It is a new year, yet it does not feel like a new year with the same shit still happening here in America. We are set to celebrate our 250th birthday this coming July but there is nothing to feel celebratory about it. Instead, we must deal with the fact that the state of Minnesota and the people at the state including the city of Minneapolis are now under siege by ICE who have already killed two people in Renee Good and Alex Pretti who were only regular good people that got killed in cold blood by a bunch of assholes. The latter of which was a nurse trying to help people and stop ICE from taking someone all because they are an immigrant or might not be a citizen of this country. These are forces that is supposed to protect people, but they are nothing more than just thugs answering the call for our fuck-head dictator who do not care about who they capture or who they kill. They even used a child as bait and will deport children to other countries.
The people I am worried about the most are some of my fellow bloggers who I know live in Minnesota as I do hope they remain safe. Yet, I am worried about what will happen if ICE comes to Georgia in full force as they have made a presence in certain areas in and near Atlanta. My mother has a relative in Georgia that does not leave the house as she is afraid of getting captured by ICE as she had seen people be taken away in the worst ways. It is hard to ignore what is happening as the rest of the world is watching with disapproval and many people in this country wanting to leave. It is dangerous and I rarely go out these days as I do not have the urge to even go to the cinema anymore. I have lost a lot of enthusiasm and excitement over what films to see because there is nothing out right now that makes me want to go to the movie theaters. Plus, I have become unhappy with the film-going experience as I have become tired of 30 minutes worth of awful commercials and movie trailers before the movie even starts. I try to sit in a seat with few people around yet there are those who still turn on their fucking phones.
It is going to take something special for me to go to the movie theaters again as there are very few films that I am eager to see coming in the new year. Instead, I have chosen to stay home and re-watch The Lord of the Rings trilogy in their extended versions at my own pace and relax. I am half-way finished in writing a review for the third film and even thinking about making a list to celebrate the trilogy’s 25th anniversary. That is all I have been doing as I have not even had the chance to even get started on this year’s Blind Spot Series because of timing and wanting to do other things. In the month of January 2026, I saw a total of 8 films in 7 re-watches and only one first-timer. The highlight of the month is The Lord of the Rings trilogy as I will not make a list of the re-watches I saw as there has not been much.
Monthly Mini-Reviews/What Else I Am Watching
The Lion King (2019)
This is a film that my nephew Mateo had been wanting to watch for a while as he would watch it at my mother’s house as I would watch it with him. Visually, it looks good as I do like the photography and some of the voice casting with Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar. Other than that, I feel like it is a film that is unnecessary considering that the 1994 animated version is already perfect. It is faithful to its predecessor, but its pacing feels very sluggish at times where they stretch scenes for too long while the voice work of Beyonce as Nala lacks personality. It is an OK film by Jon Faverau, but it is a film that is not needed though Mateo liked it.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians (season 2, episodes 6-8)
The last series of episodes in the second season has been top-notch not just in terms of the stakes but also in the performances of its young cast. Notably Daniel Diemer and Dior Goodjohn in their respective roles as Tyson and Clarisse as they both shine in their supporting roles. The latter of which becomes the true badass the show needed where she is tasked to complete the quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece despite her reluctance to get help in obtaining the Golden Fleece. The season does end on an ambiguous note as it relates to a prophecy on who would wage war on the Gods where Percy is not sure if it is about him, but the ending suggests that it could be Zeus’ daughter Thalia. The episode also ends with a small teaser for the third season coming later in the year as it is a great show.
Well, that is all for January 2026. Other than my Blind Spots and my review of The Return of the King. I have no clue what I will do next month while I have been thinking about creating lists for potential projects. I do not know what I will do. Personally, I would rather just take it easy. Whatever first-timers I stumble on, I will log it unless it is a film that I really want to see.
