Monday, July 30, 2012

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a 2002 epic fantasy filmdirected by Peter Jackson based on thesecond volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. It is the second film in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, preceded by The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and concluding with The Return of the King (2003). Sony VAIO PCG-3B1M Battery Continuing the plot of The Fellowship of the Ring, the film intercuts three storylines. Frodo and Sam continue their journey towards Mordor to destroy the One Ring, meeting and joined by Gollum, the ring's former owner. Aragorn,Legolas, and Gimli come to the war-torn nation of Rohan and are reunited with the resurrected Gandalf, before fighting at the Battle of Helm's Deep. Sony VAIO PCG-3C1T Battery Merry and Pippin escape capture, meet Treebeard the Ent, and help to plan an attack onIsengard. Meeting high critical acclaim, the film was an enormous box-office success, earning over $900 million worldwide and is currently the 19th highest-grossing film of all time (inflation-adjusted, it is the 60th most successful film in North America[4]). Sony VAIO PCG-3D1M Battery The film won two Academy Awards. Gandalf the Grey gives his life in battle against the Balrog, giving the Fellowship of the Ring time to escape from theMines of Moria. Weeks later, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee continue their journey to Mordor to destroy the One Ring and, with it, the Dark Lord Sauron. Sony VAIO PCG-3G2M Battery One night, they are attacked by Gollum, who possessed the Ring for centuries before losing it to Frodo's uncle Bilbo, and who now seeks to get it back. Frodo and Sam capture Gollum, but Frodo takes pity on him, understanding the burden of the Ring. Requiring a guide, Frodo persuades Gollum to lead them to Mordor. Sony VAIO PCG-5R1M Battery Sam, however, despises Gollum on sight and warns Frodo that the wily creature will betray them. In Rohan, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli pursue the Uruk-hai, who have taken Merry and Pippin prisoner. Meanwhile, KingThéoden of Rohan has been entranced by Gríma Wormtongue, who is secretly in the service of Saruman the White. Sony VAIO PCG-7141M Battery Incited by Saruman, Orcs and Wild Men of Dunland lay siege to the lands. Théoden's nephew Éomer accuses Gríma of being a spy; Gríma has him banished for undermining him. Éomer sets forth to the countryside to gather the remaining loyal men of the Rohirrim. Éomer's army later ambush and kill the Uruk-hai holding Merry and Pippin. Sony VAIO PCG-7143M Battery Merry and Pippin flee intoFangorn forest and meet Treebeard, the oldest of the Ents. Frodo, Sam and Gollum traverse the Dead Marshes, evading a Nazgûl. Upon reaching the Black Gate, they find it closed and guarded by Orcs. Gollum convinces the pair that attempting to enter the gate will lead to their capture, offering instead to lead them to an unguarded entrance. Sony VAIO PCG-7151M Battery After being informed by Éomer of his ambush against the Uruk-hai, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli find Merry and Pippin's trail. The trio are confronted by Gandalf, reborn as Gandalf the White after dying in battle with the Balrog. Gandalf joins with the trio as they journey to Edoras. Sony VAIO PCG-7154M Battery After arriving, they free Théoden from Gríma's spell, and tell the king about the death of his son Théodred. After mourning his son, Théoden decides to move his people to the stronghold Helm's Deep for safety. Fearing Helm's Deep will not survive, Gandalf leaves to find Éomer and his forces. Sony VAIO PCG-7162M Battery Gríma flees to Orthanc and informs Saruman of a weakness in the outer wall of Helm's Deep. Saruman dispatches his vast army to the stronghold. Meanwhile, Gollum struggles with his loyalty to Frodo and his consuming need for the Ring.Sony VAIO PCG-7181M Battery When Sam and Frodo are captured by Rangers of Ithilien, Frodo reveals Gollum's presence to spare his life; Gollum nevertheless feels betrayed, and begins plotting against his new "master". As Théoden's forces travel to Helm's Deep, they are attacked by Saruman'sWarg riders and Aragorn is thrown from a cliff and believed to be dead. Sony VAIO PCG-41112M Battery In Rivendell, Elrond convinces his daughterArwen to abandon her love for Aragorn and leave Middle-earth with her fellow Elves. Aragorn, meanwhile, feels conflicted about his love for Arwen and his growing feelings for Théoden's niece, Éowyn. Learning of Frodo's Ring, the Rangers' captain, Faramir, orders that it be sent to Gondor.Sony VAIO PCG-7153M Battery In Rohan, Aragorn washes up on a river bank and makes his way to Helm's deep. Theoden gathers every man possible to fight against Saruman's army of Uruk-hai. When night falls a battalion of elves arrive to re-enforce the men of Rohan. In Fangorn Forest, Merry, Pippin, Treebeard and other Ents hold a council to decide on the role of the Ents in the war with Saruman. Sony VAIO PCG-71312M Battery The battle of Helm's Deep begins between the Uruk-Hai and Rohirrim with Aragorn and his companions. Explosives are used against the weakness in the wall, allowing the Orcs to breach the fortress. In Fangorn, Treebeard and the other Ents initially refuse to get involved in the war until Pippin shows them that Saruman has decimated the forest; Sony VAIO PCG-7144M Battery enraged, Treebeard commands the Ents to seek vengeance. Aragorn leads Théoden, Legolas and the remaining Rohirrim to attack the Uruk-hai army, allowing the Rohirrim's women and children to escape into the mountains. Gandalf appears, accompanied by Éomer and his men. The combined forces cause the Uruk-hai to flee into Fangorn, where the Ents and their Huorn allies attack them. Sony VAIO PCG-7191L Battery At Isengard, the Ents defeat the Uruk-hai and release the river dam, drowning the surviving Orc defenders, flooding Isengard, and stranding Saruman in his tower. In the East, Faramir has the Hobbits taken to Osgiliath. Faramir's forces are attacked by Orcs led by a Nazgûl. Sony VAIO PCG-3C1M Battery Frodo momentarily succumbs to the Ring's influence and attacks Sam, but comes to his senses when Sam tearfully reminds him of their friendship. The Nazgûl is defeated and flees. Faramir frees the Hobbits and sends them on their journey, joined by Gollum. Gandalf remarks that Sauron will seek retribution for Saruman's defeat, stating that hope now rests with Frodo and Sam. Sony VAIO PCG-3F1M Battery At that same moment, Gollum vows to reclaim the Ring, and plans to have "her" kill Frodo and Sam. In the Battle of Helm's Deep, Peter Jackson has a cameo appearance as one of the men on top of the gate, throwing a spear at the attacking Uruk-hai. Sony VAIO PCG-3H1M Battery His children and Elijah Wood's sister also cameo as young refugees in the caves behind the Hornburg, and Alan Lee and Dan Hennah also cameo as soldiers preparing for the battle. The son of a producer's friend, Hamish Duncan, appears as a reluctant young Rohirrim warrior. Daniel Falconer has a cameo as an Elvish archer at the battle. Sony VAIO PCG-3J1M Battery The screenwriters did not originally script The Two Towers as its own film: instead parts of it were the conclusion to The Fellowship of the Ring, the first of two planned films under Miramax.However, as the two films became a trilogy under New Line, Jackson, Walsh and Boyens shuffled their scripts. Sony VAIO PCG-8141M Battery The Two Towersis known as the most difficult of the Rings films to make, having neither a clear beginning nor end to focus the script.