One moment in Fellowship that always brings tears to my eyes no matter what, is hearing the hobbit children yelling, “Gandalf! Gandalf! Fireworks, Gandalf!” Knowing that this powerful being, one of the Five sent to protect and maintain Middle Earth, amidst a world of bloodshed and sorrow, war and grief, chose to hold focus to this little land, with little folk, and seemingly little cares and worries. He was such a story among the Shire, so much that these little children looked at this big, ancient figure, and saw safety and fun.
One aspect I like so much about Gandalf is that even though he is so powerful, he chooses to encourage rather than dominate, to council rather than order, to convince rather than persuade. And he only uses his power to protect those in his keeping. It’s an incredible humble way of being.
now, i'm not too familiar with the lore at certain points but aren't the wizards essentially otherwordly beings? just the thought of this powerful being choosing to befriend these small creatures and protect them, hug them, love them for what they are means so much to me. gandalf cares so much about so many people and sees them as the individuals they are and i love that. i always thought of angels to be these detached entities and i love that he isn't.
I love how the film handles Boromir. The pile of orc bodies he leaves behind as penance while defending Merry and Pippin feels like a personal touch, like Boromir represents us mere mortals, faults and all, and while, like many and more powerful before him, he may have succumbed to the temptation of the ring, he ultimately sacrifices his life in defence of the defenceless, and his redemption is complete. The tenderness between him and Aragorn at his death is beautiful, and I feel like the endorsement of Boromir really sets steel in Aragorn, and begins in earnest his transition from Ranger to King. Absolutely marvellous stuff.
This is one of the things I loved to notice when I got older. When I was young I, like I think a lot of people did who watched it while young, saw Boromir as a "villain" but he was just a normal person who was tempted. That whole death sequence really brought him back for me when I started to rewatch them yearly and now he's definitely one of my favourites
@PosstulioBut they were at odds. That's not something they made up for the movies, to add drama or tension. Boromir in the movie is exactly like he was in the book. And they didn't entirely have the same goal. Boromir was more focused on Gondor than the bigger picture of Sauron and the entirety of Middle-Earth (he didn't dismiss it but the glory of Gondor (and his own) was always first and foremost on his mind, until the very end). It's Aragorn they did dirty. He was never reluctant to become the king. He was always clear about his place in the world and history, what had to be done and what his future was going to be. A few of the characters they changed significantly: mostly Aragorn, Faramir and Denethor. Most other changes (except Old Man Willow/the Barrowdowns/Tom Bombadil) are more subtle, like Elrond's downright refusal to allow Arwen to marry Aragorn instead of the (in his mind) impossible condition he set in the book. Still, the trilogy is as good a movie adaptation of LOTR as is possible, in my opinion. It will never be exactly like the book and the book will always be the superior work. But PJ and the crews poured their hearts and souls into it, and it shows.
@@thenecrosanct4906I disagree that the films did Aragorn dirty, they simply gave him his arc from before the books happened where he was quite reluctant albeit for different reasons. I thought his hesitance and self doubt worked extremely well in context and also gave him room to grow over 3 films as apposed to being quite insufferable at times as I find the book version even though I understand why. A character that was truly done dirty imo is Gimli who was effectively reduced to a punchline. I understand the need for comic relief in films so I don’t mind so much but book Gimli is very insightful and poetic at times and I would’ve liked that to come through a bit more.
The work ethic is still there.VFX artists are famously pushed beyond reasonable limits, its a miracle that this film got made in the way it did. So it had a studio that backed Jacksons process. How many studios did that before, and how many will do it again?
Arwen showing up to save Frodo may have been a movie addition, but my god, was it pulled off so well. The choral elvish music, the light illuminating her arrival as she comes into focus. The whisper of her voice as she breathes out “Frodo…” Little kid me sat on my living room floor, and in that moment, she was the prettiest thing I had ever seen. First celebrity crush, right there. And even today, I still get that feeling Frodo has. The stunning beauty of an elf, the savior riding on horseback, and the weary delirium of his wound with the almost dreamlike way she’s presented. It’s an absolute masterpiece of a scene.
Yes, Arwen - as interposed into what was declared in the marketing and on the posters as *Tolkien's* story - "the saviour riding on horseback* when Tolkien actually sought to posit the *hobbit's* heroism and strength of will in the face of the enemy, not Arwen's. Is the film about elves or hobbits? Is Arwen the central character or is Frodo? It's not a masterpiece of a scene. It's an insult of jackson's hubris and should be recognised as such.
@@lozpopo What is more, it makes sense to replace Glorfindel, a character which would feel out of place like Tom Bombadil and later on be never mentioned, with Arwen that makes an appearance and is an important part of Aragorn’s journey through all three movies. As much as I love Glorfindel, seeing Arwen for the first time (and the movies in general) as a little girl was life changing.
@@este2518 Removing both Glorfindel and Tom Bombadil was definitely a wise choice. There were a lot of elements in the book that provided very little to the actual story, and just presented world building opportunities.
Im a huge fan of fantasy.. from Harry Potter to Final Fantasy series. But none could match LOTR in class and caliber. My most favorite among the trilogy is Fellowship of the Ring. The deep lore, majestic locations, each actor played perfectly, the music, the story and the lines are exceptional.. I've watched hundreds and hundreds of movies spanning from 1960s to the present but LOTR by Peter Jackson is truly a masterpiece, arguably the best movie trilogy ever made
@@taroupriapus9760 sheesh! Having watched movies doesn't make one an expert. The experts, such as Roger Ebert, criticised these films for not being true to the book e.g. by making it about elves and men fighting great battles against orcs while a handful of hobbits tagged along on the side-lines. The deep lore had nothing to do with jackson, the "majestic locations" had nothing to do with him. The "actors played perfectly" is a matter of opinion as to what they are supposed to be doing, fulfilling the roles Tolkien wrote or fulfilling jackson's arrogant alterations. The music is repetitive and one-dimensional resorting to the same flute riff every single time one of the hobbits confirms Gandalf's trust in them. The story wasn't jackson's (he is only responsible for mangling it), and the lines that you think are exceptional were certainly altered from those Tolkien wrote e.g. Gandalf did NOT shout "You shall not PASS!" in the book (he shouted, "You *cannot* pass" which is fundamentally different and carries huge significance totally lost on jackson), he cut Aragorn's greatest line (and his most heroic moment into the bargain) cut it entirely (when, despite having been ordered by Gandalf to flee, he says, "He cannot stand alone" and suddenly runs back along the bridge. "Elendil!" he shouted. "I am with you, Gandalf!" - why, in the name of god, was this not in the film? All Aragorn fans were waiting for it only to feel disappointed and insulted. He put lines that one character spoke in the book into the mouths of different characters on the screen! Bah! It stands to reason that ignoramuses who are easily fooled by great art direction and special effects would far outnumber those who have actually read the book *and* can tell the differences for what they are. It's wonderful for you that you enjoy these films but you shouldn't be hailing them as "by peter jackson" when all the great stuff was the work of others and his only contributions were to steer it *away* from what Tolkien created. You shouldn't be hailing them as masterpieces outside of a comparison ONLY of jackson's own films. Compared to all other films, they are impressive only visually.
@@KeldorDAntrell "Having watched movies doesn't make one an expert". Seems you should be taking your own advice here dont you think. Making assumptions based on someone's opinion and then going on to insult said opinion is an argument you've already lost. If you took the time to watch the LOTR "film makers appendices" you'll know why Jackson and the production crew chose to leave out certain aspects of the books and replace it with new dialog. The difference between literature and cinema (which you seem to be missing here) is that any book fact or fiction can take as long as it needs to set up its story, plot, character arcs, locations and all around lore. However, any film adaptation of a beloved book series is limited by the running time of the film itself. Another disconnect between the book and film you may or may not be missing here is the difference between the story and the plot. The story of LOTR is that of middle earth as a whole (difference races, languages, histories etc) while the plot is the journey to destroy the one ring. Like it or not but there a certain parts of the books and the story that serve no part to the movies plot (Tom Bombadil and the Barrow Wights for example). Sure, this was an integral part of the books/story but would've served no purpose to the films plot and would have only slowed down the pace of the film itself. Even Sir Christopher Lee who was one of Tolkien's greatest fans said while filming TFOTR "I see the production team have made changes to the script that are not in the book, and in many cases its an improvement". He also went on to state that the changes made for the film were from those who truly understood Tolkien himself and the world he created. So, before you go on a rant about someone's opinion about a film series they love just know that there are a whole lot of "experts" out there that don't share yours....
I’ve watched the Trilogy 168 times, and it still doesn’t lose its luster. I love it like a friend that’s walked by my side through all of life’s dangers.
@@Umbravitae19 wow! 168 times!!!?? I now have bookcase full of Tolkien’s works. I think I’m in love… ( w/ my husband’s permission, LOL He indulges my new-found passion )…. with JRR. Tolkien!! Even have a couple collectible books, well, in hundred years or so, LOL! Really can’t get enough. Love how he subtly works in his faith. I keep peeling back layer upon layer of meaning. LOTR: Sanity in an insane world! Next week I’ll be getting. MUCH closer to my eleventy-first b-day, and I’m hooked on LOTR and all thing Anglo Saxon!
I have watched all three movies back to back over 30 times. This may seem weird but I had watched them so often I now use them as “background music” while I study. It is most comforting, beautiful and peaceful to me focusing on my studies. When I take a break, I don’t have to guess what’s going on and I’m directly back in middle earth. And can we just all agree that it has the absolute BEST soundtrack ever???
You're totally right that it's all necessary for pacing etc., but man, Merry is one of my favourite characters in the books, and arguably the one who suffers most in the adaptation. In the books, he's so smart, loyal, kind, and brave, and I love his whole arc of gaining confidence and learning how to trust himself. I get why they had to cut a lot of it, but it's such a shame.
Notice how elrond says unite when tbe camera is in aragorn and fall when the camera is on boromier. Forshadowing that aragorn will unite poeple and bormier will fall in battle.
I'll never forget seeing it in theaters. My brother was a huge Tolkien fan and had been hyping it up so much. I was 11 and thought I was too cool for some fantasy movie and was just tagging along because he wanted to go. By the end of it, the only thought on my mind was, "I HAVE to go see this again!" It was a movie experience like nothing else. How I wish I could go back and see it in theaters for the first time.
I know exactly how you feel. I was in kindergarten when I saw it at a movie theater/pizza place and thus movie BLEW my little mind! The music, effects, and cinematography are an absolute overload to the senses.