Before I bid adieu, I must acknowledge those that have passed on to another universe this month which includes Renee Good and Alex Pretti as two people who deserved better, yet they will be celebrated as good people trying to do the right thing in these dark times. Also who have passed this away this month includes the legendary filmmaker Bela Tarr, the great Catherine O’Hara, Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, Demond Wilson of Sanford and Son, songwriter Bryan Loren, British actor/filmmaker David Andrews, Sly Dunbar of Sly & Robbie, Franz Buchholz of Scorpions, comic book artist Sal Buscema, Italian actor Carlo Cecci, Yvonne Lime, wrestler Bobby Duncam, Rob Hirst of Midnight Oil, actress Patsy King, filmmaker Roger Allers, Kenny Morris of Siouxsie & the Banshees, Hong Kong actor/martial artist Bruce Leung, T.K. Carter, music composer Guy Moon, actor John Cunningham, songwriter Jim McBride, and actor John F. O’Donohue. We will miss you all. This is thevoid99 signing off and for everyone in Minnesota and everywhere else around the world. Please, stay safe.
***The Following is a Review of the 223-minute Extended Version of the Film***
Based on the novel trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is the second part of the trilogy of stories in which the fellowship of the ring are splintered where two of the four hobbits travel to Mordor where they are accompanied by the creature Gollum while the rest of the fellowship deal with Sauron’s forces as they set to attack Rohan. Directed by Peter Jackson and screenplay by Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Stephen Sinclair, the film follows members of a fellowship as they go on a journey to destroy the ring of Sauron as they also deal with the wizard Saruman who has aligned himself with Sauron. Starring Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellan, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, Bernard Hill, Miranda Otto, David Wenham, Karl Urban, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Brad Dourif, Sean Bean, John Noble, Christopher Lee, and Andy Serkis as Gollum. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a rich yet visceral film by Peter Jackson.
The film revolves around a fellowship that had been splintered by events and challenges where they all go on a quest to destroy Sauron’s ring at Mount Doom in Mordor. It is a film with three different storylines where Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) and Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) travel to Mordor by themselves where they meet the creature Gollum who agrees to take them to Mordor after Frodo takes pity on him. The other storyline has the ranger Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), the elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and the dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) travel to Rohan where they help King Theoden of Rohan (Bernard Hill) deal with Saruman (Christopher Lee) and his army who want to destroy Rohan. The other two hobbits in Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) escape the clutches of the Uruk-hai and go into Fangorn forest where they meet the Ent Treebeard (voice of John Rhys-Davies) to convince him and other Ents to wage war on Saruman for destroying parts of Fangorn forest.
The film’s screenplay by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Stephen Sinclair has a cross-cutting narrative that play into the different journeys the fellowship would go through. Especially after events forced the group to be splintered following tragedy and uncertainty that led to their separation where Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli decide to follow the Uruk-hai who had captured Merry and Pippin only to learn that the Uruk-hai had been killed by Eomer (Karl Urban), who is the leader of Rohan’s calvary in the Rohirrim, and his horsemen as they had been exiled by Theoden’s advisor in Grima Wormtongue (Brad Dourif). Going through Fangorn forest, they learn that the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan) has been resurrected as Gandalf the White who had left Merry and Pippin to the Ents for safety while he joins the rest to Rohan to free Theoden from Saruman’s powers. The narrative involving Frodo and Sam as they struggle to find their way to Mordor until they meet the creature Gollum, who had once possessed the ring, who had been following them hoping to recapture the ring where he reluctantly to accompany them to Mordor. During their journey where Frodo learns that Gollum was once a hobbit named Smeagol, they also run into Gondor rangers led by Faramir (David Wenham) who is Boromir’s younger brother.
The script also play into character arcs where Merry and Pippin are forced to grow up as they deal with their own situations as they realize that the Shire would be in danger if they cannot convince the Ents to wage war on Saruman. Aragorn would go through his own arc as he becomes aware that he is a symbol of hope to Rohan including Theoden’s niece Eowyn (Miranda Otto) who becomes smitten by him even though he is in love with the elvish princess Arwen (Liv Tyler). The script also play into Arwen having to make the decision to leave with the elves who are all leaving Middle Earth as her father Elrond (Hugo Weaving) reveal her fate if she chooses to stay. Yet, Elrond would have his own conversation with the elvish queen Galadriel who is aware that Aragorn and Rohan are in danger of losing to both Sauron and Saruman.