[10] Nonetheless, they had a clear decision with making the Battle of Helm's Deep the climax, a decision affecting the whole story's moods and style. Sony VAIO PCG-8161M Battery The most notable difference between the book and the film is the structure. Tolkien's The Two Towers is split into two parts; one follows the war in Rohan, while the other focuses on the journey of Frodo and Sam. The film omits the opening of the book, the death of Boromir, which was used as a linear climax at the end of The Fellowship of the Ring. Sony VAIO PCG-3C2M Battery Also, the film climaxes with the Battle of Helm's Deep, while the book ends with the Fellowship going to Isengard and Frodo's confrontation with Shelob, scenes which were left for the film adaptation of The Return of the King. This was done partly to fit more closely the timeline indicated by the book. Sony VAIO PCG-5N2M Battery One notable change in plotting is that in the film Théoden is literally possessed by Saruman, whereas in the book he is simply depressed and deluded by Wormtongue. Afterwards, in the film, Théoden is still unsure of what to do, and flees to Helm's Deep. In the book he rides out to war, only ending up besieged when he considers helping Erkenbrand. Sony VAIO PCG-5P1M Battery Erkenbrand does not exist in the films: his character is combined with Éomer as the Rohirrim general who arrives with Gandalf at the film's end. Éomer himself is present during the entire battle in the book. On the way to Helm's Deep, the refugees from Edoras are attacked by Wargs. Sony VAIO PCG-5S1M Battery The scene is possibly inspired by one in the book cut from The Fellowship of the Ringwhere it is the Fellowship who battle them. Here, a new subplot is created where Aragorn falls over a cliff, and is assumed to be dead; Jackson added it to create tension.This scene also resonates with a new subplot regarding Arwen, Sony VAIO PCG-9Z1M Battery where she decides to leave Middle-earth after losing hope in the long-term possibilities of her love. In the book, Arwen's role is primarily recorded in the Appendices, and she is never depicted as considering such an act. A larger change was originally planned: Arwen and Elrond would visit Galadriel, Sony VAIO PCG-7171M Battery and Arwen would accompany an army of Elves to Helm's Deep to fight alongside Aragorn. During shooting, the script changed, both from writers coming up with better ideas to portray the romance between Aragorn and Arwen, as well as poor fan reaction.The new scene of Arwen leaving for the West was created, and the conversation scene remains, Sony VAIO PCG-7186M Battery edited to be a flashback to a conversation between them in Rivendell, on the evening before the departure of the Fellowship.[10] A conversation between Elrond and Galadriel in Lothlórien was edited to be a telepathic one.[13] Nonetheless, one major change (already filmed) remained that could not be reverted: Sony VAIO PCG-81112M Battery the Elven warriors fighting at Helm's Deep, although Jackson and Boyens found this romantic and stirring and a reference to how, in the Appendices of The Return of the King, Galadriel and the Elves of Lothlórien, and Thranduil of Mirkwood were first attacked by an army out of Dol Guldur in Mirkwood, and then later counter-attacked and assaulted the fortress itself.Sony VAIO PCG-31311M Battery Another change is the fact Treebeard does not immediately decide to go to war. This adds to the tension, and Boyens describes it as making Merry and Pippin "more than luggage".[11] Here the Hobbits show Treebeard what Saruman has done to the forest, prompting his decision to act. Sony VAIO PCG-8152M Battery Another structural change is that the Hobbits meet Gandalf the White early on, explaining why the Hobbits do not react to his return when they meet him again following the destruction of Isengard. This was explained in the book by Gandalf arriving at Isengard in the middle of the night to talk to Treebeard. Sony VAIO PCG-31111M Battery The filmmakers' decision to leave Shelob for the third film meant that Faramir had to become an obstacle for Frodo and Sam.[10] In the book, Faramir (like Aragorn) quickly recognizes the Ring as a danger and a temptation, and does not hesitate long before letting Frodo and Sam go. Sony VAIO PCG-61111M Battery In the film, Faramir first decides that the Ring shall go to Gondor and his father, as a way to prove Faramir's worth compared to his elder brother Boromir. In the film, Faramir takes Frodo, Sam and the Ring to the Battle of Osgiliath — they do not go there in the book. Jackson winks to readers with Sam's line, "By all rights we shouldn't even be here, but we are. Sony VAIO PCG-51112M Battery " After seeing how strongly the Ring affects Frodo during the Nazgûl attack, Faramir changes his mind and lets them go. These changes reshape the book's contrast between Faramir and Boromir, who in The Fellowship of the Ring attempted to take the Ring for himself. On the other hand (which can be seen only in the extended version of the film), Sony VAIO PCG-51211M Battery it is actually their father Denethor, who wants the ring and urges Boromir to get it, while Faramir only wants to prove that he also deserves his father's love. Boyens contends these plot changes were needed to keep the Ring menacing. Wenham commented on the DVD documentaries that he had not read the book prior to reading the script, Sony VAIO PCG-51212M Battery so the movie Faramir was the Faramir he knew. When he later read the book and noticed the major difference, he approached the writers about it, and they explained to him that if he did say "I wouldn't pick that thing up even if it lay by the wayside", it would basically strip the One Ring of all corruptive power.[10] Sony VAIO PCG-41111M Battery The meaning of the title itself, 'The Two Towers', was changed. While Tolkien considered several possible sets of towers[14] he eventually created a final cover illustration[15] and wrote[16] a note included at the end of The Fellowship of the Ring which identified them as Minas Morgul and Orthanc. Sony VAIO PCG-41111V Battery Jackson's movie names them as Orthanc and Barad-dûr, symbolic of an evil alliance out to destroy Men that forms the film's plot point. Jackson's film depicted Saruman openly presenting himself outright as a servant of Sauron, whereas this association was not explicitly stated in the novel Sony VAIO PCG-61412V Battery (and indeed analysis by Gandalf and Aragorn in the "The White Rider" chapter stated that there was a rivalry instead as Saruman was afraid of the prospect being at war with Sauron, if Rohan and Gondor fall). When Alan Lee joined the project in late 1997, Helm's Deep was the first structure he was tasked to design. Sony VAIO PCG-71112M Battery At 1:35 scale, it was one of the first miniatures built, and part of the 45 minute video that sold the project to New Line. It was primarily drawn from an illustration Lee had once done for the book, though fellow illustrator and designer John Howe suggested a curved wall. Sony VAIO PCG-81111V Battery Used in the film for longshots, Jackson also used this miniature to plan the battle with 40,000 toy soldiers.[17] As a pivotal part of the story, Helm's Deep was built at Dry Creek Quarry with the Gate, a ramp, and a wall with a removable section and the tower on a second level. Sony VAIO PCG-81111V Battery Most importantly, there was the 1:4 scale miniature of Helm's Deep that ran 50 feet wide. It was used for forced perspective shots,[18] as well as the major explosion sequence.[17] The film explores the armies of Middle-earth. John Howe was the basic designer of the forces of evil. Sony VAIO PCG-81212M Battery The Uruk-hai were the first army approved by Jackson, and Howe also designed a special crossbow for the characters, one without the redundancy of opening to reload, the realization of a 15th century manuscript. Also created were 100 Elven suits of armour, with emphasis on Autumnal colours due to the theme of Elves leaving Middle-earth. Sony VAIO PCG-81212V Battery 250 suits were made for the Rohirrim. The Rohan designs were based on Germanic and Anglo-Saxon patterns. Most of the weapons were designed by John Howe, and forged by Peter Lyon. Each sword took 3–6 days to make.