Very interesting video essay. I think one of the major reasons Jackson’s trilogy is such a masterpiece is that he and his team made the decision to treat LOTR as “history.” The LOTR movies have a realism to them, a sense that the stories could have happened deep in our own past. They aren’t “Once upon a time”; they’re history turned legend, legend turned myth (paraphrase of the Prologue).
@@elmermedina1713 "Respected the source material"? You mean like when he had Pippin *accidentally* knock a skeleton down the well in Moria instead of *deliberately* dropping a stone down it? You mean like when he had Frodo clumsily trip over outside the gates of Mordor when Sauron's army was marching past only to be saved from discovery by his magic elven cloak, instead of just having him being stealthy and skilful as Tolkien said was a trait of all hobbits? "didn't try to modernize it or use it for some personal, political, or social agenda"? You mean by increasing the role of female characters to please feminists or to counter those who criticised Tolkien for having written an androcentric story? Or do mean by not making his own changes to the story to feed his own ego as if he thinks himself a better writer than Tolkien?
The Lord of the Rings trilogy was, continues to be, and will forever be the greatest trilogy ever created. It's quite astonishing to witness this reality become even more true over time.
Yes lol i was a like 12 at the time and i saw it half a dozen times in cinema. Haven't been to the cinemas in years now and when i did the movie that interested me was simply mediocre.
I watched it with my dad when I was 13, I bought him a nice collection of the books. Together again when the extended versions were released, and I watched it again this time alone as he died. Now I have the blu rays and the collection of books. These movies, this music, will always connect me to my father and that time.
I’m thinking about watching the extended movies together…. But my father is no longer with me either… I don’t know if I want to… or if I even can watch them without him. I’m sorry for your lose greatly. I wish you didn’t have to lose your father as well.
This is what perfection looks like. These three movies were the greatest thing we ever saw on screen, and will forever be. Movies we be forgotten and franchises will die, but not this one. Tolkien is (was) a hero to give us these books and create a world which is so deep and well designed. But so is Peter Jackson and all the actors. Thanks to J.R.R. Tolkien, Porter Jackson, Elyjah Wood, Sean Asten, Dom Manaham, Billy Boyen, Ian McCellan, Orlando Bloom, Vigo Mortensen and all others who worked on this masterpiece and if the only painted a leaf, thank you all. Because this work is immortal and will live.
The trilogy’s enduring legacy is proven in so many people who fondly remember it and share what the movie made them feel. Very, very few movies seem to do this anymore.
I remember watching these for the first time, i was soo completely and fully absorbed, a real connection to the characters, i cared for them, it felt so real. Everything was absolute perfection and still is. I have never seen anything that even comes close. These movies are truly my comfort blanket.
I give a great, comfortable sigh every time this movie is on and the music plays. Like the first Harry Potter, or Pirates of the Caribbean, from the first scenes in this film, I'm instantly transported into the story like it was the first time. God I love this movie!
every once in a while I will return to the original trilogy and binge watch all of them for old times sake. These movies are that good that even on repeat watches they still hold the magic.
I watched all three movies in the cinemas with my siblings and my mother, and we were all successful adults at that time. I remember wiping away the tears at the end of ROTK and not wanting to move so I could hide that emotion during the running of the credits. Now twenty years later I wouldn't care that people would see this emotion. That is what time and experience has shaped me to be: "not all tears are an evil".
It wasn’t made with any particular love for the source material. There are huge departures from the original text to pad the movie that detract greatly from the movie.
@@SenorTucanoWhat a trash talk. They acted as they where directed. And the state of tolken did not give permission to use Part from the boots so they are using the materia that they are allowed to use.
I literally just saw Fellowship in theaters the night before last, saw the Two Towers in theaters last night and seeing Return of the King tonight! This being my favorite in overall my favorite movies of all time I'm so glad my local theater was hosting EXTENDED showings! What an awesome throwback to the 2000s😊
This movie has a special place in my heart. I will never get tired of it. I won’t forget how I balled my eyes out when return of the king finished. I felt like I lost all my friends.
This was a phenomenon in my life. I have been a Tolkien fan since my dad gave me his bbc radioplay box set on cassette... In the 'early days' of the internet i caught wind this movie was coming, and closely followed every tidbit i could find... And it's truly the only thing i can think of that i was hyped for that lived up to my expectations... in fact... exceeded them.
Your comment about watching the movies while recovering brought back a 40+ year old memory. As a young lad, I was stuck indoors one miserable summer with 2nd degree sunburn all over my back and shoulders. I had to spend the entire summer inside laying on my stomach. To keep from going insane I did a LOT of reading, including the Hobbit/LOTR. I've since had a tradition to re-read them every summer, and every winter during the holidays, I have a LOTR (extended edition) movie marathon including the production/behind the scenes appendices.
a little note: The scene where Elrond tells his daughter about her fate is by far the most masterful piece of cinematic divinty that ever graced the screen.
there’s a lot of repeated and rearranged score throughout the films, but every so often a truly transcendent moment happens, during Gandalf to frodo about gollum, the high note under “we may yet mr. frodo” the brief choir starting the march of the ents, the charge of eomer and gandalf down the slope to helms deep, and over the drinks and solemn looks exchanged returning to the green dragon are the other ones that come to my mind
@@RAN480L64 Yes, director Peter Jackson managed at the last Green Dragon inn scene to succinctly capture the emotions that returned soldiers feel when they return from a hard-fought war. Around them life goes on, but their shared experiences has set them apart from those who never fought nor relied on each other for survival. Nothing they could say would make the locals understand their trauma and camaraderie nor the importance of their mission, but they also realise that this was exactly why they fought in the first place: so the locals would never experience a war themselves. So life continues and Sam decides that his successful quest to save all of Middle Earth now did qualify him to court Rosie Cotton.
My dad loved these movies so much when they came out, two towers was his favorite. I was about 6 when the first one came out. My dad played them over and over and watched all the extras. While a lot of the details were lost on me as a child (and even as an adult) I have so much respect for how amazing they are. The world is built so well and the effects are so believable even 20 years later .
Fantastic work Caleb - I would love to see a Two Towers and ROTK video. Great editing and use of quotes. I’m always thinking about these movies after all these years and your content helps to add that food for thought
"We see reflections of our own lives in the fellowship of the ring." You've named it! That's why we all love Tolkien's characters, and I'd argue, why we love stories in books and film in the first place. Great video!
Thanks for the video! Honestly can’t explain how much of a comfort this was. Basically it’s one of those moments when you’re really low and you stumble upon just exactly what you needed at the right time. I had never heard of Merry’s quotes from the book before. Really made me cry. 😂 To hear the story of the hobbits friendship is so wonderful. So nice to see real true blue friendship between both Frodo who doesn’t want them to come so they won’t get hurt and Merry and Samwise (and Pippin) saying that they know what they’re facing and they still want to go.
In the scene where Frodo offers to take the Ring to Mount Doom, there is no regret on Gandalf's face - it is relief and gratitude. Gandalf knew that Frodo was best suited to take on this task. Like Bilbo, Frodo had a natural strength against the influences of the Ring. But Gandalf also knew that he couldn't ask Frodo to do that. Frodo should bring the Ring to Rivendell, and in doing so he has already taken incredible risks. Gandalf also says in conversation with Elrond "We cannot ask more of him". That's why it's a relief for Gandalf when Frodo voluntarily offers to continue carrying the Ring. Gandalf was aware that this task, even if successful, would ultimately claim Frodo's life. He simply couldn't ask for that, it was something that had to be given freely.
I feel blessed to have seen this when it came out in theater when I was 13 years old. I didn't know the story, and I'll never forget how incredibly long the year felt before the next movie. I'd never anticipated anything so much in my life. Even at the time, I was in awe of how much work and detail, how much heart and soul, every single person associated with the project poured into it. There was no ego or agenda. Just a desire to tell a remarkable story in a remarkable way. The mainstream hated these movies b/c they're so wholesome and teach great morals. That's not exactly what Hollywood is about. But they couldn't deny the appeal and how much money it raked in, so they let it slide. That's why they've come back with the horrible Rings of Power, hoping to cash in on the money while casting aside the heart and morals. Fortunately, it did not work out at all.
Some part of me has lived in Middle Earth since I first read The Lord of the Rings in 1967. The films are one of the few perfect things Ive encountered in my long life. I watch the trilogy once a year at Christmas - to provide enough HOPE for the coming year ahead. It literally sustains me... Thank you for your lovely, thoughtful video - we love the beautiful things, and cherish Mr Tolkien’s brilliant vision of a world where good will always vanquish evil.
My favorite piece of media, together with my favorite piece of music. Adapted from my favorite author's work that is full of references to my favorite book: Silmarillion. Perfection.
I really feel homesick for the shire and middle earth when I see the movie again, and read the books again. I cannot explain that, but I never have that with other films.
I actually think in the book, Boromir is far more reasonable and noble. The movie portrayed him as devious and power-hungry from the very start, but I don’t believe he’s like that in the book. In fact, he defers to the Fellowship on many occasions and he is the one who suggests that they ask the Ringbearer what to do when they’re trying to figure out whether to go through the mountain pass or through the mines. Also, in the book he actually reunited with the Fellowship after trying to take the Ring from Frodo but he won’t say what happened. Aragorn suspects something and questions his intensely but Boromir simply falls to the ground and puts his head in his hands in despair and shame. His death scene is very similar but we don’t read about the fighting, only that he’s riddled with arrows and a couple dozen bodies around him. I thought they did well showing his sacrifice in the movie. But I still feel like he got a bit of a raw deal in the movie overall.
'I agree with you bro. In the movies, he's whiny and a douchebag from his first appearance in Rivendell "By the lands of OUR PEOPLE are your lands kept safe! Give us the ring!" lol so subtle. And when he lets Narsil clang on the ground and runs away from Aragorn. He had some nice scenes with Merry and Pippin, but already the audience didn't like him. The "foreshadowing" with him picking up the ring and being all obsessed with it should have just had alarm bells all over the screen with "BAD GUY ALERT! BAD GUY ALERT!" for 10 seconds. When Boromir tries to take the ring, it's not a shock, everyone knew what was going to happen. It's easy to 2nd guess, but it would have been really really smooth if they made Boromir into someone with the demeanor of Legolas, who was just all about helping the team, and being a great fighter. Not a "rival" to Aragorn. And then when he tries to take the ring it would have been like WHOAAAAA WHAT??? Like imagine if in Fellowship, Legolas had been the one to try and hurt Frodo...it would have been a legit shock. In the films, Boromir does acquit himself by helping Merry and Pippin but when he dies the audience already hates him cuz he's portrayed as a shitbird they're like "ok whatever fuck him, good he's out and didn't get the ring."