Jackson’s direction is grand in terms of how big the visual presentation is at it is shot on various locations in New Zealand as well as studios in New Zealand. The film opens with events from the previous film where the fellowship run from Balrog where Gandalf would take a stand at the monster. What Jackson does is show what happened to Gandalf as the fellowship see him fall to his death only for Gandalf to fall while fighting Balrog. It then cuts to Frodo and Sam continuing to walk towards Mordor as they find themselves lost where Jackson’s approach to close-ups and medium shots play into the sense of the unknown in the locations they are in where they later meet Gollum who had been following them. Jackson would maintain this tense and eerie atmosphere for the scenes involving Frodo, Sam, and Gollum as they travel towards Mordor. Even as there are a bit of light-hearted moments in the tension between Sam and Gollum where the former comments about creating a stew with the need for some potatoes.
In the extended version of the film in its 223-minute running time, as opposed to the 179-minute running time in its theatrical release, where Jackson can do more with the story and flesh out the characters. One notable sequence involves a flashback scene with Boromir (Sean Bean) who had recaptured the port city of Osgiliath for Gondor as he would share his victory with Faramir. It plays into why Boromir was keen on having the ring as the scene also featured his father Denethor (John Noble) who believes that the meeting is about the ring as Boromir is reluctant to go. The sequence adds depth for Faramir’s own reasons in wanting the ring as it relates to his troubled relationship with his father. Jackson’s usage of the wide shots for the locations would add greater depth for the film’s climatic battle at Helm’s Deep. In its mixture of practical effects, miniatures, and computerized-visual effects, the battle of Helm’s Deep is truly a marvel in terms of how to create a battle with lots of extras and detail into every moment that is shown.
So much is happening during the battle as it would cross-cut on the narrative of Merry and Pippin convincing Treebeard and the Ents to go to war on Saruman as the extended version in the film reveal a lot of detail about Fangorn forest and its own magical powers. There is also more into what Frodo, Sam, and Gollum go through after being captured by Faramir where they encounter the Nazgul and orcs at Osgiliath as its aftermath would play into a key decision Faramir makes about the ring. The ending of the second film sets up what is to come ahead between the forces of Rohan and the fellowship while Frodo and Sam continue their trek towards Mordor with Gollum in tow. Overall, Jackson crafts a grand and gripping film about a group of individuals continuing their quest to destroy evil for good.
Cinematographer Andrew Lesnie does phenomenal work with the film’s cinematography with its approach to color grading for some of the interior/exterior settings at night as well as the look of the daytime exteriors for some shots in the valleys as well as scenes in the forests as it is a highlight of the film. Editor Michael Horton does brilliant work with the editing in the usage of jump-cuts for some montages as well as other stylish cuts to play into the action and suspense as it is another highlight of the film. Production designer Grant Major, with set decorator/supervising art director Dan Hennah, and set decorator Alan Lee, does incredible work with the look of Saruman’s tower at Isengard as well as the look of fortress of Helm’s Deep in its interiors and exteriors with additional work from conceptual designer John Howe. Costume designers Ngila Dickson and Richard Taylor do excellent work with the costumes in the look of King Theoden’s armor as well as the look of the Rohirrim and the soldiers of Gondor.
Hair and makeup designers Peter Swords King and Peter Owen do fantastic work with the look of the Uruk-hai orcs, the elvish army, and King Theoden in his decayed state under Saruman’s spell. Visual effects supervisor Jim Rygiel does amazing work with the look of the Nazgul creatures as well as the look of the Ents and the motion-capture design of Gollum as it is a major highlight of the film. Sound designers David Farmer and Michael Semanick, along with sound editors Mike Hopkins and Ethan Van der Ryn, do superb work with the sound in the way the Nazgul sound and other sound effects that help play into the action and suspense. The film’s music by Howard Shore is great as its usage of heavy brass sections, soaring strings, heavy percussions, and somber woodwinds for some unique themes along with a few songs including a funeral song sung by Eowyn.
