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by Jennifer Alpeche Published: August 14, 2002
Disc One In less than 100 words: Frodo, a young hobbit, is given a ring by his uncle, Bilbo, only to find that it is the One Ring -- the ring forged by Lord Sauron to rule all. In order to protect Middle-earth, he is given the task to destroy it, to throw it into the fire from whence it came. On his perilous journey, he is aided by the kind and wise wizard Gandalf; the ranger and reluctant king Aragorn; the strong, but all-too-human Boromir; the valiant elf Legolas; the proud dwarf Gimli; and the loyal and brave hobbits, Merry, Pippin, and his best friend, Sam. On December 19, 2001, fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy, “The Lord of the Rings,” were given a gift. Peter Jackson’s film adaptation of “The Fellowship of the Ring” was released into theaters with great anticipation and went on to enthrall audiences the world over. With its visual splendor and wonderful story, “Fellowship” earned 13 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director Peter Jackson, and Best Supporting Actor Ian McKellan. Now on DVD, the two-disc set offers the feature film on Disc One and supplemental special features on Disc Two -- many of which we’ve already seen, such as the making-of specials that aired on Fox and the Sci-Fi Channel. As for the film, it is presented in widescreen format and loses none of its magic in its small-screen transfer. In fact some of the scenes may look even better. Specifically, the CGI scenes like Galadriel’s transformation and the fight scenes in Moria. As we know, there are some differences in the film adaptation and some important parts were left out due to time constraints. However, Peter Jackson assures us that the film released in the theaters was the version they wanted. Nevertheless some of the scenes left out in the theatrical release will be restored in a Special Edition DVD (due out on November 12). About 30 minutes is said to be added, including an extended stay in Lothlorien, where the Fellowship members will receive their gifts and Gimli will fall in love with Galadriel. Pushing my thoughts of the Special Edition aside, I am more than happy that “The Fellowship of the Ring” is finally out on DVD and video. Now we can watch our favorite scenes over and over again. For me, it's scenes like the Prologue, the Council of Elrond, Aragorn’s introduction, Weathertop, Moria, the breaking of the Fellowship, and moments like this… Frodo: I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened. Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. Disc Two Although many of the supplemental features will be familiar to fans, the Houghton Mifflin feature, ”Welcome to Middle-earth,” was shown exclusively in bookstores and may be new. It showcases the two special books made to coincide with the release of the film: “The Lord of the Rings: Official Movie Guide” and “The Fellowship of the Ring: Visual Companion.” The feature is approximately 17 minutes long and along with an early preview of the film and some behind-the-scenes footage, it also introduces Raymer Unwin, a life-long friend of J.R.R. Tolkien, who published “The Lord of the Rings” and whose father published “The Hobbit.” It is a great story that brings us to the past and back into the present. As for the other two special programs, they originally aired on Fox and the Sci-Fi Channel for promotional purposes and have probably been seen by many. The Fox special, “A Quest for the Ring,” runs about 22 minutes and introduces us to the characters and actors behind them, such as Orlando Bloom -- a daredevil in real life. We learn about the story, how the One Ring contains the very essence of evil. Along with the actors, we also hear from director Peter Jackson and WETA workshop president, Richard Taylor. Also included is a first-look at the Moria fight scene – which at the time this special aired, was a thrill to see. The Sci-Fi Channel special, ”A Passage to Middle-earth”, offers more than 40 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage and insight. As with the Fox special, we get to meet the actors and the filmmakers. Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor, and co-writer Phillippa Boyens all speak of the creative process behind “The Lord of the Rings.” Filmed in one extended shoot and then broken into three parts, “The Lord of the Rings” was a two-year commitment for all involved. Post-production will continue for “The Two Towers” and “The Return of the King” for the next two years. “A Passage to Middle-earth” goes further in-depth into the creation of Middle-earth, from the idyllic charm of Hobbiton to the glory of Rivendell. As we find, every detail was attended to: the languages, the separate worlds, the different races and their relationships to one another, the weapons and methods of fighting. In this special feature, we truly “see” Middle-earth come to life. However, many of us already did so back in 2001 when the program first aired. Now that the film is complete, watching the behind-the-scenes features is fine, but nothing new. Still, the effort put into the making of "The Lord of the Rings” is truly impressive. "The Fellowship of the Ring” is a beautiful film. Next up are 15 special featurettes created for lordoftherings.net.. Each lasts for 2 to 5 minutes and basically, cover the same behind-the-scenes footage offered in the Fox and Sci-Fi Channel specials. I remember how they were released to the online community -- one by one, each giving a peek into Middle-earth, helping to tide us over until the release of the film while exciting our imaginations of what was to come. The featurettes are about the locales, cultures, and principal characters and actors in the film: Finding Hobbiton, Hobbiton Comes Alive, Believing the World of Bree, Ringwraiths: The Fallen Kings, Rivendell: The Elven Refuge, Languages of Middle-earth, Two Wizards, Music of Middle-earth, Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortenson, Orlando Bloom, Cate Blanchett, Liv Tyler, Ian McKellan, and Weathertop: The Windy Hill. The Behind-the-Scenes Preview of “The Two Towers” is about 10 minutes in length and gives us a glimpse into what we can look forward to on December 18, 2002. It does not offer the 4-minute preview added to “Fellowship” at the end of its theatrical run, or the teaser that is now in theaters. Rather, it opens with Peter Jackson driving into work and welcoming us, followed by brief footage of “The Two Towers,” and a name-only introduction of the film’s new characters, such as Theoden and Eowyn. There is then a short visit to the magic of Gollum, the city of Edoras, and the fortress, Helms Deep. Actors Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Viggo Mortenson, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, and Sean Astin briefly speak of the breaking of the Fellowship and the plot of “The Two Towers.” The preview finishes with a brief burst of scenes from the film. Although very short, the preview did make me anticipate “The Two Towers” even more -- clearly its aim. There is also a three-minute preview of the Special Edition DVD coming out in November. A total of 30 minutes will be added back into the film, accompanied by new music scored by composer Howard Shore. The four-disc set will include the special edition of “The Fellowship of the Ring,” plus two discs full of supplemental material. Rounding out the DVD, we have the music video for Enya’s “May It Be”, plus six TV spots, the beautiful first teaser, and the film’s two theatrical trailers . Lastly, there is a three-minute preview of the Electronic Arts’ video game based on “The Lord of the Rings.” Producers and co-directors, Scott Evans and Hudson Piehl, offer an introduction to the game which will be available in Fall 2002. In review of the special features, the only real new material is the preview for “The Two Towers.” However, even though many of the extras have already been seen, and some of the others are strictly promotional, they are still a part of the wonder that is “The Fellowship of the Ring.” So much effort, so much heart and dedication went into its making, and being reminded of this isn’t so bad. Clearly the true gem of the DVD is the film itself. To have this film at last -- to be able to watch it in parts or as a whole, to freeze a frame of great beauty -- this is what we finally have. I am still a bit put off by the Special Edition coming out in November, only because it seems that we must now buy both. I know that no one is forcing us, but how can one say no to 30 minutes more? I wonder if I can. “One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them.” Overall Rating: A for the film and B+ for the DVD. |
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