When I first read The Fellowship of the Ring, the character that stood out most for me was Merry, for the exact reasons you highlighted. He shows such steadfast friendship and loyalty to Frodo. People mostly talk about Sam's bond with Frodo, but Merry's is no less. Loved the quotes you cited about him! One of my favourite quotes from him is from Chapter 3 of Book 2 (The Ring Goes South), when Pippin complains that Elrond is "rewarding" Sam for attending the Council uninvited by allowing him to go with Frodo, and Frodo is appalled that they are considering that to be a reward when the journey is going to be so dangerous. Then Merry says, "We are envying Sam, not you. If you have to go, then it will be a punishment for any of us to be left behind, even in Rivendell." ❤❤❤
These movies will never get old, they are absolute perfection. We do a rewatch at least once a year, sometimes more. So many incredible characters and world. Thank you Tolkien and thank you Peter Jackson ❤
I read the trilogy back in the mid sixties. Peter Jackson’s adaptation is perfection. The actors chosen for each character are absolutely spot on. The locations bring the book’s settings to life and the storyline is followed seamlessly. The musical score sets the emotional tone for each scene. Three movies for the ages. As a side opinion, I select Sam as the true hero of the books. I think Tolkien did as well. BTW great job on the commentary.
even in the fellowship the balrogs flames etc are not CGI. It's a master art blend of cg and real flames where artists had to comp real flame and smoke onto the creature and blend it all together. Which is the reason why it will always hold up so well. Our brain is being shown real effects.
Absolutely love your chapter introductions with the ring! Really awesome! Oh and great video, congratulations! I would love to see videos for Two Towers and Return of the King too
it's refreshing to hear someone appreciate the challenges Peter Jackson faces while making this movie. it almost didn't happen!!! then there was so much during production and writing and it still turned out just so amazing. ppl who complain it isn't exactly like the books i think take for granted the work that everyone put into making it what it is, AND IN A CRAZY SHORT TIMELINE CONSIDERING THEY MADE 3 FREAKIN MOVIES. i love the books and i love the movies and i love your appreciation for them. most days I'm watching videos and listening to commentary about the movies and books, i never get tired of middle earth and everything tolkien created. thanks for your video!! ❤❤❤
LOL. I’ve actually lost track of how many times I’ve read the books and how many times I’ve seen the movies. I love both the movies and the books for different reasons, but both are magic.
For helping me through tough times and making my good times even better, from the very bottom of my heart, i sincerely thank EVERYONE involved in this legendarium, from Tolkien himself down to the most minor roles in the trilogy. Thank you ❤
Last week I saw it for the first time with my 10 years-old son. I have seen it before and tried to show it to him but he never really cared, but this time he asked me to see it....I couldn't have been happier, We saw extended editions fellowship of the ring and two towers...hopefully tomorrow we are seeing the return of the king. I cried a lot during movies ....omg I am not native English speaker so I don't know how to convey in words the emotion I felt sharing that moment with my son...probably the most beautiful moment I have shared with him so far....I wish I could go to middle earth just once :(
Great video! You perfectly articulate so many of the reasons that’s Fellowship, and the trilogy overall, is so perfect and will stand the test of time forever.
Great tribute. Great tribute. As a fan, I have a gazillion peeves with the movies, but overall, Jackson did a much better job than we had any right to hope.
I watch them every year, when I broke my leg, when I was in bed with a terrible fever. Comforting and inspiring, it never fails to lift my spirits in a tough time. Some of the Best movies ever made just in my opinion.
This is a lovely video essay. It is full of nuanced analysis that deftly reminds us of just what an incredible and indelible experience this amazing film was and, as you rightly say, continues to be. Yes, it is more than just a story and yes, we will keep on coming back. Great work!
I subscribed to your channel when I saw the Love & Monsters video, but this one demonstrated why that was a good decision. I appreciate your insightful writing and your editing style. Wishing you all the success with your channel!
Your commentary about the changes due to the medium are spot on. I adore Tolkien’s book for what it is, but I also adore the movies for what they are, and I recognize the necessity of the changes that Jackson, Fran, and Philippa made (except for Gandalf’s staff breaking. I won’t forgive that nonsense 😅).
Yeah they disrespect Gandalf more and more as the films go on - it’s so weird that by the end of Return of the King he is kind of dead weight in the film, and by the end of the e Hobbit movies he is a completely useless character that nobody listens to or respect. Fellowship of the Ring was the best one
Yeah they disrespect Gandalf more and more as the films go on - it’s so weird that by the end of Return of the King he is kind of dead weight in the film, and by the end of the e Hobbit movies he is a completely useless character that nobody listens to or respect. Fellowship of the Ring was the best one
Yeah they disrespect Gandalf more and more as the films go on - it’s so weird that by the end of Return of the King he is kind of dead weight in the film, and by the end of the e Hobbit movies he is a completely useless character that nobody listens to or respect. Fellowship of the Ring was the best one
Yeah they disrespect Gandalf more and more as the films go on - it’s so weird that by the end of Return of the King he is kind of dead weight in the film, and by the end of the e Hobbit movies he is a completely useless character that nobody listens to or respect. Fellowship of the Ring was the best one
Yeah they disrespect Gandalf more and more as the films go on - it’s so weird that by the end of Return of the King he is kind of dead weight in the film, and by the end of the e Hobbit movies he is a completely useless character that nobody listens to or respect. Fellowship of the Ring was the best one
I feel compelled to mention MY favorite scene is when Gandalf is at that Library in Gondor going through the papers and reading about the “finding of the one ring”; it’s Sir Ian’s votive mostly while reading… So relaxing… Idk some have a reading voice you could just listen to all day- doesn’t matter ‘what’ they read! Also loved the earlier scene where he’s talking to himself by the fire as Frodo returns home and discovers the ring… And naturally when he grabs and reads that dwarf journal… I love that Gandalf of Ian (McAllen ?)
Hi! I just discovered your channel through your skyrim video and I just had to watch this one as well 😊 I love your content and you are a very good orator, I love listening to you speaking about things you so obviously love. You won a new follower who can't wait to see more from your channel! Keep up the good work and take care of yourself 🥰
The Lord of the Rings trilogy are my absolute favourite movies of all time, and have read the books many times. Please do videos for The Two Towers and The Return of the King!
I’ve been watching these movies my entire life and they truly never get old, they never fail to bring me to tears, and they never fail to inspire me to be a better man.
To me the movies have become inseparable to Tolkien’s work. They don’t replace it, but rather compliment it. The movies emphasize different aspects of the story, namely pacing and drama. Book purists really miss out on some of the excellent changes the movies make that heighten the drama and the tension.
As not at all a book purist, there are still many critiques to make of the execution - how they turned into overblown cgi war movies, how first draft ideas like the echo trance of frodo sending sam away made it into the final piece, how denathor is reduced to a one dimensional obstacle character without even a glimpse of his corruption via palantir, how minas tirith is never shrouded in fog to excentuate the scale of the city and the fear and surprise of the fell beasts. I almost wish at times the first film had been less successful so they might have been forced to put the same level of effort into refining the second two, but I agree that they with the extended editions and their differences are an excellent lesson in how a shot movie can turn out very differently by what is kept and trimmed out
@@RAN480L64 And there are likewise many criticisms I’d make of the books. No execution is ever perfect. We often forget that Tolkien’s work, while exceptional and destined to be the classic of our time, has pacing problems, wonky dialogue, meandering descriptions to the point of excess, and lackluster battle descriptions among other issues. Denathor is made less interesting but Boromir is made more interesting. Aragorn is given a more defined arc. The oppression of the ring/Sauron and the urgency of the quest is far more effectively communicated.
You poor deluded idiot. How can this film compliment the book when it does things that are completely different, the total reverse? jackson made The Prancing Pony a dark, foreboding, unfriendly place. How in hell does that *compliment* the warm, welcoming, friendly place that Tolkien wrote? That's like saying that salt compliments sugar. It's simply stupid. How am I, a "book purist", missing out on this change? I saw it, recognised the cheap trick that jackson was playing in trying to make the approach of the black riders more scary by making the inn more scary, and rejected it as not only untrue to the book but dramatically wrong as well i.e. having evil and dangerous black riders burst in on hobbits who are already frightened and threatened doesn't bring about upon them an unpleasant change but merely increases the already present emotion whereas having the black riders burst in on hobbits who have let down their guard and aren't expecting danger will get a shock and be thrown into emotional turmoil, spun around from one emotional position to another, completely opposite, one. No, the changes DON'T heighten the drama and tension; they bastardize it. For a start, the books aren't only about drama and tension. Sometimes they are about tenderness and love (among many other things). jackson is a hack.
Aragorn is a mythic character, modeled after characters like Sir Orfeo and King Horn. He is meant to feel mythic and ancient, not modern and relatable (the way the movies make him feel with the utilization of the very anachronistic "reluctant hero" modern movie trope, which was something that *did not exist* until 100 years ago). The Hobbits are the modern characters that change and grow due to interacting with the mythic world around them. Aragorn is not meant to be a modern reluctant hero. He's meant to be a mythic figure that furthers the Hobbits' arcs, not the other way around. Frodo is *already* a reluctant hero. Turning Aragorn into one as well only serves to make Tolkien's medieval world feel like a modern one. It just doesn't work whatsoever. Jackson's world is modern with a medieval aesthetic, whereas Tolkien's is entirely medieval (and, considering he was the Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University, was entirely the point of the work to begin with). Jackson fundamentally *do not understand* this world or story. What do you even think this story was about?? It was meant to show how the Hobbits (the modern protagonists) are ennobled and changed due to their experiences in the medieval and mythic world around them. The films turn Tolkien's medieval epic into generic action films. Christopher Tolkien himself hated them. Tolkien scholars hated them. There is an entire Wikipedia article dedicated to Tolkien scholars tearing these movies to shreds. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Jackson%27s_interpretation_of_The_Lord_of_the_Rings Tolkien was a medievalist, emulating the medieval literature he loved and studied so much. Tolkien's "wonky dialogue" is incredibly faithful to the inverted syntax found in Old English poems and epics. Of course, you don't realize any of this. You don't have any clue about Tolkien's overarching purpose, how he utilized older forms of literature in order to create a world that feels authentically rooted in medieval legend. You only care about Jackson's modernized version. A version that is completely disconnected from Tolkien and the ancient texts he was evoking. Jackson was not a medievalist, he did not grasp or understand Tolkien's overarching themes, and (as many Tolkien scholars have said) he dumbs down the work in order to present a modernized and anachronistic version of events. Aragorn is turned into a modern and American-ized hero, Frodo is relegated to the periphery of the story, the Ents are turned into morons, the themes about the fading power and glory of old disappear entirely, etc. This is a story that you do not grasp. It is a story that Jackson did not grasp. You make it absolutely clear that you adore Jackson first and foremost. But this is Tolkien's world, his characters, his themes. Jackson simply modernized them for a modern movie audience. Tolkien sought to create a chivalric epic in the vein of real-life medieval romances. He was infinitely smarter than yourself, and he was one of the most accomplished medievalists of the 20th century. All of your "critiques" would have simply turned Tolkien's Middle-earth from a mythic world into a modern one. You fundamentally misunderstand this world, Tolkien's intentions, and the larger literary tradition he was involved in. You seem like someone who (maybe) read The Lord of the Rings one time ten years ago. J.R.R. Tolkien, like Christopher Tolkien, would have hated the movies. Anyone who even *remotely* understands the themes of Tolkien's works cannot think these movies have anything at all to do with them. Your utter contempt for Tolkien and total ignorance about his themes, world, and writing style make you ill-suited for legitimate commentary about his world.