[19] The Rohirrim's capital of Edoras took six months to build on Mount Sunday, Sony VAIO PCG-51111M Battery with thatched roofs, but that was simply the exterior: the buildings doubled as offices and lunch halls. The army created a road to the location, whilst the interior was filmed at Stone Street Studios with tapestries designed by Lee, and Théoden's wooden throne partly created by his daughter. Sony VAIO VPCS13X9E/B battery Hill endured heavy make-up for the possession scene where his skin was pulled back and released for increased wrinkles. Dourif shaved off his eyebrows and put potato flakes as dandruff in his hair for unnerving effect. The film also provides a look at Mordor and Gondor, in terms of Frodo and Sam's story. Sony VAIO VPCS12V9E/B battery Barad-dûr is seen fully in a tracking shot, a design which Howe called a mockery of Gothic Cathedrals. He and Lee fully created the Black Gate (though a typo in the script made the miniature into two) [17] and Osgiliath, the ruined city reflecting London during the Blitz or Berlin in 1945. Sony VAIO VPCS12V9E/B battery The set on a backlot was based around a bridge and reused some of Moria. The Two Towers shared principal photography with The Fellowship of the Ring and The Return of the King between 11 October 1999 to 22 December 2000. Scenes in Rohan were shot early on, and Viggo Mortensen, Sony VAIO VPCF13M8E/B battery Orlando Bloom and John Rhys-Davies' scale double Brett Beattie sustained many injuries. Mortensen broke two toes when he kicked an Orc helmet upon finding the remains of the Uruk-hai and believing Merry and Pippin to be dead; this take is the one in the finished film. Bloom fell off his horse and cracked three ribs, whilst Beattie dislocated his knee. Sony VAIO VPCF13Z0E/B battery The three spent two days of pain for the running sequence with these injuries, leading Jackson to jokingly refer to them as "The Walking Wounded."[20] Afterwards, they went on for three months filming the Battle of Helm's Deep. John Mahaffie handled most of the night shoots. Sony VAIO VPCM13M1E/L battery Mortensen got his tooth chipped during the nightshoots, and Bernard Hill also got his ear slashed.[20] Nonetheless, the 700 extras had fun, insulting each other in Māori[21] and improvising scenes, such as the Uruk-hai stamping their spears before the battle begins. Sony VAIO VPCM13M1E/W battery They did get annoyed by the craftsmanship of the Art Department: the Gates were too reinforced for the Battering Ram scene.[18] Mortensen greatly respected the stunt team, and head butting them became a sign of respect.[21] Wood and Astin were joined by Serkis on 13 April 2000. Sony VAIO VPCF22M1E battery For The Two Towers, Weta Digital doubled their staffof 260.In total, they would produce 73 minutes of digital effects with 799 shots.The film would feature their first challenge in creating a battle scene, as well as creating two digital characters who needed to act rather than be a set piece, unlike the previous film's Cave Troll and Balrog. Sony VAIO VPCF11M1E/H battery Weta began animating Gollum in late 1998 to convince New Line they could achieve the effect. Andy Serkis"played" Gollum by providing his voice and movements on set, as well as performing within the motion capture suit later on. His scenes were filmed twice, with and without him. Sony VAIO VPCF13M0E/B battery Originally Gollum was set to solely be a CG character, but Jackson was so impressed by Andy Serkis' audition tape that they used him on set as well.Gollum's CG model was also redesigned during 2001 when Serkis was cast as Sméagol, Gollum's former self, so as to give the impression Andy Serkis as Sméagol transforms into the CG Gollum. Sony VAIO VPCYB2M1E battery The original model can still be glimpsed briefly in the first film. Over Christmas 2001, the crew proceeded to reanimate all the previous shots accordingly within two months. Another problem was that the crew realized that the cast performed better in the versions of the film with Serkis. Sony VAIO VPCYB3V1E battery In the end, the CG Gollum was rotoscoped and animated on top of these scenes. They fully animated some shots such as him crawling upside down. Serkis' motion capture animated the body while animators did the head. Gino Acevedo supervised realistic skin tones, which took four hours per frame to render.[25] Sony VAIO VPCY11M1E battery While the novel alludes to a division within his mind, the film depicts him as literally having a split personality. The two personas — the childlike Smeágol and the evil Gollum — are established during a scene in which they argue over remaining loyal to Frodo. Sony VAIO VPCS12L9E/B battery The two personalities talk to each other, as established by contrasting camera angles and by Serkis altering his voice and physicality for each persona. Treebeard took between 28 and 48 hours per frame to render.[23] For scenes where he interacts with Merry and Pippin, a 14-foot-tall puppet was built on a wheel. Sony VAIO VPCF11S1E/B battery Weta took urethane moulds of tree bark and applied them to the sculpt of Treebeard to create his wooden skin. Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd sat on bicycle seats concealed into Treebeard's hands to avoid discomfort and were left alone on set sitting in the puppet's hands during breaks. The puppet was shot againstbluescreen. Sony VAIO VPCYB3V1E/R Battery The musical score for The Two Towers was composed, orchestrated, and conducted by Howard Shore, who also composed the music for the other two films in the trilogy. While the scores for its predecessor and sequel won the Oscar for Best Score, the soundtrack for The Two Towers was not nominated. Sony VAIO VPCF23P1E Battery (Initially there was confusion over the score's eligibility due to a new rule applying to sequels, but the Academy did declare it eligible.[26])The funeral song Éowyn sings during her cousin Théodred's entombment in the Extended Edition is styled to be a traditional song of the Rohirrim, and has lyrics in their language, Rohirric (represented by Old English). Sony VAIO VPCF23N1E Battery The song does not appear in the book, and the tune is a variation upon a theme of the rímur Icelandicfolk tradition; it can be heard as part of track 7 in the 1999 recording of a musical version of the Edda by Sequentia.[27] The soundtrack was recorded at Abbey Road Studios. Sony VAIO VPCY21S1E/L Battery The soundtrack has a picture of Peter Jackson (barefoot), the composer, and two producers crossing Abbey Road, referencing the Beatles album of the same name. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is a 2003 epicfantasy-drama film directed by Peter Jacksonthat is based on the second and third volumes of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Sony VAIO VPCY21S1E/G battery It is the concluding film inThe Lord of the Rings film trilogy, following The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and The Two Towers (2002). As Sauron launches the final stages of his conquest of Middle-earth, Gandalf the Wizard, and Théoden King of Rohan rally their forces to help defend Gondor's capital Minas Tirith from the looming threat. Sony VAIO VPCF24M1E battery Aragorn finally claims the throne of Gondor and summons an army of ghosts to help him defeat Sauron. Ultimately, even with full strength of arms, they realise they cannot win; so it comes down to the Hobbits, Frodo and Sam, to bear the burden of the Ring and deal with the treachery of Gollum. Sony VAIO VPCS11M1E/W Battery After a long journey they finally arrive in the dangerous lands of Mordor, seeking to destroy theOne Ring in the place it was created, the volcanic fires of Mount Doom. Released on 17 December 2003, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King received rave reviewsand became one of the greatest critical and box-office successes of all time, Sony VAIO VPCS11V9E Battery being only the second film to gross $1 billion worldwide, becoming the highest grossing film from New Line Cinema, as well as the biggest financial success for Time Warner in general, until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 surpassed The Return of the King's final gross in 2011. Sony VAIO VPCS11V9E/B Battery Notably, it won all eleven Academy Awards for which it was nominated, an Oscar record, and tied for largest number of awards won with Ben-Hur and Titanic. It also won the Academy Award for Best Picture, the first and only time a fantasy film has done so; it was also the second sequel to win a Best Picture Oscar (following The Godfather Part II) Sony VAIO VPCS11X9E/B Battery and the only time a sequel has won without a predecessor winning the award. It was the highest-grossing film of 2003. Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Théoden, Gamling and Éomer meet up with Merry, Pippin and Treebeard at Isengard. Sony VAIO VPCS123FGB Battery The group returns to Edoras, where Pippin looks into Saruman's recovered palantír, in which Sauron appears and invades his mind; Pippin tells him nothing regarding Frodo and the Ring. From this event, Gandalf deduces that Sauron is planning to attack Minas Tirith. Sony VAIO VPCS125EC Battery Gandalf rides with Pippin to find Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, to whom Pippin swears his service. Gandalf urges Denethor to call Rohan for aid, but Denethor declines, fearing Aragorn and Gandalf plan to depose him. The Morgul army, led by the Nazgûl, drives the Gondorians out of Osgiliath. Sony VAIO VPCS128EC Battery Denethor sends his son Faramir on asuicide mission to reclaim the city. Pippin lights a beacon, signaling Théoden and Aragorn to assemble the Rohirrim for battle. Elrond informs Aragorn that Arwen did not go to the Undying Lands, and is now dying. Believing their forces to be outnumbered by Sauron's, Sony VAIO VPCS129GC Battery Elrond gives Aragorn the sword Andúril to acquire the service of the Army of the Dead, who owe allegiance to the heir of Isildur. Éowyn confesses her love for Aragorn and asks him not to go, but Aragorn reaffirms his love for Arwen and heads into battle. Accompanied by Legolas and Gimli, Sony VAIO VPCS12C7E/B Battery Aragorn ventures into the Paths of the Dead and gains the loyalty of the King of the Dead and his men by brandishing Andúril, proving himself the Heir of Isildur. At Dunharrow, Théoden rides off to war, unaware that Éowyn and Merry have secretly joined his forces. Sauron's armies lay siege to Minas Tirith, led by the Witch-king. Sony VAIO VPCS12L9E/B Battery Believing a grievously wounded Faramir to be dead, Denethor tries to burn his son and himself alive, but Gandalf intervenes; he saves Faramir, but Denethor commits suicide. Just as the Gondorians are about to be overrun, the Rohirrim army arrives and counter-attacks in a massive cavalry charge led by Théoden. Sony VAIO VPCS12V9E/B Battery This shifts the tide of the battle, and the Orcs begin to retreat. However, the Haradrim arrive and join the Orc army, turning the tide. The Witch-king kills Théoden, only to be killed himself by Éowyn with help from Merry. On the verge of defeat, the Rohirrim are saved when Aragorn, Sony VAIO VPCY115FGS Battery Legolas, and Gimli arrive with the Army of the Dead and decimate Sauron's forces, ending the battle. Aragorn frees the Army of the Dead and their souls go to the afterlife. Meanwhile, Frodo, Sam and Gollum travel to Minas Morgul. Sam overhears Gollum's plans to murder them and take the Ring for himself. Sony VAIO VPCY115FX/BI Battery Gollum persuades Frodo that Sam wants the Ring for himself, and Frodo angrily tells Sam to go home. A heartbroken Sam leaves, but discovers Gollum's treachery and follows after them. Gollum betrays Frodo, leaving him in the lair of the giant spider Shelob, who paralyzes Frodo before being wounded and driven away by Sam. Sony VAIO VPCY115FXBI Battery An Orc patrol captures Frodo and takes him to Sauron's fortress. Sam rescues Frodo from the tower, and they continue the journey to Mount Doom. Aragorn leads his remaining men to the Black Gate of Mordor, distracting Sauron and his forces and allowing Sam and Frodo to enter Mount Doom. Sony VAIO VPCY118EC Battery Sam carries the weakened Frodo up the volcano, but Gollum attacks them. At the Crack of Doom, Frodo succumbs to the Ring's power, refusing to destroy it. Gollum attacks Frodo and bites his finger off, seizing the Ring for himself. An enraged Frodo attacks Gollum, and they both fall over the edge. Sony VAIO VPCY118GX/BI Battery At the last second, Frodo grabs onto the ledge, leaving Gollum to fall into the lava, taking the Ring with him. As the Ring melts in the volcano, Sauron is destroyed and the land of Mordor collapses, consuming most of his forces. Frodo and Sam are saved from the rising lava by Eagles, led by Gandalf. Sony VAIO VPCY119FJ/S Battery In the aftermath, Aragorn is crowned King, heralding a new age of peace, and is reunited with Arwen and the four hobbits are bowed by all of Gondor for their courageous efforts. The four Hobbits return home to the Shire, where Sam marries his childhood sweetheart, Rosie Cotton. Sony VAIO VPCY11AFJ Battery A few years later, Frodo leaves Middle-earth for the Undying Lands with Gandalf, Bilbo, Elrond, Celeborn and Galadriel, leaving his account of their quest to Sam.There are also cameos from Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor, Gino Acevedo, Rick Porras and Andrew Lesnie on the Corsair ship, although all of them but Jackson appear only in the Extended Edition. Sony VAIO VPCY11AGJ Battery Jackson also has another unofficial cameo, as Sam's hand stepping into view when he confronts Shelob.[7] Sean Astin's daughter played Sam's daughter Elanor in the last scene of the film. Jackson's children also cameo as Gondorian extras, while Christian Rivers played a Gondorian soldier guarding the Beacon Pippin lights, and is later seen wounded. Sony VAIO VPCY11AHJ Battery Royd Tolkien cameos as a Ranger in Osgiliath,[8] while in the Extended EditionHoward Shore appears as a celebrating soldier at Edoras. Additionally, four of the designers of The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game are featured as Rohirrim at the Pelennor.[9] At the end of the film, during the closing credits, Sony VAIO VPCY11AVJ Battery each cast member gets a sketched portrait morphed with the real photograph beside their name, which were sketched by Alan Lee, an idea suggested by Ian McKellen. The film contains major scenes that occurred in the middle portion of the novel, The Two Towers, but were not included in the film The Lord of the Rings: Sony VAIO VPCY11M1E/S Battery The Two Towers, such as Shelob and the palantír subplot, due to Jackson realigning the timeline as described in the book's Appendices, but not in the main prose.[11]Saruman's murder by Gríma (seen only in the Extended Edition) is moved into the Isengard visit due to the cutting of the Scouring of the Shire. Sony VAIO VPCY11S1E Battery In the film, Saruman drops the palantír, whereas in the book Gríma throws it at the Fellowship, unaware of its value. While the parting of Gandalf from Théoden's company in "The Two Towers" occurs hastily at Dol Baran with the appearance of a Nazgûl on a winged steed, Sony VAIO VPCY11V9E/S Battery here he leaves from Edoras after the entire company arrives there to recuperate after the Battle of Helm's Deep. The muster of Gondor is absent from the film, and the major captains and generals, including Imrahil and the Knights of Dol Amroth, are not present. Sony VAIO VPCY218EC/BI Battery Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, was a more tragic character in the book. The film only focuses on his overwhelming grief over the death of Boromir as to ignore Sauron's threat (in the book he already lights the beacons), and is driven over the edge by Faramir's injury. Sony VAIO VPCY218EC/G Battery The film only hints at his use of the palantírwhich drives him mad, information revealed in the Pyre scene, which is more violent than the book. Jackson also has Denethor jump off the Citadel in addition to burning himself on the Pyre, one of the earliest changes.