The casting by Victoria Burrows, Amy Hubbard, John Hubbard, Liz Mullane, and Ann Robinson is marvelous as it feature some notable small roles from Sam Comery and Olivia Tennet as a couple of young Rohan children who escape the Uruk-hai, Robyn Malcolm as their mother, Paris Howe Strewe as Theoden’s son Theodred who gets seriously wounded following an ambush by the Uruk-hai, Bruce Hopkins as one of Theoden’s military leaders in Gamling, the quartet of Robbie Magasiva, Jed Brophy, Nathaniel Lee, and Stephen Ure as Uruk-hai orcs, and Craig Parker as the elvish general Haldir. Christopher Lee and Brad Dourif are superb in their respective roles as the evil wizard Saruman and the spy Grima Wormtongue with the former being a once-respected wizard who has aligned himself with Sauron as he wants to destroy Rohan while the latter is a slimy figure who works for Saruman in poisoning King Theoden’s mind as he would also play a role in wounding Rohan.
In the extended version of the film, John Noble and Sean Bean are fantastic in their respective roles as Lord Denethor and Boromir with the former as Gondor’s steward who learns about the ring as he wants Boromir to Rivendell. Bean’s performance as Boromir is given more complexity as a man that is devoted to Gondor as well as trying to give his younger brother Faramir more credit. David Wenham’s performance as Faramir is excellent as a captain of Gondor who captures Frodo and Sam while he hopes to get the ring to win the approval of his father. Karl Urban is brilliant as Theoden’s nephew Eomer, who gets exiled by Wormtongue as he and the Rohirrim go on their own war against the Uruk-hai as he laments over his home and his uncle’s state of mind. Miranda Otto and Bernard Hill are amazing in their respective roles as Eomer’s sister Eowyn and King Theoden of Rohan with the former as a woman who wants to fight as she becomes smitten towards Aragorn as she also does what she can for the people of Rohan. Hill’s performance starts off as a man poisoned and disconnected from reality under Saruman’s spell and Wormtongue’s activities only to come out of it in trying to help his people as he laments over the power of the Uruk-hai in their hatred of everything and everyone.
The trio of Cate Blanchett, Liv Tyler, and Hugo Weaving are incredible in their respective roles as the elvish queen Galadriel, Arwen, and Lord Elrond with Blanchett’s brief appearance in her telekinetic conversation with Elrond about what is at stake with Weaving being someone unsure as he laments over the life his daughter Arwen would have if she chooses not to leave Middle Earth where Tyler brings a gracefulness of a woman who is aware of what she will lose. Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd are remarkable as the hobbits Merry and Pippin as the two hobbits who were briefly captured by the Uruk-hai until they are saved by the Ents where they deal with Saruman’s growing power and the need to convince the Ents to go to war against Saruman. John Rhys-Davies is marvelous in a dual role as the voice of the Ent Treebeard, who often talks in an unconventional fashion, and as the dwarf Gimli who does provide humor in some of the action as well as be someone who remains loyal to the fellowship where he does what he can to fight the Uruk-hai.
Orlando Bloom and Ian McKellan are great in their respective roles as the elvish warrior Legolas and the wizard Gandalf with the former being this skilled elvish warrior who deals with the severity of what Rohan is facing while doing what he can to fight off the Uruk-hai. McKellan’s performance as Gandalf is only on a few scenes as a wizard who gets resurrected where he also realizes that Rohan is in danger where he would go to find Eomer for help. Sean Astin and Viggo Mortensen are phenomenal in their respective roles as Sam and Aragorn with the former dealing with Gollum and Frodo’s declining emotional/mental state while the latter as a ranger who realizes that he must become a leader where he deals with many obstacles as well as a near-death experience during an ambush.