@@brooksboy78 Yikes, that's possibly the most cringe thing I've ever read and I pity the poor souls in your life who must suffer through the above bloviation on a regular basis, assuming there is anyone to put up with it any longer. You don't really understand my point, which I perhaps didn't make very clearly. I do not believe the movies better than the books, but as stated complimentary to it. They emphasize drama, urgency, action, and pacing. Which are all tools of storytelling, just as important as the mythopoetic tools employed by Tolkien. They accomplish different purposes, and here the purpose to the changes was to target a broader, lower brow audience. Yes, the philosophy is dumbed down, necessarily, given the medium and target audience. There is nothing wrong with making complex ideas more digestible to a lower brow audience. That is a good thing. It is a good thing a broader audience was introduced to Tolkien's work and fell in love with Middle Earth. There is also nothing wrong with updating an older work to better appeal to contemporary tastes. Sir Orfeo is itself a medieval update to Orpheus, taking the older tradition and updating it medieval tastes and sensibilities. Totally fine when medieval authors "modernize" a work of course, but Peter Jackson bad. As for educating myself, I mean good God man, calm down and climb off ye olden high horse. I'm a young man born into the modern world. I'm trying to learn as much as I can about the Middle Ages. I just got Tolkien's translation of Sir Orfeo and have been enjoying a few excellent works on early Anglo-Saxon history. More than a bit embarrassing for you to insult a stranger for enjoying a derivative work and offering a few (extremely) modest criticisms of another work. One can simultaneously enjoy low and high culture. You might try it some time, it will help remove that rod from your ass.
I don't leave comments on anything on the Internet, but this was a beautiful take that helped me realize this is one of my favorite movies. Thank you so much.
My mom rented this movie from blockbuster on a whim when I was 12. I was floored, and hooked, and the whole trilogy became my mom and I’s favorite films. We would watch them nearly every weekend, and I devoured the extended editions she bought, all the appendices and extras. I was obsessed. We saw two towers three times in theaters when it came out and ROTK six times. Nothing will ever compare to these films. I’m 33 now… two decades of rewatching and I can’t wait til my kids are old enough to start introducing them to it!
I loved this video. Keep it up, eventually the youtube algorithm with catch you. I wish I could contribute to the Patreon but I do not live in the United States. It will probably be a lot of work but I would love to see eventually a video of Two Towers and Return of the King.
Thanks for watching and commenting! I don't expect most people to join the Patreon. Just watching the whole thing and engaging is more than enough support :) thanks for stopping by!
Great video! i tell people i watch LOTR every year and people think im crazy or they dont understand what is so good and why i cant stop rewatching this trilogy. Im just glad there are so many people who share the same sentiment as i do about this amazing film.
I have watched The Lord of the ring trilogy like more than 20 times and I don't get tired of it. Every time I re watched my wife ask me if I dont get tire of these movie, I simply reply nope!😂
Well, after uploading this 33 times to pass the copyright checks and then trimming out clips twice AFTER it started gaining traction, this video has been fully copyright claimed. I will make $0 on it now after working on it for 2.5 months. If you want to support the channel, consider checking out my new Patreon at www.patreon.com/CalebRobinson. Have a great day!
Im a huge fan of fantasy.. from Harry Potter to Final Fantasy series. But none could match LOTR in class and caliber. My most favorite among the trilogy is Fellowship of the Ring. The deep lore, majestic locations, each actor played perfectly, the music, the story and the dialogues are exceptional.. I've watched hundreds and hundreds of movies spanning from 1960s to the present but LOTR by Peter Jackson is truly a masterpiece, arguably the greatest movie trilogy ever made
I had to re-upload this video 33 times to get it to pass the TH-cam copyright checks. That’s 33 times I had to make more edits, including completely redoing the music. If you’d like to watch the original version with Howard Shore’s music and a 5-minute section I cut at the last minute, consider joining the Patreon! www.patreon.com/posts/fellowship-of-is-95576406 EDIT: The video got claimed. See pinned comment.
These copyright checkes have gone too far. This is no more a legal ban, but a crime. It's not plagiarism, most of the contents are created for fun, not taking benefits from other's work! And now me thinking how I'm gonna share covers, or even my own composition if 3-4 keys might look like someones work and get banned for it lol! There's no creativity from scratch in 21th century, when most of the keys and colors are already created long before!
Sweetie---I too have watched these films multiple times, and found much that I love about them. But please, PLEASE----Read the Books. Read The Hobbit and then LOTR trilogy multiple times as well. Please Honor J.R.R. Tolkien----he's the GENIUS in this equation. And, the changes done by Jackson; the insertions, the omissions will be revealed. It will be a whole new and fascinating Journey for you. I'm in my mid-60s and have read the trilogy about 8 or 9 times through in my life. Of course, forgive me if you already have read them...to me...Lord of the Rings without the chapters of the Old Forest, the Scouring of the Shire, and just sooooooooooooo much more depth to all of the characters....it's just not complete or whole. The movies are the movies---and yes, what an accomplishment! Jackson did marshal an entire CITY of people to create them!
@@stardust949 he says in the video that he’s read the books multiple times and discusses in a section of the video the differences between the movie and book.
I was never a reader of the books and I didn't pay much attention to these movies when they came out but the more time that passes, the more I love them and I truly believe these are the greatest movies ever and that will ever be.
Every time I watch it I’m amazed and thankful by how brilliant it is. I remember seeing it for the first time and a minute into the prologue I knew we were in for something special.
I always bounce back and forth between which of the 3 films is my favorite but I know deep in my heart that it is firmly Fellowship. What a treat of a film, and trilogy that we collectively adore
Fantastic breakdown of this movie! The only time I think the special effects fall short are the underwater scenes like when Sam is drowning and Frodo puts his hand out to save him. Other than that, I even think dark Galdriel works pretty well!
it's the best movie in the trilogy for me. maybe it's bc of the shire and seeing them happy for a while. seeing frodo happy and just being. but also how it is as a story. to me it's the best structured. so i agree with mr elijah wood as this is my favorite one.
I will never get tired of videos explaining why my favorite movie is this good
I was just gonna write the same. I've watched so many videos on LOTR and they never get old.
Haven't watched the video yet. Just came to the comments to confirm that the title of this video is infact, fact.
Never enough😃
Same here! ❤
It’s becoming my new comfort videos, just like how the movies were for me as a child.
One moment in Fellowship that always brings tears to my eyes no matter what, is hearing the hobbit children yelling, “Gandalf! Gandalf! Fireworks, Gandalf!”
Knowing that this powerful being, one of the Five sent to protect and maintain Middle Earth, amidst a world of bloodshed and sorrow, war and grief, chose to hold focus to this little land, with little folk, and seemingly little cares and worries. He was such a story among the Shire, so much that these little children looked at this big, ancient figure, and saw safety and fun.
One aspect I like so much about Gandalf is that even though he is so powerful, he chooses to encourage rather than dominate, to council rather than order, to convince rather than persuade. And he only uses his power to protect those in his keeping. It’s an incredible humble way of being.
now, i'm not too familiar with the lore at certain points but aren't the wizards essentially otherwordly beings? just the thought of this powerful being choosing to befriend these small creatures and protect them, hug them, love them for what they are means so much to me. gandalf cares so much about so many people and sees them as the individuals they are and i love that. i always thought of angels to be these detached entities and i love that he isn't.
I love how the film handles Boromir. The pile of orc bodies he leaves behind as penance while defending Merry and Pippin feels like a personal touch, like Boromir represents us mere mortals, faults and all, and while, like many and more powerful before him, he may have succumbed to the temptation of the ring, he ultimately sacrifices his life in defence of the defenceless, and his redemption is complete. The tenderness between him and Aragorn at his death is beautiful, and I feel like the endorsement of Boromir really sets steel in Aragorn, and begins in earnest his transition from Ranger to King. Absolutely marvellous stuff.
"They took the little ones."
This is one of the things I loved to notice when I got older. When I was young I, like I think a lot of people did who watched it while young, saw Boromir as a "villain" but he was just a normal person who was tempted. That whole death sequence really brought him back for me when I started to rewatch them yearly and now he's definitely one of my favourites
@PosstulioBut they were at odds. That's not something they made up for the movies, to add drama or tension. Boromir in the movie is exactly like he was in the book. And they didn't entirely have the same goal. Boromir was more focused on Gondor than the bigger picture of Sauron and the entirety of Middle-Earth (he didn't dismiss it but the glory of Gondor (and his own) was always first and foremost on his mind, until the very end).
It's Aragorn they did dirty. He was never reluctant to become the king. He was always clear about his place in the world and history, what had to be done and what his future was going to be. A few of the characters they changed significantly: mostly Aragorn, Faramir and Denethor. Most other changes (except Old Man Willow/the Barrowdowns/Tom Bombadil) are more subtle, like Elrond's downright refusal to allow Arwen to marry Aragorn instead of the (in his mind) impossible condition he set in the book.
Still, the trilogy is as good a movie adaptation of LOTR as is possible, in my opinion. It will never be exactly like the book and the book will always be the superior work. But PJ and the crews poured their hearts and souls into it, and it shows.
Boromir and faramir are easily my 2 favorite chatacters
@@thenecrosanct4906I disagree that the films did Aragorn dirty, they simply gave him his arc from before the books happened where he was quite reluctant albeit for different reasons. I thought his hesitance and self doubt worked extremely well in context and also gave him room to grow over 3 films as apposed to being quite insufferable at times as I find the book version even though I understand why.