[12] The Battle of the Pelennor Fields is altered: Faramir never goes on a suicide mission, Sony VAIO VPCY218EC/L Battery and the conflict is a simplification of the siege of Osgiliath. With generals such as Forlong and Imrahil absent, Gandalf commands the defense of Minas Tirith due to Denethor's despair. While Denethor gives command to Gandalf in the book, in this film Gandalf forcibly takes control as Denethor tells the men to flee rather than fight. Sony VAIO VPCY218EC/P Battery The Orcs also never get into the city in the book. The Witch-king enters and stands off against Gandalf before the Rohirrim arrive, but in the film Orcs invade the city after Grond breaks the Gate. The confrontation takes place while Gandalf journeys to save Faramir in the Extended Edition, during which Gandalf has his staff broken in the film (but not in the book). Sony VAIO VPCY21S1E/L Battery A subplot in which the Rohirrim are aided by the primitive Drúedain into entering the besieged Gondor is also excised. The Red Arrow brought by a messenger from Gondor to ask for aid is absent. Éowyn's presence on the battlefield is unknown to the reader until she takes off her helmet, Sony VAIO VPCY21S1E/P Battery but in the film the audience is aware, as it would have been difficult to have Miranda Otto playing a man.[13] When hope seems lost, Gandalf comforts Pippin with a description of the Undying Lands, which is a descriptive passage in the book's final chapter.The film depicts the Army of the Dead fighting in the Battle, Sony VAIO VPCY21S1E/SI Battery whereas in the book they are released from service prior to this, after helping Aragorn defeat the Corsairs of Umbar at the port city of Pelargir in Lebennin; Aragorn's reinforcements are merely more Gondorians, and the Dúnedain, Aragorn's people (the rangers of the North). An unstoppable and invulnerable force, the Dead wipe out Sauron's forces. Sony VAIO VPCF119FJ/BI Battery The film also cuts out several supporting characters, such as: Halbarad, a friend of Aragorn's, who helps lead the Dúnedain, Beregond, a member of the Citadel Guard of Gondor, whom Pippin befriends, and Elladan and Elrohir, the twin sons of Elrond who deliver Aragorn's banner and accompany him to the Pelennor Fields. Sony VAIO VPCF11AFJ Battery Elladan and Elrohir are replaced by Elrond in the film, instead delivering Andúril, and then returning to Rivendell. The film also altered the circumstances of Théoden's death; his death speech, in which he names Éomer the new king in the book, is trimmed and delivered to Éowyn instead, Sony VAIO VPCF11AGJ Battery with an earlier scene in the Extended Edition even implying that she is next in line for the throne. Théoden's rallying cries before the initial charge are in fact spoken by Éomer in the book upon his realisation that Éowyn is also apparently dead. Sony VAIO VPCF11AHJ Battery In the film Aragorn leads the entire remaining force of Rohan and Gondor's men to the Black Gate without incident. In the book tactics are discussed, forces divide and fight smaller skirmishes in Anórien and Ithilien before the army (only a fraction of the full remaining strength of the nations of men) reach the Morannon. Sony VAIO VPCF11JFX/B Battery The romance that develops between Éowyn and Faramir during their recoveries in the Houses of Healing is also largely cut, presumably to keep the focus onAragorn and Arwen; the subplot is only briefly referenced in the Extended Edition with a scene where the two hold hands.Sony VAIO VPCF11M1E Battery Sam and Frodo's major rift in their friendship, due to Gollum's machinations, never takes place in the book, but was added by the writers in believing that it added drama and more complexity to the character of Frodo. Frodo enters Shelob's lair alone in the film, whereas in the book he and Sam entered together. Sony VAIO VPCF11M1E/H Battery This was done to make the scene more horrific with Frodo being alone, and Sam's rescue at the last minute more dramatic. Also, in the film we do not know that Sam has the Ring until he gives it back to Frodo, whereas in the book the reader knows that Sam has the Ring. Sony VAIO VPCF11MFX/B Battery Gollum's fall into the lava of Mount Doom was also rewritten for the film, as the writers felt Tolkien's original idea (Gollum simply slips and falls off) was anti-climactic. Originally, an even greater deviation was planned: Frodo would heroically push Gollum over the ledge to destroy him and the Ring, Sony VAIO VPCF11S1E Battery but the production team eventually realised that it looked more like Frodo murdering Gollum. As a result, they had Frodo and Gollum struggle for possession of the Ring and both slip over the edge by accident.Also absent from the film are the other major attacks by Sauron on various regions of Middle-earth, Sony VAIO VPCF11S1E/B Battery referenced only briefly in the main text of The Return of the King, and expanded upon in the Appendices; the invasion of Rohan by the orcs of Moria, the attacks on Lothlórien and the Woodland Realm of Thranduil by the forces of Dol Guldur, and the attack on Dale and the Lonely Mountain by a force of Easterlings. Sony VAIO VPCF11Z1E Battery There are several changes in the Battle of the Black Gate: Merry is not present there in the book, Pippin does not kill a troll as he does in the novel, the eagles fight and defeat some of the mounted Nazgûl (while Frodo putting on the One Ring distracted the Nazgûl, who raced away to Mount Doom in the book before a confrontation could occur), Sony VAIO VPCF11Z1E/BI Battery and Aragorn kills the Mouth of Sauron in the extended edition of the film but not in the book. There was an even larger change planned: Sauron himself would come out in physical form to battle Aragorn, who would only be saved by the destruction of the Ring. Sony VAIO VPCF11ZHJ Battery Jackson eventually realised it ignored the point of Aragorn's true bravery in distracting Sauron's army against overwhelming odds, and a computer generated Troll was placed over footage of Sauron in the finished film. The ending is streamlined so as not to include the Scouring of the Shire, which was always seen by the screenwriters as anti-climactic. Sony VAIO VPCF127HGBI Battery It is referenced, though, in Frodo's vision of the future in Galadriel's mirror in The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings film trilogy is unusual in that it is, to date, the only one whose separate installments were written and shot simultaneously (excludingpick up shoots). Sony VAIO VPCF137HG/BI Battery Jackson found The Return of the King the easiest of the films to make, because it contained the climax of the story, unlike the other two films. The Return of the King was originally the second of two planned films under Miramax from January 1997 to August 1998, and more or less in its finished structure as the first film was to end with The Two Towers' Battle of Helm's Deep. Sony VAIO VPCS111FM/S Battery Filming took place under multiple units across New Zealand, between 11 October 1999 and 22 December 2000, with pick up shoots for six weeks in 2003 before the film's release. Middle-earth as envisioned by Jackson was primarily designed by Alan Lee and John Howe, former Tolkien illustrators, and created by Weta Workshop, Sony VAIO VPCS115EC Battery who handled all the trilogy's weapons, armour, miniatures, prosthetics and creatures, as well as the Art Department which built the sets. Richard Taylor headed Weta, while Grant Major and