The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
(Peter Jackson, New Zealand/US 2001, 178 min., 35mm)
Peter Jackson’s epic adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s trilogy was filmed back-to-back and released in three consecutive years, starting with this film in 2001. A monumental undertaking, the production has captured the imagination of another generation of fantasy fans and inspired other filmmakers to work in the same way. Young hobbit Frodo accepts the responsibility of taking the Ring of Power to the mountain of Mordor and casting it back into the fires, thus destroying Sauron’s plans of world domination. He is joined by a cadre dedicated to the cause, made up of hobbits, dwarves, elves, and men. The long journey is hard and filled with peril—and it will ultimately lead to war.