A character that was truly done dirty imo is Gimli who was effectively reduced to a punchline. I understand the need for comic relief in films so I don’t mind so much but book Gimli is very insightful and poetic at times and I would’ve liked that to come through a bit more.
These were released at the peak of the golden age of cinema. The technology was there, but so was the work ethic.
just the right sprinkle of cgi, not complete films shot on green screen like the Hobbit.
The movies maybe the peak of cinema but I don't recall the time being golden, I think the 80's were a stronger decade of movies.
Rambo, terminator.. etc. True enough. @@fredkelly6953
The work ethic is still there.VFX artists are famously pushed beyond reasonable limits, its a miracle that this film got made in the way it did. So it had a studio that backed Jacksons process. How many studios did that before, and how many will do it again?
Peak was way before
Literally my favorite movie (followed closely by the sequels), in my mind there’s no movie that matches Fellowship on any level.
You're literally saying this when the masterpiece known as "Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!" exists
@@garethmcguinness377 of course, how could I have forgotten
Not even The Meg 2?
@@garethmcguinness377 I was just about to say this. My favorite is the director's cut, plus the endless hours of behind the scenes documentaries.
The sub title is Oh hell no!??? 😂
Arwen showing up to save Frodo may have been a movie addition, but my god, was it pulled off so well. The choral elvish music, the light illuminating her arrival as she comes into focus. The whisper of her voice as she breathes out “Frodo…” Little kid me sat on my living room floor, and in that moment, she was the prettiest thing I had ever seen. First celebrity crush, right there.
And even today, I still get that feeling Frodo has. The stunning beauty of an elf, the savior riding on horseback, and the weary delirium of his wound with the almost dreamlike way she’s presented. It’s an absolute masterpiece of a scene.
Yes, Arwen - as interposed into what was declared in the marketing and on the posters as *Tolkien's* story - "the saviour riding on horseback* when Tolkien actually sought to posit the *hobbit's* heroism and strength of will in the face of the enemy, not Arwen's. Is the film about elves or hobbits? Is Arwen the central character or is Frodo?
It's not a masterpiece of a scene. It's an insult of jackson's hubris and should be recognised as such.
@@KeldorDAntrell In the book its almost exactly the same scene except Glorfindel in place of Arwen.
@@lozpopo What is more, it makes sense to replace Glorfindel, a character which would feel out of place like Tom Bombadil and later on be never mentioned, with Arwen that makes an appearance and is an important part of Aragorn’s journey through all three movies. As much as I love Glorfindel, seeing Arwen for the first time (and the movies in general) as a little girl was life changing.
@@este2518 Removing both Glorfindel and Tom Bombadil was definitely a wise choice. There were a lot of elements in the book that provided very little to the actual story, and just presented world building opportunities.
Definitely .
Still the greatest trilogy ever made, still give me shivers to this day every time
Agreed, and I am a huge Star Wars fan.
Im a huge fan of fantasy.. from Harry Potter to Final Fantasy series. But none could match LOTR in class and caliber. My most favorite among the trilogy is Fellowship of the Ring. The deep lore, majestic locations, each actor played perfectly, the music, the story and the lines are exceptional.. I've watched hundreds and hundreds of movies spanning from 1960s to the present but LOTR by Peter Jackson is truly a masterpiece, arguably the best movie trilogy ever made
@@taroupriapus9760 sheesh! Having watched movies doesn't make one an expert. The experts, such as Roger Ebert, criticised these films for not being true to the book e.g. by making it about elves and men fighting great battles against orcs while a handful of hobbits tagged along on the side-lines. The deep lore had nothing to do with jackson, the "majestic locations" had nothing to do with him. The "actors played perfectly" is a matter of opinion as to what they are supposed to be doing, fulfilling the roles Tolkien wrote or fulfilling jackson's arrogant alterations. The music is repetitive and one-dimensional resorting to the same flute riff every single time one of the hobbits confirms Gandalf's trust in them. The story wasn't jackson's (he is only responsible for mangling it), and the lines that you think are exceptional were certainly altered from those Tolkien wrote e.g. Gandalf did NOT shout "You shall not PASS!" in the book (he shouted, "You *cannot* pass" which is fundamentally different and carries huge significance totally lost on jackson), he cut Aragorn's greatest line (and his most heroic moment into the bargain) cut it entirely (when, despite having been ordered by Gandalf to flee, he says, "He cannot stand alone" and suddenly runs back along the bridge. "Elendil!" he shouted. "I am with you, Gandalf!" - why, in the name of god, was this not in the film? All Aragorn fans were waiting for it only to feel disappointed and insulted. He put lines that one character spoke in the book into the mouths of different characters on the screen!
Bah! It stands to reason that ignoramuses who are easily fooled by great art direction and special effects would far outnumber those who have actually read the book *and* can tell the differences for what they are. It's wonderful for you that you enjoy these films but you shouldn't be hailing them as "by peter jackson" when all the great stuff was the work of others and his only contributions were to steer it *away* from what Tolkien created. You shouldn't be hailing them as masterpieces outside of a comparison ONLY of jackson's own films. Compared to all other films, they are impressive only visually.
@@KeldorDAntrell "Having watched movies doesn't make one an expert". Seems you should be taking your own advice here dont you think.
Making assumptions based on someone's opinion and then going on to insult said opinion is an argument you've already lost.
If you took the time to watch the LOTR "film makers appendices" you'll know why Jackson and the production crew chose to leave out certain aspects of the books and replace it with new dialog.
The difference between literature and cinema (which you seem to be missing here) is that any book fact or fiction can take as long as it needs to set up its story, plot, character arcs, locations and all around lore.
However, any film adaptation of a beloved book series is limited by the running time of the film itself. Another disconnect between the book and film you may or may not be missing here is the difference between the story and the plot.
The story of LOTR is that of middle earth as a whole (difference races, languages, histories etc) while the plot is the journey to destroy the one ring.
Like it or not but there a certain parts of the books and the story that serve no part to the movies plot (Tom Bombadil and the Barrow Wights for example). Sure, this was an integral part of the books/story but would've served no purpose to the films plot and would have only slowed down the pace of the film itself.
Even Sir Christopher Lee who was one of Tolkien's greatest fans said while filming TFOTR "I see the production team have made changes to the script that are not in the book, and in many cases its an improvement". He also went on to state that the changes made for the film were from those who truly understood Tolkien himself and the world he created.
So, before you go on a rant about someone's opinion about a film series they love just know that there are a whole lot of "experts" out there that don't share yours....
I’ve watched the Trilogy 168 times, and it still doesn’t lose its luster. I love it like a friend that’s walked by my side through all of life’s dangers.
I watch it every year, and it just never gets old
@@Umbravitae19 wow! 168 times!!!?? I now have bookcase full of Tolkien’s works. I think I’m in love… ( w/ my husband’s permission, LOL He indulges my new-found passion )…. with JRR. Tolkien!! Even have a couple collectible books, well, in hundred years or so, LOL! Really can’t get enough. Love how he subtly works in his faith. I keep peeling back layer upon layer of meaning. LOTR: Sanity in an insane world! Next week I’ll be getting. MUCH closer to my eleventy-first b-day, and I’m hooked on LOTR and all thing Anglo Saxon!
( I refuse to watch the Rings of Power nonsense. Tolkien would hate it!)
I have watched all three movies back to back over 30 times. This may seem weird but I had watched them so often I now use them as “background music” while I study. It is most comforting, beautiful and peaceful to me focusing on my studies. When I take a break, I don’t have to guess what’s going on and I’m directly back in middle earth.
And can we just all agree that it has the absolute BEST soundtrack ever???
You're totally right that it's all necessary for pacing etc., but man, Merry is one of my favourite characters in the books, and arguably the one who suffers most in the adaptation. In the books, he's so smart, loyal, kind, and brave, and I love his whole arc of gaining confidence and learning how to trust himself. I get why they had to cut a lot of it, but it's such a shame.
Many such cases.
Notice how elrond says unite when tbe camera is in aragorn and fall when the camera is on boromier. Forshadowing that aragorn will unite poeple and bormier will fall in battle.
Oh nice catch! I hadn't noticed that before. Another fantastic detail.
Well spotted . I had completely missed this .
I'll never forget seeing it in theaters. My brother was a huge Tolkien fan and had been hyping it up so much. I was 11 and thought I was too cool for some fantasy movie and was just tagging along because he wanted to go. By the end of it, the only thought on my mind was, "I HAVE to go see this again!" It was a movie experience like nothing else. How I wish I could go back and see it in theaters for the first time.
I went to see the first film 6 times. Absolutely loved the Balrog….🤪
I know exactly how you feel. I was in kindergarten when I saw it at a movie theater/pizza place and thus movie BLEW my little mind! The music, effects, and cinematography are an absolute overload to the senses.
Very interesting video essay.
I think one of the major reasons Jackson’s trilogy is such a masterpiece is that he and his team made the decision to treat LOTR as “history.” The LOTR movies have a realism to them, a sense that the stories could have happened deep in our own past. They aren’t “Once upon a time”; they’re history turned legend, legend turned myth (paraphrase of the Prologue).
Plus, they respected the source material, didn't try to modernize it or use it for some personal, political, and social agenda.
@@elmermedina1713I knew someone would say this lol.
@@ChesterGlover yes, someone always does, and they are always wrong too.
@@elmermedina1713 "Respected the source material"? You mean like when he had Pippin *accidentally* knock a skeleton down the well in Moria instead of *deliberately* dropping a stone down it? You mean like when he had Frodo clumsily trip over outside the gates of Mordor when Sauron's army was marching past only to be saved from discovery by his magic elven cloak, instead of just having him being stealthy and skilful as Tolkien said was a trait of all hobbits?
"didn't try to modernize it or use it for some personal, political, or social agenda"? You mean by increasing the role of female characters to please feminists or to counter those who criticised Tolkien for having written an androcentric story? Or do mean by not making his own changes to the story to feed his own ego as if he thinks himself a better writer than Tolkien?
@@KeldorDAntrell I didn’t know Arwen was Glorfindel. I swear ppl confuse Tolkien with PJ
The Lord of the Rings trilogy was, continues to be, and will forever be the greatest trilogy ever created.
It's quite astonishing to witness this reality become even more true over time.
Remove the word “trilogy” and replace it with “movie,” and you are correct.
Only if you mean the theatrical version.
The Lord of the Rings is a novel. The Jackson movies are not the Lord of the Rings.
@@reek4062 Agreed.
@@IncognitoJohnDoe The Jackson trilogy is not The Lord of the Rings, especially because it isn't a faithful adaptation.