Dan Hennah organised the planning and building respectively. Sony VAIO VPCS115FG Battery The city of Minas Tirith, glimpsed briefly in both the previous two films is seen fully in this film, and with it the Gondorian civilization. The enormous soundstage was built at Dry Creek Quarry, outside Wellington, from the Helm's Deepset. That set's gate became Minas Tirith's second, Sony VAIO VPCS117GG Battery while the Hornburg exterior became that of the Extended Edition's scene where Gandalf confronts the Witch-king. New structures included the 8m tall Gate, with broken and unbroken versions, with a working opening and closing mechanism, with its engravings inspired by the Baptistry of San Giovanni. Sony VAIO VPCS117GGB Battery There were also four levels of streets with heraldic motifs for every house, as inspired by Siena. There was also the Citadel, the exterior of which was in the Stone Street Studios backlot, using forced perspective. Sony VAIO VPCS118EC Battery It contains the withered White Tree, built from polystyrene by Brian Massey and the Greens Department with real branches, influenced by ancient and gnarled Lebanese olive trees. The interior was within a 3 story former factory in Wellington, and colour wise is influenced by Charlemagne's Chapel, Sony VAIO VPCS119FJ/B Battery with a throne for Denethor carved from stone and polystyrene statues of past Kings. The Gondorian armour is designed to represent an evolution from the Númenóreans of the first film's prologue, with a simplified sea bird motif. 16th century Italian and German armour served as inspiration, Sony VAIO VPCS119GC Battery while civilians wear silver and blacks as designed by Ngila Dickson, continuing an ancient/medieval Mediterranean Basin look.[19] Minas Morgul, the Staircase and Tower of Cirith Ungol as well as Shelob's Lair were designed by Howe, with the Morgul road using forced perspective into a bluescreened miniature. Sony VAIO VPCS11AFJ Battery Howe's design of Minas Morgul was inspired from the experience of having a wisdom tooth pulled out: in the same way, the Orcs have put their twisted designs on to a former Gondorian city.[20] Cirith Ungol was based on Tolkien's design, but when Richard Taylor felt it as "boring", it was redesigned with more tipping angles.[21] Sony VAIO VPCS11AGJ Battery The interior set, like Minas Tirith, was built as a few multiple levels that numerous camera takes would suggest a larger structure.The third film introduces the enormous spider Shelob. Shelob was designed in 1999,with the body based on a tunnelweb spider and the head with numerous growths selected by Peter Jackson's children from one of many sculpts. Sony VAIO VPCS11AHJ Battery Jackson himself took great joy in planning the sequence, being an arachnophobehimself.[18] Shelob's Lair was inspired by sandstone and sculpted from the existing Caverns of Isengard set.[17] The Return of the King also brings into focus the Dead Men of Dunharrow and the evil Haradrim from the south of Middle-earth, men who ride the mûmakil. Sony VAIO VPCS11AVJ Battery The Dead Men have a Celtic influence, as well as lines and symmetry to reflect their morbid state,[17] while their underground city is influenced by Petra.[20] The Haradrim were highly influenced by African culture, until Philippa Boyens expressed concern over the possibility of offensiveness, Sony VAIO VPCS11J7E/B Battery so the finished characters instead bear influence from Kiribati, in terms of weaving armour from bamboo, and the Aztecs, in use of jewellery. Also built was a single dead mûmak.Other minor cultures include the Corsairs, with an exotic, swarthy look, and the Grey Havens, Elven structures adapted to stone, with influence from J. M. W. Turnerpaintings. Sony VAIO VPCCW1S1E/L Battery The Return of the King was shot during 2000, though Sean Astin's coverage from Gollum's attempt to separate Frodo and Sam was filmed on 24 November 1999, when floods in Queenstown interrupted the focus on The Fellowship of the Ring.[7] Some of the earliest scenes shot for the film were in fact the last. Sony VAIO VPCCW1S1E/P Battery Hobbiton, home of the Hobbits, was shot in January 2000 with early scenes from The Fellowship of the Ring, with the exterior shot at a Matamata farm, while interior scenes shot at Stone Street Studios in Wellington,shared with the Grey Havens sequence. Due to the high emotions of filming the scene, Sony VAIO VPCCW1S1E/R Battery the cast were in despair when they were required to shoot it three times, due to a continuity flaw in Sean Astin's costume, and then negatives producing out-of-focus reels.[7] Also shared with the previous films was the Rivendell interior in May. The Battle of the Black Gate was filmed in Aprilat the Rangipo Desert, a former minefield.Sony VAIO VPCCW1S1E/W Battery New Zealand soldiers were hired as extras while guides were on the look out for unexploded mines. Also a cause for concern were Monaghan and Boyd's scale doubles during a charge sequence. In the meantime, Wood, Astin and Serkis filmed at Mount Ruapehu for the Mount Doom exteriors. Sony VAIO VPCCW21FX/B Battery In particular, they spent two hours shooting Sam lifting Frodo on to his back with cross-camera coverage.Scenes shot in June were the Paths of the Dead across various locations, including Pinnacles.[23] In July the crew shot some Shelob scenes, and in August and September time was spent on the scenes in Isengard. Sony VAIO VPCCW21FX/L Battery Monaghan and Boyd tried numerous takes of their entrance, stressing the word "weed" as they smoked pipe-weed. Christopher Lee spent his part of his scene mostly alone, though McKellen and Hill arrived on the first day for a few lines to help.[7] Edoras exteriors were shot in October. Sony VAIO VPCCW21FX/R Battery The Ride of the Rohirrim, where Théoden leads the charge into the Orc army, was filmed in Twizel with 150 extras on horseback. The Battle of the Pelennor Fields has more extensive use of computer-generated imagery, in contrast to the more extensive use of live action in theBattle of Helm's Deep in the second film. Sony VAIO VPCCW21FX/W Battery Also filmed were the attempts by Faramir to recapture Osgiliath,[24] as were scenes in the city itself.[25] At this point production was very hectic, with Jackson moving around ten units per day, and production finally wrapped on the Minas Tirith sets, as well as second units shooting parts of the siege. Sony VAIO VPCCW26EC Battery Just as the Hobbit actors' first scene was hiding under a Ringwraith, their last scene was the bluescreened reaction shot of the inhabitants of Minas Tirith bowing to them. The 2003 pick ups were filmed in the Wellington studio car park, with many parts of sets and bluescreens used to finish off scenes, Sony VAIO VPCCW26FX/B Battery which the design team had to work 24/7 to get the right sets ready for a particular day.[17] The shoot continued for two months, and became an emotional time of farewells for the cast and crew. The film has the most extensive list of reshoots given for the trilogy. Jackson took his time to reshoot Aragorn's coronation, Sony VAIO VPCCW28EC Battery rushed into a single day under second unit director Geoff Murphy on 21 December 2000. Jackson also reshot scenes in and around Mount Doom,[7] and Théoden's death, right after Bernard Hill was meant to wrap.[13] There was also the new character of Gothmog. Sony VAIO VPCCW28FJ/P Battery This was a major new design addition for the film, as Jackson felt the Mordor Orcs were "pathetic" compared to theUruk-hai of the second film after watching assembly cuts, and thus Weta created grotesque new "über Orcs" as antagonists for the audience to focus on.Sony VAIO VPCCW28FJ/R Battery Christian Rivers also redesigned the Witch-king and all of his scenes were reshot, due to confusion from non-readers over whether or not Sauron was on the battlefield.With the positive response to Orlando Bloom, Legolas was given a fight with a mûmak, and Howard Shore also appeared in a cameo during Legolas and Gimli's drinking game at Edoras. Sony VAIO VPCCW28FJ/W Battery The final scenes shot were Aragorn escaping the Skull avalanche, and Frodo finishing his book. The cast also received various props associated with their characters, although in the case of John Rhys-Davies, he burned his final Gimli prosthetic. Viggo Mortensen headbutted the stunt team goodbye.