'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' (Peter Jackson, 2001)

Title: 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'

Release Year: 2001

Director: Peter Jackson

Cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, Liv Tyler, John Rhys-Davies, Sean Bean, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Ian Holm

Plot: In the Second Age, Dark Lord Sauron created a powerful ring to enslave the whole Middle-earth. After the ring falls in the hands of young hobbit Frodo Baggins, he initiates a journey with his  brave allies to destroy it. 

Review: Do you remember when I said that Star Wars lacked the depth to be something more than a mere entertaining blockbuster? I had 'The Lord of the Rings' in mind.

Visually dazzling (impressive digital edition), with immense locations and a powerful score, 'The Lord of the Rings' is the ultimate epic, not only for its large budget, but also for its overwhelming inner world (created by villages, civilization, languages...) and the personal fights that every character battles in relation with the attractive yet evil ring (being Gollum the clearest example of self-destruction over the little jewel).

All together, it results in a dreamy universe where you don't mind being drowned. Contrary to Star Wars, which awakes a tenuous desire of following with the saga for its iconic paper in cinema history more than anything, 'The Fellowship of the Ring' catches audiences thanks to its quality and its characters construction, creating a much stronger connection and dragging the viewer to a real cinematographic experience.

Gandalf represents a paternal figure for Frodo and leads him through the Middle-Earth dangers that await him

Moreover, the cast is much more talented than the media in blockbusters world; Ian MacKellen's Gandalf has made a name in film history, while the rest of the cast contributes to creating recognizable  personages. From the innocent youth embodied by Frodo to the cold beauty of Cate Blanchett, going through the loyal nobility of Aragorn. Each of them participates in a massive blockbuster which will bring fame to Orlando Bloom and Viggo Mortensen, apart from an Academy Award nomination for MacKellen.

All together, 'The Lord of the Rings' embodies what all blockbusters should be; a work of art that uses its huge budget to contribute to the creation of a dazzling universe, where light and darkness join to deliver a modern masterpiece with a quality out of this world, the beginning of an epic story.

The first installment of The Lord of the Rings delivers an impressive epic story