I was 16 at the time. I saw fellowship like 8 times in theaters when it came out. It was perfect.
Yes lol i was a like 12 at the time and i saw it half a dozen times in cinema. Haven't been to the cinemas in years now and when i did the movie that interested me was simply mediocre.
I watched it with my dad when I was 13, I bought him a nice collection of the books. Together again when the extended versions were released, and I watched it again this time alone as he died. Now I have the blu rays and the collection of books. These movies, this music, will always connect me to my father and that time.
I’m thinking about watching the extended movies together…. But my father is no longer with me either… I don’t know if I want to… or if I even can watch them without him. I’m sorry for your lose greatly. I wish you didn’t have to lose your father as well.
This is what perfection looks like. These three movies were the greatest thing we ever saw on screen, and will forever be. Movies we be forgotten and franchises will die, but not this one.
Tolkien is (was) a hero to give us these books and create a world which is so deep and well designed. But so is Peter Jackson and all the actors.
Thanks to J.R.R. Tolkien, Porter Jackson, Elyjah Wood, Sean Asten, Dom Manaham, Billy Boyen, Ian McCellan, Orlando Bloom, Vigo Mortensen and all others who worked on this masterpiece and if the only painted a leaf, thank you all.
Because this work is immortal and will live.
The trilogy’s enduring legacy is proven in so many people who fondly remember it and share what the movie made them feel. Very, very few movies seem to do this anymore.
I remember watching these for the first time, i was soo completely and fully absorbed, a real connection to the characters, i cared for them, it felt so real. Everything was absolute perfection and still is. I have never seen anything that even comes close. These movies are truly my comfort blanket.
I give a great, comfortable sigh every time this movie is on and the music plays. Like the first Harry Potter, or Pirates of the Caribbean, from the first scenes in this film, I'm instantly transported into the story like it was the first time. God I love this movie!
every once in a while I will return to the original trilogy and binge watch all of them for old times sake. These movies are that good that even on repeat watches they still hold the magic.
I'm so privilieged to have experienced the LotR premieres in the cinemas.
I got to watch the Return of the King in theaters during COVID. I'm hoping someday I'll get a chance to watch the others as well!
I made a point of travelling back to UK and taking my young daughter to all three screenings over 3 years .
Time well spent I reckon .
@@sidensvans67 Parent of the year
I watched all three movies in the cinemas with my siblings and my mother, and we were all successful adults at that time. I remember wiping away the tears at the end of ROTK and not wanting to move so I could hide that emotion during the running of the credits. Now twenty years later I wouldn't care that people would see this emotion. That is what time and experience has shaped me to be: "not all tears are an evil".
I feel the same way. I wish I could recreate the experience of seeing them in the theaters for the first time ever, but I’ll never forget it ❤
If only The Wheel of Time was made with the same love for the source material that LOTR was made with.
Yeah, that's been pretty disappointing. Season 2 was much better, but still not what I had hoped for.
Never read the books but couldn't get past the first 15 minutes. It was horrible.
It wasn’t made with any particular love for the source material. There are huge departures from the original text to pad the movie that detract greatly from the movie.
@@SenorTucanoWhat a trash talk. They acted as they where directed. And the state of tolken did not give permission to use Part from the boots so they are using the materia that they are allowed to use.
I literally just saw Fellowship in theaters the night before last, saw the Two Towers in theaters last night and seeing Return of the King tonight! This being my favorite in overall my favorite movies of all time I'm so glad my local theater was hosting EXTENDED showings! What an awesome throwback to the 2000s😊
was it the rio theatre?
This movie has a special place in my heart. I will never get tired of it. I won’t forget how I balled my eyes out when return of the king finished. I felt like I lost all my friends.
Jeez man I didn't expect to cry already in the intro
I would LOVE to see a version of this for TTT and ROTK. Theoden has become a personal hero of mine in finding hope and leaving despair.
This was a phenomenon in my life. I have been a Tolkien fan since my dad gave me his bbc radioplay box set on cassette...
In the 'early days' of the internet i caught wind this movie was coming, and closely followed every tidbit i could find...
And it's truly the only thing i can think of that i was hyped for that lived up to my expectations... in fact... exceeded them.
This comment gave me chills down my back when you said “exceeded them”
Your comment about watching the movies while recovering brought back a 40+ year old memory. As a young lad, I was stuck indoors one miserable summer with 2nd degree sunburn all over my back and shoulders. I had to spend the entire summer inside laying on my stomach. To keep from going insane I did a LOT of reading, including the Hobbit/LOTR. I've since had a tradition to re-read them every summer, and every winter during the holidays, I have a LOTR (extended edition) movie marathon including the production/behind the scenes appendices.
a little note: The scene where Elrond tells his daughter about her fate is by far the most masterful piece of cinematic divinty that ever graced the screen.
there’s a lot of repeated and rearranged score throughout the films, but every so often a truly transcendent moment happens, during Gandalf to frodo about gollum, the high note under “we may yet mr. frodo” the brief choir starting the march of the ents, the charge of eomer and gandalf down the slope to helms deep, and over the drinks and solemn looks exchanged returning to the green dragon are the other ones that come to my mind
@@RAN480L64 Yes, director Peter Jackson managed at the last Green Dragon inn scene to succinctly capture the emotions that returned soldiers feel when they return from a hard-fought war. Around them life goes on, but their shared experiences has set them apart from those who never fought nor relied on each other for survival. Nothing they could say would make the locals understand their trauma and camaraderie nor the importance of their mission, but they also realise that this was exactly why they fought in the first place: so the locals would never experience a war themselves. So life continues and Sam decides that his successful quest to save all of Middle Earth now did qualify him to court Rosie Cotton.
Even the fight in the mines of Moria was edited so good to showcase the ferocity of them fighting for their lives
The production of these movies was insane in its scope and the level of care was, and will likely forever be, unmatched.
Thank you Caleb for the hard work that goes into these enjoyable videos.
My dad loved these movies so much when they came out, two towers was his favorite. I was about 6 when the first one came out. My dad played them over and over and watched all the extras.
While a lot of the details were lost on me as a child (and even as an adult) I have so much respect for how amazing they are. The world is built so well and the effects are so believable even 20 years later .
Fantastic work Caleb - I would love to see a Two Towers and ROTK video. Great editing and use of quotes. I’m always thinking about these movies after all these years and your content helps to add that food for thought
"We see reflections of our own lives in the fellowship of the ring." You've named it! That's why we all love Tolkien's characters, and I'd argue, why we love stories in books and film in the first place. Great video!
Thanks for the video! Honestly can’t explain how much of a comfort this was. Basically it’s one of those moments when you’re really low and you stumble upon just exactly what you needed at the right time.
I had never heard of Merry’s quotes from the book before. Really made me cry. 😂
To hear the story of the hobbits friendship is so wonderful. So nice to see real true blue friendship between both Frodo who doesn’t want them to come so they won’t get hurt and Merry and Samwise (and Pippin) saying that they know what they’re facing and they still want to go.
In the scene where Frodo offers to take the Ring to Mount Doom, there is no regret on Gandalf's face - it is relief and gratitude.
Gandalf knew that Frodo was best suited to take on this task. Like Bilbo, Frodo had a natural strength against the influences of the Ring.
But Gandalf also knew that he couldn't ask Frodo to do that. Frodo should bring the Ring to Rivendell, and in doing so he has already taken incredible risks. Gandalf also says in conversation with Elrond "We cannot ask more of him".
That's why it's a relief for Gandalf when Frodo voluntarily offers to continue carrying the Ring. Gandalf was aware that this task, even if successful, would ultimately claim Frodo's life. He simply couldn't ask for that, it was something that had to be given freely.
This was, is and remain a milestone in the History of Cinema. Loved the novel, loved the movie ❤👍🤩 greetings from Paris France !
I feel blessed to have seen this when it came out in theater when I was 13 years old. I didn't know the story, and I'll never forget how incredibly long the year felt before the next movie. I'd never anticipated anything so much in my life. Even at the time, I was in awe of how much work and detail, how much heart and soul, every single person associated with the project poured into it.
There was no ego or agenda. Just a desire to tell a remarkable story in a remarkable way. The mainstream hated these movies b/c they're so wholesome and teach great morals. That's not exactly what Hollywood is about. But they couldn't deny the appeal and how much money it raked in, so they let it slide. That's why they've come back with the horrible Rings of Power, hoping to cash in on the money while casting aside the heart and morals. Fortunately, it did not work out at all.
Some part of me has lived in Middle Earth since I first read The Lord of the Rings in 1967. The films are one of the few perfect things Ive encountered in my long life. I watch the trilogy once a year at Christmas - to provide enough HOPE for the coming year ahead. It literally sustains me...
Thank you for your lovely, thoughtful video - we love the beautiful things, and cherish Mr Tolkien’s brilliant vision of a world where good will always vanquish evil.
My favorite piece of media, together with my favorite piece of music. Adapted from my favorite author's work that is full of references to my favorite book: Silmarillion.
Perfection.
I really feel homesick for the shire and middle earth when I see the movie again, and read the books again. I cannot explain that, but I never have that with other films.
I actually think in the book, Boromir is far more reasonable and noble. The movie portrayed him as devious and power-hungry from the very start, but I don’t believe he’s like that in the book. In fact, he defers to the Fellowship on many occasions and he is the one who suggests that they ask the Ringbearer what to do when they’re trying to figure out whether to go through the mountain pass or through the mines. Also, in the book he actually reunited with the Fellowship after trying to take the Ring from Frodo but he won’t say what happened. Aragorn suspects something and questions his intensely but Boromir simply falls to the ground and puts his head in his hands in despair and shame.
His death scene is very similar but we don’t read about the fighting, only that he’s riddled with arrows and a couple dozen bodies around him. I thought they did well showing his sacrifice in the movie.
But I still feel like he got a bit of a raw deal in the movie overall.
'I agree with you bro. In the movies, he's whiny and a douchebag from his first appearance in Rivendell "By the lands of OUR PEOPLE are your lands kept safe! Give us the ring!" lol so subtle. And when he lets Narsil clang on the ground and runs away from Aragorn. He had some nice scenes with Merry and Pippin, but already the audience didn't like him. The "foreshadowing" with him picking up the ring and being all obsessed with it should have just had alarm bells all over the screen with "BAD GUY ALERT! BAD GUY ALERT!" for 10 seconds. When Boromir tries to take the ring, it's not a shock, everyone knew what was going to happen.
