think it’s outdated and can’t resist changing things around just so it reflects what THEY want it to be, not what it’s INTENDED to be by the actual creators. Don’t like it? Go do your own thing and leave the established art of others alone.

One thing I love about the intro to this one is how it shows us a scene that is so joyful and peaceful and within minutes it takes a very dark turn. And it lends the ring even more sentience as it was stated in the prologue in Fellowship that “for two and a half thousand years the ring passed out of all knowledge” right after Isildur was killed. That means the ring was in that river alone for two and a half millennia. And it was completely by chance that Deagol found it, but when the ring is picked up it goes for the jugular immediately because that is the only contact it has had with anyone for that long. It wasn’t going to risk being forgotten again.

One part that really gets me is that in the end Frodo couldn’t resist and you can see the disappointment in himself, especially when he’s hanging from the cliff, wondering if his life is worth it or even when everyone’s bowing to him. That’s such a heavy weight to carry the rest of your life, knowing you wouldn’t make the right choice all on your own. I think Tolkien talked a bit about this and how he didn’t want a traditional hero story where Frodo just threw it in the fire willingly.

Frodo having to leave Middle-Earth is one of the most tragic tales told in Lord of the Rings. Frodo selflessly sacrificed his world, but the pain of his poisoned wound, and the corruption of the Ring, would never truly leave him. The only place he could hope to find peace was in the Undying Lands. It’s the sad story of a hero who leaves home to defend everything he loves, and returns to find “you can never truly come home”.

Every time I see Eomer’s reaction when he finds his sister in the battlefield, it tears my heart out. In the whole two movies he is fearless, totally fearless, even when he is facing a thousand orcs and a dozen of oliphants. His face when he is above Eowin waiting for Aragorn to heal her, it is the face of a 6 year old fearing of darkness. I love his character.

One of my favourite scenes is when Pippin sings within the hall while the Steward feasts. The cracking and breaking of the bones and the red juice of the tomatoes running down his mouth representing blood is such amazing symbolism as his son and small force go to their deaths. It’s a tragic and beautiful scene.

I really came to the realization that these are easily among the finest films ever made. The production of this trilogy was a perfect storm of events: you had an unestablished director when it came to making blockbusters, eager to prove himself worthy; you had an equally enigmatic cast, with Ian McKellen as the only well known face; you had the enormous challenge of integrating CGI, with practical effects in an unprecedented manner. And it came together so amazingly well that to this day it still boggles the mind.

Peter Jackson ended up as the perfect man for the job. I don’t think anyone else at that time would have been as devoted to Tolkien’s vision. The cast is perhaps the most perfect fit for a story ever assembled and that is no exaggeration. Can anyone see someone else as Gandalf other than McKellen? Or someone besides Viggo as Aragorn? Two of the greatest Tolkien artists, Alan Lee and John Howe as well as countless others were instrumental in bringing Middle Earth to life. This was a true Fellowship of the Ring. And it will never, ever be matched.