Elijah Wood is tremendous as Frodo Baggins as the hobbit carrying the ring where he deals with the severity of the quest as well as the ring’s power where he would start to lose himself. Finally, there is Andy Serkis in an outstanding supporting performance as the creature Gollum/Smeagol as a former hobbit who once held the ring where he guides Frodo and Sam to Mordor in the hope, he can reclaim the ring as there is a lot of complexity to his performance where he can the kind and light-hearted Smeagol or the meaner and manipulative Gollum.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a spectacular film by Peter Jackson. Featuring a great ensemble cast, vast set pieces including the Helm’s Deep battle sequence, intoxicating visuals, an exhilarating music score, and a story of good versus evil. It is a fantasy film that does a lot more in its exploration of what creatures face in the darkest of times as well as the need to find light in that darkness. In the end, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a tremendous film by Peter Jackson.
***The Following is a Review of the 208-minute Extended Version of the Film***
Based on the novel series by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is the first in a trilogy of stories of different creatures who go on a journey to destroy the one ring created by the dark figure in Sauron by going to Mordor and destroying it. Directed by Peter Jackson and screenplay by Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens, the first story explore how the ring is rediscovered where nine individuals travel through Middle Earth on a quest to destroy Sauron’s ring. Starring Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellan, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, Sean Bean, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Liv Tyler, Ian Holm, Andy Serkis, and Christopher Lee as Saruman. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a grand and majestic film by Peter Jackson.
Set in a fictional ancient world known as Middle Earth, the film revolves around a young hobbit who inherits a ring from his uncle where a wizard realizes it is the ring created by the dark demon known as Sauron. There, the wizard, a hobbit along with three other hobbits, a dwarf, an elf, and two men go on a journey to Sauron’s homeland of Mordor to bring the ring to its land and destroy it. It is a story that is part of an immense epic that follows different creatures who venture on a quest to vanquish evil finally just as Sauron is set to return and destroy everything that is good. The first story is about a hobbit who is given this ring as he would accidentally wear the ring as he realizes its power and why so many want it. Yet, there are those who would become part of the fellowship who have their own reasons for not wanting to carry this ring as well as his own reasons for why he has abandoned his role in becoming king for one of the last free countries of Middle Earth.
The film’s screenplay by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens opens with a prologue about life in Middle Earth where rings of power were given to the races of men, elves, and dwarves only to realize that the dark lord Sauron (Sala Baker) has created one ring to rule over everyone in Middle Earth. It would lead into a war where men and elves formed an alliance to fight Sauron and his forces where a prince in Isildur (Harry Sinclair) severs Sauron’s hand but chooses to keep Sauron’s ring until it would be lost following an ambush years after the battle. Then it would be in the hands of a creature known as Gollum (Andy Serkis) who would keep it for centuries until it abandoned him where it would be in the hands of a hobbit in Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm). The prologue sets up the stakes as well as what Bilbo’s nephew Frodo (Elijah Wood) must destroy by going to Mordor and its volcano in Mount Doom where the ring was created. The first act is set 60 years after the events in which Bilbo found the ring as there is a birthday celebration for him where the wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellan) visits him. The celebration would be notable for Bilbo disappearing where Gandalf discovered that Bilbo has a ring that Bilbo found many years ago where Bilbo reluctantly gives the ring to Frodo. Gandalf would then discover that the ring is the one ring created by Sauron after Frodo reads the inscriptions after it was on fire.
Part of the first act has Frodo being accompanied by his best friend Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) and later joined by hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) as they to evade Sauron’s rangers in the Nazgul. After meeting a ranger named Strider (Viggo Mortensen) who takes them to Rivendell where the fellowship is formed that would include Gandalf, the elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom), the dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies), and Boromir (Sean Bean) of Gondor to go to Mordor and destroy the ring. The fellowship would be challenged by many forces including a new army of orcs in the Uruk-hai created by the wizard Saruman who had turned on Gandalf and aligned himself with Sauron. Even as Frodo becomes tempted by the power of the ring as is Boromir who wants the ring for his home of Gondor that is threatened by Mordor. Yet, the fellowship would go through obstacles with Strider revealed to be Aragorn who is a descendant of Isildur and the rightful heir to Gondor’s throne.