It's easy to 2nd guess, but it would have been really really smooth if they made Boromir into someone with the demeanor of Legolas, who was just all about helping the team, and being a great fighter. Not a "rival" to Aragorn. And then when he tries to take the ring it would have been like WHOAAAAA WHAT??? Like imagine if in Fellowship, Legolas had been the one to try and hurt Frodo...it would have been a legit shock.
In the films, Boromir does acquit himself by helping Merry and Pippin but when he dies the audience already hates him cuz he's portrayed as a shitbird they're like "ok whatever fuck him, good he's out and didn't get the ring."
When I first read The Fellowship of the Ring, the character that stood out most for me was Merry, for the exact reasons you highlighted. He shows such steadfast friendship and loyalty to Frodo. People mostly talk about Sam's bond with Frodo, but Merry's is no less. Loved the quotes you cited about him!
One of my favourite quotes from him is from Chapter 3 of Book 2 (The Ring Goes South), when Pippin complains that Elrond is "rewarding" Sam for attending the Council uninvited by allowing him to go with Frodo, and Frodo is appalled that they are considering that to be a reward when the journey is going to be so dangerous. Then Merry says, "We are envying Sam, not you. If you have to go, then it will be a punishment for any of us to be left behind, even in Rivendell." ❤❤❤
Oh man, I forgot about that quote! I may do a video just on Merry in the future. If so, you can be sure I'll use this quote. Thanks for commenting !
@@caleb.a.robinson I'll definitely look out for that video, or any other LOTR video you make, for that matter! 👍🏼 Keep them coming, they're amazing!
@@caleb.a.robinsonEt une sur Pipin aussi, ❤
These movies will never get old, they are absolute perfection. We do a rewatch at least once a year, sometimes more. So many incredible characters and world. Thank you Tolkien and thank you Peter Jackson ❤
This is a great analysis. Well done sir. Please do the Two Towers and Return of the King too!
I read the trilogy back in the mid sixties. Peter Jackson’s adaptation is perfection. The actors chosen for each character are absolutely spot on. The locations bring the book’s settings to life and the storyline is followed seamlessly. The musical score sets the emotional tone for each scene. Three movies for the ages. As a side opinion, I select Sam as the true hero of the books. I think Tolkien did as well. BTW great job on the commentary.
Great video! Just enjoyed my annual marathon with my own fellowship. I love these movies.
Fellowship is literally perfect. I love it.
I greatly appreciate the care and depth of your work in crafting this video.
I haven't even finished the video yet and I already know I love it. Keep em coming!
even in the fellowship the balrogs flames etc are not CGI. It's a master art blend of cg and real flames where artists had to comp real flame and smoke onto the creature and blend it all together. Which is the reason why it will always hold up so well. Our brain is being shown real effects.
If the dictionary had an entry for "lightning in a bottle", there would be a still shot from LotR
Absolutely love your chapter introductions with the ring! Really awesome! Oh and great video, congratulations! I would love to see videos for Two Towers and Return of the King too
it's refreshing to hear someone appreciate the challenges Peter Jackson faces while making this movie. it almost didn't happen!!! then there was so much during production and writing and it still turned out just so amazing. ppl who complain it isn't exactly like the books i think take for granted the work that everyone put into making it what it is, AND IN A CRAZY SHORT TIMELINE CONSIDERING THEY MADE 3 FREAKIN MOVIES.
i love the books and i love the movies and i love your appreciation for them. most days I'm watching videos and listening to commentary about the movies and books, i never get tired of middle earth and everything tolkien created.
thanks for your video!! ❤❤❤
"Watchrd well over a dozen times"
Well yes, but what about _two dozen_ times?
LOL. I’ve actually lost track of how many times I’ve read the books and how many times I’ve seen the movies. I love both the movies and the books for different reasons, but both are magic.
For helping me through tough times and making my good times even better, from the very bottom of my heart, i sincerely thank EVERYONE involved in this legendarium, from Tolkien himself down to the most minor roles in the trilogy. Thank you ❤
for me, this is the greatest movie series ever made. As a fan of the books, this was an amazing experience watching as they were released
Love the editing you've done... Especially cutting to Pippin at the council of Elrond during the words "unsurpassable wit"
I'm glad someone noticed that tidbit 😀
Last week I saw it for the first time with my 10 years-old son. I have seen it before and tried to show it to him but he never really cared, but this time he asked me to see it....I couldn't have been happier, We saw extended editions fellowship of the ring and two towers...hopefully tomorrow we are seeing the return of the king. I cried a lot during movies ....omg I am not native English speaker so I don't know how to convey in words the emotion I felt sharing that moment with my son...probably the most beautiful moment I have shared with him so far....I wish I could go to middle earth just once :(
Great video! You perfectly articulate so many of the reasons that’s Fellowship, and the trilogy overall, is so perfect and will stand the test of time forever.
Great tribute.
Great tribute. As a fan, I have a gazillion peeves with the movies, but overall, Jackson did a much better job than we had any right to hope.
I watch them every year, when I broke my leg, when I was in bed with a terrible fever. Comforting and inspiring, it never fails to lift my spirits in a tough time. Some of the Best movies ever made just in my opinion.
This is a lovely video essay. It is full of nuanced analysis that deftly reminds us of just what an incredible and indelible experience this amazing film was and, as you rightly say, continues to be. Yes, it is more than just a story and yes, we will keep on coming back. Great work!
I subscribed to your channel when I saw the Love & Monsters video, but this one demonstrated why that was a good decision. I appreciate your insightful writing and your editing style. Wishing you all the success with your channel!
Your commentary about the changes due to the medium are spot on. I adore Tolkien’s book for what it is, but I also adore the movies for what they are, and I recognize the necessity of the changes that Jackson, Fran, and Philippa made (except for Gandalf’s staff breaking. I won’t forgive that nonsense 😅).
Yeah they disrespect Gandalf more and more as the films go on - it’s so weird that by the end of Return of the King he is kind of dead weight in the film, and by the end of the e Hobbit movies he is a completely useless character that nobody listens to or respect. Fellowship of the Ring was the best one
Yeah they disrespect Gandalf more and more as the films go on - it’s so weird that by the end of Return of the King he is kind of dead weight in the film, and by the end of the e Hobbit movies he is a completely useless character that nobody listens to or respect. Fellowship of the Ring was the best one
Yeah they disrespect Gandalf more and more as the films go on - it’s so weird that by the end of Return of the King he is kind of dead weight in the film, and by the end of the e Hobbit movies he is a completely useless character that nobody listens to or respect. Fellowship of the Ring was the best one
Yeah they disrespect Gandalf more and more as the films go on - it’s so weird that by the end of Return of the King he is kind of dead weight in the film, and by the end of the e Hobbit movies he is a completely useless character that nobody listens to or respect. Fellowship of the Ring was the best one
Yeah they disrespect Gandalf more and more as the films go on - it’s so weird that by the end of Return of the King he is kind of dead weight in the film, and by the end of the e Hobbit movies he is a completely useless character that nobody listens to or respect. Fellowship of the Ring was the best one
Extremely well done analysis between the movies and books.
I feel compelled to mention MY favorite scene is when Gandalf is at that Library in Gondor going through the papers and reading about the “finding of the one ring”; it’s Sir Ian’s votive mostly while reading… So relaxing… Idk some have a reading voice you could just listen to all day- doesn’t matter ‘what’ they read!
Also loved the earlier scene where he’s talking to himself by the fire as Frodo returns home and discovers the ring…
And naturally when he grabs and reads that dwarf journal…
I love that Gandalf of Ian (McAllen ?)
Hi! I just discovered your channel through your skyrim video and I just had to watch this one as well 😊 I love your content and you are a very good orator, I love listening to you speaking about things you so obviously love.
You won a new follower who can't wait to see more from your channel! Keep up the good work and take care of yourself 🥰
Thank you for the kind words! I'm glad to have you along for the journey :)
Keep em coming bro, good job!
The Lord of the Rings trilogy are my absolute favourite movies of all time, and have read the books many times. Please do videos for The Two Towers and The Return of the King!
Over 20 years old and more beloved than ever. Rewatching these films is like coming back home and your mum has made your favourite meal.
Very well put together video! I really enjoyed it. Great job!
Edit: I’d love to see a video on the two towers and return of the king!
I’ve been watching these movies my entire life and they truly never get old, they never fail to bring me to tears, and they never fail to inspire me to be a better man.
A beautiful tribute to the Fellowship, very well put together video, thank you for your work, looking forward to seeing more of your content!
To me the movies have become inseparable to Tolkien’s work. They don’t replace it, but rather compliment it. The movies emphasize different aspects of the story, namely pacing and drama. Book purists really miss out on some of the excellent changes the movies make that heighten the drama and the tension.
As not at all a book purist, there are still many critiques to make of the execution - how they turned into overblown cgi war movies, how first draft ideas like the echo trance of frodo sending sam away made it into the final piece, how denathor is reduced to a one dimensional obstacle character without even a glimpse of his corruption via palantir, how minas tirith is never shrouded in fog to excentuate the scale of the city and the fear and surprise of the fell beasts. I almost wish at times the first film had been less successful so they might have been forced to put the same level of effort into refining the second two, but I agree that they with the extended editions and their differences are an excellent lesson in how a shot movie can turn out very differently by what is kept and trimmed out
@@RAN480L64 And there are likewise many criticisms I’d make of the books. No execution is ever perfect. We often forget that Tolkien’s work, while exceptional and destined to be the classic of our time, has pacing problems, wonky dialogue, meandering descriptions to the point of excess, and lackluster battle descriptions among other issues. Denathor is made less interesting but Boromir is made more interesting. Aragorn is given a more defined arc. The oppression of the ring/Sauron and the urgency of the quest is far more effectively communicated.
You poor deluded idiot. How can this film compliment the book when it does things that are completely different, the total reverse? jackson made The Prancing Pony a dark, foreboding, unfriendly place. How in hell does that *compliment* the warm, welcoming, friendly place that Tolkien wrote? That's like saying that salt compliments sugar. It's simply stupid. How am I, a "book purist", missing out on this change? I saw it, recognised the cheap trick that jackson was playing in trying to make the approach of the black riders more scary by making the inn more scary, and rejected it as not only untrue to the book but dramatically wrong as well i.e. having evil and dangerous black riders burst in on hobbits who are already frightened and threatened doesn't bring about upon them an unpleasant change but merely increases the already present emotion whereas having the black riders burst in on hobbits who have let down their guard and aren't expecting danger will get a shock and be thrown into emotional turmoil, spun around from one emotional position to another, completely opposite, one. No, the changes DON'T heighten the drama and tension; they bastardize it. For a start, the books aren't only about drama and tension. Sometimes they are about tenderness and love (among many other things). jackson is a hack.