[7] Pick-ups ended on 27 June 2003. Sony VAIO VPCCW29FJ/W Battery Scenes shot afterwards included various live-action shots of Riders for the Battle of the Pelennor Fields and a reaction shot of Andy Serkis as Gollum finally realises Frodo intends to destroy the Ring, shot in Jackson's house.[28] For the Extended DVD, Jackson shot in March 2004 a few shots of skulls rolling over for the avalanche scene; Sony VAIO VPCCW2AFJ Battery this was the final piece of footage ever shot for the trilogy, and Jackson noted that it must be the first time a director had shot scenes for a film after it had already won the Oscar.Post-production on The Return of the King began in November 2002, with the completion of the 4½ hour assembly cut of the film that Annie Collins had been completing over 2001 and 2002, Sony VAIO VPCCW2AHJ Battery from 4 hour dailies. For example, Théoden leading the charge went from 150 minutes of takes to a finished 90 seconds.[30] Jackson reunited with longtime collaborator Jamie Selkirk to edit the final film. Like The Two Towers, they would have to deal with multiple storylines, and Jackson paid attention to each storyline at a time before deciding where to intercut. Sony VAIO VPCCW2S1E Battery Most importantly they spent three weeks working on the last 45 minutes of the film,[28] for appropriate intercutting and leaving out scenes such as the Mouth of Sauron, and the fates of characters like Legolas, Gimli, Éowyn and Faramir.[11] The film inherited scenes originally planned to go into the second film, including the reforging of Narsil, Sony VAIO VPCCW2S1E/B Battery Gollum's backstory, and Saruman's exit. But the Saruman scene posed a structural problem: killing off the second film's villain when the plot has Sauron as the main villain.[28] Despite pick-ups and dubs, the scene was cut, causing controversy with fans and Saruman actor Christopher Lee, as well as a petition to restore the scene. Sony VAIO VPCCW2S1E/L Battery Lee nonetheless contributed to the DVDs and was at the Copenhagen premiere, although on the other hand he says he will never understand the reason for the cut and his relationship with Jackson is chilly.They would, however, later reconcile upon Lee's casting in Jackson's Hobbit films. Sony VAIO VPCCW2S1E/P Battery Jackson only had a lock on 5 out of 10 reels, and had to churn out 3 reels in 3 weeks to help finish the film. It was finally done on 12 November 2003.[33] Jackson never had a chance to view the film in full due to the hectic schedule, and only saw the film from beginning to end on 1 December at the Wellington premiere; Sony VAIO VPCCW2S1E/R Battery according to Elijah Wood, his response was "yup, it's good, pretty good". The Return of the King contains 1,488 visual effect shots, nearly three times the number from the first film and almost twice that of the second. Visual effects work began with Alan Lee and Mark Lewis compositing various photographs of New Zealand landscape to create the digital arena of the Pelennor Fields in November 2002. Sony VAIO VPCCW2S1E/W Battery Gary Horsfield also created a digital version of the Barad-dûr during his Christmas break at home by himself, for the film's climax. In the meantime, Jackson and Christian Rivers used computers to plan the enormous battle up until February 2003, when the shots were shown to Weta Digital. Sony VAIO VPCCW2S5C CN1 Battery To their astonishment, 60 planned shots had gone up to 250, and 50,000 characters were now 200,000.[34]Nevertheless they pressed on, soon delivering 100 shots a week, 20 a day, as the deadline neared within the last two months, often working until 2 a.m.[33] For the battle, they recorded 450 motions for the MASSIVE digital horses Sony VAIO VPCF112FX/B Battery (though deaths were animated), and also had to deal with late additions in the film, such as Trolls bursting through Minas Tirith's gates as well as the creatures that pull Grond to the gate,[18] and redoing a shot of two mûmakil Éomer takes down that had originally taken six months in two days. Sony VAIO VPCF115FG/B Battery On a similar note of digital creatures, Shelob's head sculpture was scanned by a Canadian company for 10 times more detail than Weta had previously been able to capture.[34] Like the previous films, there are also extensive morphs between digital doubles for the actors. Sony VAIO VPCF116FGBI Battery This time, there was Sam falling off Shelob, where the morph takes place as Astin hits the ground. Legolas attacking a mûmak required numerous transitions to and fro, and Gollum's shots of him having recovered the One Ring and falling into the Crack of Doom were fully animated. Sony VAIO VPCF117FJ/W Battery The King of the Dead is played by an actor in prosthetics, and his head occasionally morphs to a more skull-like digital version, depending on the character's mood. The Mouth of Sauron also had his mouth enlarged 200% for unsettling effect.The Return of the King also has practical effects. Sony VAIO VPCF117HG/BI Battery In the Pyre of Denethor sequence, as the Steward of Gondor throws Pippin out of the Tomb, John Noble threw asize double named Fon onto a prostrate Billy Boyd, who immediately pushed his head into camera to complete the illusion. Sony VAIO VPCF118FJ/W Battery A few burning torches were also reflected off a plate of glass and into the camera for when Gandalf's horse Shadowfax kicks Denethor onto the pyre. Because of Jackson's requirement for complete representation of his fantasy world, numerous miniatures were built, such as 1:72 scale miniature of Minas Tirith, which rises 7m high and is 6.5m indiameter. Sony VAIO VPCF119FC Battery 1:14 scale sections of the city were also required, and the Extended Edition scene of the collapsing City of the Dead has 80,000 small skulls, amounting in total to a single cubic meter.[20] The miniatures team concluded in November with the Black Gate, after 1000 days of shooting, and the final digital effects shot done was the Ring's destruction, on 25 November. Sony VAIO VPCF119FC/BI Battery The Sound department spent the early part of the year searching for the right sounds. A tasmanian devil was Shelob's shriek, which in turn gave inspiration for Weta's animators, while the mûmakil is the beginning and end of a lion roar. Human screams and a donkey screech were mixed into Sauron's fall, Sony VAIO VGN-SR90US Battery and to avoid comparison with 9/11, broken glass was used for the collapsing sounds. For missile trading during Minas Tirith's siege, construction workers dropped actual 2 ton stone blocks previously lifted by a construction crane. Mixing began at a new studio on 15 August, although unfinished building work caused some annoyances. Sony VAIO VGN-SR91NS Battery The mixers finished on 15 November, after three months of non-stop work. The music was composed by Howard Shore, who previously composed the first two parts of the trilogy. Shore watched the assembly cut of the film,and had to write seven minutes of music per day to keep up with the schedule. Sony VAIO VGN-SR91PS Battery The score sees the full introduction of the Gondor theme, originally heard during Boromir's speeches at the Council of Elrond in The Fellowship of the Ring and at Osgiliath in The Two Towers Extended Edition. Actors Billy Boyd, Viggo Mortensen and Liv Tyler also contributed to the film's music. Sony VAIO VGN-SR91S Battery Boyd sings on screen as Faramir charges towards Osgiliath, Mortensen sings