Jackson’s direction is grand as it is shot on location in New Zealand along with some scenes shot in studios in New Zealand. Jackson goes for a varying degree of styles in the direction through some wide and medium shots for a scope of the locations. Notably in scenes involving the mountains, rivers, and valleys as they function as characters into the film where it plays into the richness of Middle Earth with the Shire as this peaceful and isolated world of hobbits that very few outsiders visit. It is a direct contrast to other parts of Middle Earth such as the world of the elves in the forest where the elf-queen Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) lives in a Mordor where orcs and other dark creatures settle in as they get ready for war. The usage of aerial shots of the locations along with some intimate moments where Gandalf interacts with hobbits are unique as the usage of trick photography and visual effects do add a sense of wonderment into the film. Jackson also puts in some humor as it relates to the adventure that balances the suspense and drama throughout the film.
Jackson’s approach to some of the intimate moments such as a sequence where the fellowship of the ring are in the Mines of Moria as Frodo copes with being the one to carry the ring as the dialogue plays into Tolkien’s words about the choices everyone must make. Even choices that are the most difficult to endure as it would lead to some intense fight and action scenes. The usage of wide and crane shots are immense in its scale that includes the fellowship running from a demonic monster in Balrog. The third act in which the fellowship go to the elvish land of Lothlorien as they deal with their own struggles and encounters with the orcs. In the extended version of the film, in its 208-minute running time that expands 30 additional minutes from the theatrical release, where characters are fleshed out more such as Boromir who struggles with wanting to fulfill the wishes of his father as well as the need for something better where he sees Aragorn as the leader Gondor needs. Overall, Jackson crafts an astonishing and riveting film about a group of different creatures going on a quest to destroy a ring of evil to its land of darkness.
Cinematographer Andrew Lesnie does incredible work with the film’s cinematography with its unique color grading and look for some of the exterior scenes at the Shire and Lothlorien as well as some of the usage of light for the scenes in the mines and caves as well as the usage of blue light for scenes set at night. Editor John Gilbert does excellent work with the editing in the usage of slow-motion cuts as well as fast-cuts for some of the action along with moments in the drama and suspense where shots are allowed to last more than a minute. Production designer Grant Major, with set decorator/supervising art director Dan Hennah and set decorator/conceptual designer Alan Lee, does amazing work with the look of the sets, with additional help from co-conceptual designer John Howe, in how the homes at the Shire are presented as well as the world of the elves and Mordor including Saurman’s tower at Isengard. Costume designers Ngila Dickson and Richard Taylor do brilliant work with the costumes in the clothes the elves wear as well as the armor that Aragorn, Boromir, and Gimli wear, and the look of the armor that the orcs wear.
Hair and makeup designers Peter Swords King and Peter Owen do fantastic work with the look of the characters, with additional help from John Howe and Alan Lee, as well as the design and look of the orcs including the Uruk-hai. Visual effects supervisor Jim Rygiel does great work with the visual effects in the mixture of practical effects in the look of the orcs as well as the look of the demonic figure Balrog and the motion-capture look of Gollum. Sound designers David Farmer, Michael Semanick, and Ethan Van der Ryn, along with sound editor Michael Hopkins, do superb work in the sound as the way swords and flying arrows sound as well as the way monsters sound as it is a highlight of the film. The film’s music by Howard Shore is phenomenal for its orchestral score that is filled with unique themes through woodwinds as well as bombastic orchestral themes for some of the action and suspense as it is an absolute highlight of the film.