Aragorn is a mythic character, modeled after characters like Sir Orfeo and King Horn. He is meant to feel mythic and ancient, not modern and relatable (the way the movies make him feel with the utilization of the very anachronistic "reluctant hero" modern movie trope, which was something that *did not exist* until 100 years ago). The Hobbits are the modern characters that change and grow due to interacting with the mythic world around them. Aragorn is not meant to be a modern reluctant hero. He's meant to be a mythic figure that furthers the Hobbits' arcs, not the other way around. Frodo is *already* a reluctant hero. Turning Aragorn into one as well only serves to make Tolkien's medieval world feel like a modern one. It just doesn't work whatsoever. Jackson's world is modern with a medieval aesthetic, whereas Tolkien's is entirely medieval (and, considering he was the Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University, was entirely the point of the work to begin with).
Jackson fundamentally *do not understand* this world or story. What do you even think this story was about?? It was meant to show how the Hobbits (the modern protagonists) are ennobled and changed due to their experiences in the medieval and mythic world around them. The films turn Tolkien's medieval epic into generic action films. Christopher Tolkien himself hated them. Tolkien scholars hated them. There is an entire Wikipedia article dedicated to Tolkien scholars tearing these movies to shreds. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Jackson%27s_interpretation_of_The_Lord_of_the_Rings
Tolkien was a medievalist, emulating the medieval literature he loved and studied so much. Tolkien's "wonky dialogue" is incredibly faithful to the inverted syntax found in Old English poems and epics. Of course, you don't realize any of this. You don't have any clue about Tolkien's overarching purpose, how he utilized older forms of literature in order to create a world that feels authentically rooted in medieval legend. You only care about Jackson's modernized version. A version that is completely disconnected from Tolkien and the ancient texts he was evoking. Jackson was not a medievalist, he did not grasp or understand Tolkien's overarching themes, and (as many Tolkien scholars have said) he dumbs down the work in order to present a modernized and anachronistic version of events. Aragorn is turned into a modern and American-ized hero, Frodo is relegated to the periphery of the story, the Ents are turned into morons, the themes about the fading power and glory of old disappear entirely, etc. This is a story that you do not grasp. It is a story that Jackson did not grasp.
You make it absolutely clear that you adore Jackson first and foremost. But this is Tolkien's world, his characters, his themes. Jackson simply modernized them for a modern movie audience. Tolkien sought to create a chivalric epic in the vein of real-life medieval romances. He was infinitely smarter than yourself, and he was one of the most accomplished medievalists of the 20th century. All of your "critiques" would have simply turned Tolkien's Middle-earth from a mythic world into a modern one. You fundamentally misunderstand this world, Tolkien's intentions, and the larger literary tradition he was involved in. You seem like someone who (maybe) read The Lord of the Rings one time ten years ago. J.R.R. Tolkien, like Christopher Tolkien, would have hated the movies. Anyone who even *remotely* understands the themes of Tolkien's works cannot think these movies have anything at all to do with them. Your utter contempt for Tolkien and total ignorance about his themes, world, and writing style make you ill-suited for legitimate commentary about his world.
@@brooksboy78 Yikes, that's possibly the most cringe thing I've ever read and I pity the poor souls in your life who must suffer through the above bloviation on a regular basis, assuming there is anyone to put up with it any longer.
You don't really understand my point, which I perhaps didn't make very clearly. I do not believe the movies better than the books, but as stated complimentary to it. They emphasize drama, urgency, action, and pacing. Which are all tools of storytelling, just as important as the mythopoetic tools employed by Tolkien. They accomplish different purposes, and here the purpose to the changes was to target a broader, lower brow audience. Yes, the philosophy is dumbed down, necessarily, given the medium and target audience. There is nothing wrong with making complex ideas more digestible to a lower brow audience. That is a good thing. It is a good thing a broader audience was introduced to Tolkien's work and fell in love with Middle Earth. There is also nothing wrong with updating an older work to better appeal to contemporary tastes. Sir Orfeo is itself a medieval update to Orpheus, taking the older tradition and updating it medieval tastes and sensibilities. Totally fine when medieval authors "modernize" a work of course, but Peter Jackson bad.
As for educating myself, I mean good God man, calm down and climb off ye olden high horse. I'm a young man born into the modern world. I'm trying to learn as much as I can about the Middle Ages. I just got Tolkien's translation of Sir Orfeo and have been enjoying a few excellent works on early Anglo-Saxon history. More than a bit embarrassing for you to insult a stranger for enjoying a derivative work and offering a few (extremely) modest criticisms of another work.
One can simultaneously enjoy low and high culture. You might try it some time, it will help remove that rod from your ass.
I'll never get tired of watching this trilogy nor listening the explanations why it is the best that exists.
This made me want to go and watch my favorite movies again 😃
There is a marathon in Antwerpen soon. I will go there 😊
I don't leave comments on anything on the Internet, but this was a beautiful take that helped me realize this is one of my favorite movies. Thank you so much.
Thank you for the kind words! I'm glad it made an impact :)
This was really well done. I hope you will continue to do more videos on the Lord of the rings material. Two Towers and return of the King coming up?
My mom rented this movie from blockbuster on a whim when I was 12. I was floored, and hooked, and the whole trilogy became my mom and I’s favorite films. We would watch them nearly every weekend, and I devoured the extended editions she bought, all the appendices and extras. I was obsessed. We saw two towers three times in theaters when it came out and ROTK six times. Nothing will ever compare to these films. I’m 33 now… two decades of rewatching and I can’t wait til my kids are old enough to start introducing them to it!
I loved this video. Keep it up, eventually the youtube algorithm with catch you. I wish I could contribute to the Patreon but I do not live in the United States. It will probably be a lot of work but I would love to see eventually a video of Two Towers and Return of the King.
Thanks for watching and commenting! I don't expect most people to join the Patreon. Just watching the whole thing and engaging is more than enough support :) thanks for stopping by!
I love that you spend a whole section on the shire. It really is worth a whole section. Thank you for this video. Have a nice day.
Such a beautifully written video! I loved it so much. You went into such depth on EXACTLY why this movie is so special to me. ❤
Great video! i tell people i watch LOTR every year and people think im crazy or they dont understand what is so good and why i cant stop rewatching this trilogy. Im just glad there are so many people who share the same sentiment as i do about this amazing film.
I have watched The Lord of the ring trilogy like more than 20 times and I don't get tired of it. Every time I re watched my wife ask me if I dont get tire of these movie, I simply reply nope!😂
Well, after uploading this 33 times to pass the copyright checks and then trimming out clips twice AFTER it started gaining traction, this video has been fully copyright claimed. I will make $0 on it now after working on it for 2.5 months. If you want to support the channel, consider checking out my new Patreon at www.patreon.com/CalebRobinson. Have a great day!
Ridiculous TH-cam copyright hammer rather than scalpel. This is obviously fair use for review and critique. Gained a new subscriber though.
i wish i could help now, but I think you're great and I'm glad I found this video and this channel the other day.
Im a huge fan of fantasy.. from Harry Potter to Final Fantasy series. But none could match LOTR in class and caliber. My most favorite among the trilogy is Fellowship of the Ring. The deep lore, majestic locations, each actor played perfectly, the music, the story and the dialogues are exceptional.. I've watched hundreds and hundreds of movies spanning from 1960s to the present but LOTR by Peter Jackson is truly a masterpiece, arguably the greatest movie trilogy ever made
Thank you for your perseverance! I thoroughly enjoyed it and subbed👍🌷.
Might as well add in Howard Shores music since it's been demonetized anyway. Cheers, and thank you for this video
Art inspires art. This video was a beautiful tribute
Great video that captures why we love the trilogy. ❤
used to do the full commentaries while studying for finals. bout 10 hours a pop.
I had to re-upload this video 33 times to get it to pass the TH-cam copyright checks. That’s 33 times I had to make more edits, including completely redoing the music. If you’d like to watch the original version with Howard Shore’s music and a 5-minute section I cut at the last minute, consider joining the Patreon!
www.patreon.com/posts/fellowship-of-is-95576406
EDIT: The video got claimed. See pinned comment.
bro said: pay me to witness someone elses work lol
These copyright checkes have gone too far. This is no more a legal ban, but a crime. It's not plagiarism, most of the contents are created for fun, not taking benefits from other's work! And now me thinking how I'm gonna share covers, or even my own composition if 3-4 keys might look like someones work and get banned for it lol! There's no creativity from scratch in 21th century, when most of the keys and colors are already created long before!
Sweetie---I too have watched these films multiple times, and found much that I love about them. But please, PLEASE----Read the Books. Read The Hobbit and then LOTR trilogy multiple times as well. Please Honor J.R.R. Tolkien----he's the GENIUS in this equation. And, the changes done by Jackson; the insertions, the omissions will be revealed. It will be a whole new and fascinating Journey for you. I'm in my mid-60s and have read the trilogy about 8 or 9 times through in my life. Of course, forgive me if you already have read them...to me...Lord of the Rings without the chapters of the Old Forest, the Scouring of the Shire, and just sooooooooooooo much more depth to all of the characters....it's just not complete or whole. The movies are the movies---and yes, what an accomplishment! Jackson did marshal an entire CITY of people to create them!
@@stardust949 he says in the video that he’s read the books multiple times and discusses in a section of the video the differences between the movie and book.
@@bobsbigboy_ Sorry, but that's just how the ridiculous copyright claims system works these days.
Great breakdown! Thank for you this video, please continue the series 🙏
I was never a reader of the books and I didn't pay much attention to these movies when they came out but the more time that passes, the more I love them and I truly believe these are the greatest movies ever and that will ever be.
"I was never a reader of the books" No neither were most people who think Jackson's excrement was watchable.
Every time I watch it I’m amazed and thankful by how brilliant it is. I remember seeing it for the first time and a minute into the prologue I knew we were in for something special.
Very particular moments of CG look a bit odd in the sequels, but The Fellowship of the Ring is Timeless.
We will never see anything like this Trilogy ever again.
I always bounce back and forth between which of the 3 films is my favorite but I know deep in my heart that it is firmly Fellowship. What a treat of a film, and trilogy that we collectively adore
Fantastic breakdown of this movie! The only time I think the special effects fall short are the underwater scenes like when Sam is drowning and Frodo puts his hand out to save him. Other than that, I even think dark Galdriel works pretty well!
it's the best movie in the trilogy for me. maybe it's bc of the shire and seeing them happy for a while. seeing frodo happy and just being. but also how it is as a story. to me it's the best structured. so i agree with mr elijah wood as this is my favorite one.