The casting by Victoria Burrows, Amy Hubbard, John Hubbard, Liz Mullane, and Ann Robinson is marvelous as it feature some notable small roles from Sarah McLeod as a hobbit barmaid in Rosie Cotton whom Sam has a crush on, Bret McKenzie as an elf escort in Figwit, Marton Csokas as an elvish elder in Celebron, Craig Parker as an elvish military leader in Haldir, Sala Baker as the dark lord Sauron, Alan Howard as the voice of the ring and Sauron, Bret McIntyre as the head Nazgul leader in the Witch King of Angmar, Harry Sinclair as Isildur, Lawrence Makoare as the Uruk-hai leader Lurtz, and Andy Serkis in a brief appearance as the creature Gollum and the voice of the Witch King of Angmar. Ian Holm is terrific as Frodo’s uncle Bilbo Baggins who had possession of the ring as he dealt with wanting a chance to leave the Shire for an adventure and complete his book while expressing regret about what Frodo must endure in destroying the ring. Liv Tyler is fantastic as Elrond’s daughter Arwen, who is Aragorn’s lover, as she would help Frodo go to Rivendell following his encounter with the Nazgul as she also gives Aragorn a gift for the journey he will take.
Hugo Weaving and Cate Blanchett are excellent in their respective roles as the elvish leaders Elrond and Galadriel as the former is an elf leader who saw what Isildur did in keeping the ring while he laments over Aragorn and Arwen’s relationship. Blanchett’s performance as Galadriel is graceful as a woman who admits to be tempted by the ring during her conversation with Frodo as she is aware of its powers and would give Frodo a gift for the journey. Christopher Lee is brilliant as the wizard Saruman who has turned evil and aligned himself with Sauron where he would create a new race of orcs that are more powerful than the orcs at Mordor. Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd are amazing in their respective roles as Merry and Pippin as two mischievous hobbits who join Frodo and Sam in the quest as they deal with the danger of the quest while learning how to fight with swords. John Rhys-Davies and Orlando Bloom are incredible in their respective roles as the dwarf Gimli and the elf Legolas as two mismatched members of the fellowship with Rhys-Davies providing a lot of wit as a dwarf who is strong and cunning while Bloom brings a level of finesse and expert marksmanship as an elf who is the straight man of the two.
Sean Bean is marvelous as Boromir as the son of Gondor’s steward who joins the fellowship where he is tempted by the ring where he struggles to do what is right while becoming protective of Merry and Pippin whom he would befriend as well as Aragorn whom he hopes would take on the role as King of Gondor. Sean Astin is remarkable as Samwise Gamgee, who is Frodo’s best friend and the film’s conscience, where Gandalf asks him not to leave Frodo where he helps Frodo on the journey while providing some witty comments during the film. Ian McKellan is great as the wizard Gandalf the Grey who learns about the ring Bilbo had been carrying for years as he also joins the fellowship as a magical figure who can deal with Saruman from afar. Viggo Mortensen is phenomenal as Strider/Aragorn as a ranger, who is also Isildur’s heir, who helps the hobbits in dealing with the Nazgul as he would join the fellowship where he also deals with the temptation of the ring that plays into his own reluctance to be King of Gondor. Finally, there’s Elijah Wood in a sensational performance as Frodo Baggins as a hobbit who is given the ring where he would accidentally wear the ring as he struggles with its powers and the task he must play.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a spectacular film by Peter Jackson. Featuring a great ensemble cast, rich visuals, a gripping story of temptation and the need to bring good into the world, Howard Shore’s majestic music score, and top-notch technical work. It is a film that is not just this exhilarating fantasy-adventure film but also a film that explores different people going on a quest to vanquish evil and bring good to the world. In the end, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a tremendous film by Peter Jackson.
Peter Jackson Films: (Bad Taste) – (Meet the Feebles) – (Braindead) – (Heavenly Creatures) – (Forgotten Silver) – (The Frighteners) – The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – (King Kong (2005 film)) – (The Lovely Bones) – (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) – (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug) – (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies) – (They Shall Grow Old Together) – The Beatles: Get Back