on screen as he is crowned King, and in the Extended Edition Tyler sings as Aragorn heals Éowyn. Renée Fleming, Ben Del Maestro and James Galway also contribute to the soundtrack. Fleming sings as Arwen has a vision of her son and when Gollum recovers the One Ring. Sony VAIO VGN-SR91US Battery Del Maestro sings when Gandalf lights his staff to save fleeing Gondorian soldiers from Osgiliath as the Nazgûl attack. Galway plays the flute as Frodo and Sam climb Mount Doom. The end title song, "Into the West", was composed by Shore with lyrics by Fran Walsh. Annie Lennox (formerly of Eurythmics) performed it and also received songwriting credit. Sony VAIO VGN-SR92NS Battery The song was partially inspired by the premature death from cancer of a young New Zealand filmmaker named Cameron Duncan who had befriended Peter Jackson. After two years of attention and acclaim since the release of The Lord of the Rings: Sony VAIO VGN-SR92PS Battery The Fellowship of the Ring, audience anticipation for the final installment of the trilogy had reached fever pitch when the film was complete. The world premiere was held in Wellington's Embassy Theatre, on 1 December 2003, and was attended by the director and many of the stars. Sony VAIO VGN-SR92S Battery It was estimated that over 100,000 people lined the streets, more than a quarter of the city's population.The film received mostly positive reviews; it has a 94% rating of positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Richard Corliss of Time named it the best film of the year.The main criticism of The Lord of the Rings: Sony VAIO VGN-SR92US Battery The Return of the King, was its running time, particularly the epilogue; even rave reviews for the film commented on its length. Joel Siegel of Good Morning America said in his review for the film (which he gave an 'A'): "If it didn't take forty-five minutes to end, it'd be my best picture of the year. As it is, it's just one of the great achievements in film history." Sony VAIO VGN-SR93DS Battery There was also criticism regarding the Army of the Dead's appearance, rapidly ending the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. In February 2004, a few months after release, the film was voted as #8 on Empire's 100 Greatest Movies of All Time, compiled from readers' top 10 lists. Sony VAIO VGN-SR93JS Battery This forced the magazine to abandon its policy of only allowing films being older than 12 months to be eligible.[40] In 2007, Total Film named The Return of the Kingthe third best film of the past decade (Total Film's publication time), behind The Matrix and Fight Club. Sony VAIO VGN-SR93PS Battery The film earned $377,845,905 in the USA and Canada and $742,083,616 in other countries for a worldwide total of $1,119,929,521. Worldwide, it is the sixth highest-grossing film,[42] the highest-grossing 2003 film[43] and the highest-grossing installment in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.It was the second film in history to earn over $1 billion. Sony VAIO VGN-SR93YS Battery In the USA and Canada, it is the seventeenth highest-grossing film,[45] the highest-grossing 2003 film,[46] the highest-grossing installment in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.[44] The film set an opening-Wednesday record with $34.5 million.[47] This record was first surpassed by Spider-Man 2 and ranks as the seventh largest Wednesday opening. Sony VAIO VGN-SR94FS Battery The film opened a day earlier for a midnight showing and it accounted for about $8 million. This was nearly twice the first-day total of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (which earned $18.2 million on its opening day in 2001), and a significant increase over The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers as well (which earned $26.1 million on its debut in 2002). Sony VAIO VGN-SR94GS Battery Part of the grosses came from the Trilogy Tuesday event, in which the Extended Editions of the first two films were played on 16 December before the first midnight screening. It went on to make an opening weekend of $72.6 million ($124.1 million with weekday previews). Sony VAIO VGN-SR94HS Battery Its Friday-to-Sunday opening weekend was a record-high for December (first surpassed by I Am Legend).[50] The film also set single-day reocrds for Christmas Day and New Year's Day (both first surpassed by Meet the Fockers). Outside the US and Canada, it is the seventh highest-grossing film, Sony VAIO VGN-SR94VS Battery the highest-grossing 2003 filmand the highest-grossing film of the trilogy.[44] On its first day (Wednesday, December 17, 2003), the film earned $23.5 million from 19 countries[47] and, during the 5-day weekend as a whole, it set an opening-weekend record outside the US and Canada with $125.9 million. Sony VAIO VPC CW2MFX/PU Battery It set opening-day records in 13 of them, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Greece, Switzerland, Scandinavia (as well as separately in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark), Mexico, Chile and Puerto Rico.It set opening-weekend records in the United Kingdom ($26.5 million in five days), Sony VAIO VPC S11V9E/B Battery Germany, Spain, Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland. In New Zealand, where filming took place, the film set opening-day, opening-weekend, single-day, Friday-gross, Saturday-gross and Sunday-gross records with $1.7 million in four days.[55] Compared to the first two films of the trilogy it performed better: Sony VAIO VPCB119GJ/B Battery each of the first two films grossed less than the third both in North America and overseas.The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King has helped The Lord of the Rings franchise to become the highest-grossing motion picture trilogy worldwide of all time with $2,911,746,256, beating other notable ones such as the Star Wars trilogies,Sony VAIO VPCB11AGJ Battery and surviving from being out-grossed by subsequent trilogies like Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter, despite ticket price inflation.These figures do not include income from DVD sales, TV rights, etc. It has been estimatedthat the gross income from non-box office sales and merchandise has been at least equal to the box office for all three films. Sony VAIO VPCB11AVJ Battery If this is so, the total gross income for the trilogy would be in the region of $6 billion following an investment of $300 million ($426 million including marketing costs). On 27 January 2004, the film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, Sony VAIO VPCB11V9E Battery Best Visual Effects, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Make-up, Best Sound Mixing and Best Film Editing. On 29 February, the film won all the categories for which it was nominated,[58] making it the most successful film in Academy Award history. The film also won four Golden Globes (including Best Picture for Drama and Best Director), Sony VAIO VPCB11X9E Battery five BAFTAs, two MTV Movie Awards, two Grammy Awards, nineSaturn Awards, the New York Film Critics Circle award for Best Picture, the Nebula Award for Best Script, and the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form.The film was nominated for the 10th Anniversary Edition of AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies.Sony VAIO VPCCW18FJ/P Battery The theatrical edition of the film was released on DVD on 23 August 2004. The DVD was a 2-disc set with extras on the second disc. The theatrical DVD sets for the two previous films were released eight months after the films were released, but Return of the King's set was completed in five because it did not have to market a sequel Sony VAIO VPCCW18FJ/R Battery (the previous films had to wait for footage of their sequels to become available for a ten minute preview). However, it contained a 7 minute trailer of the entire trilogy. The Return of the King followed the precedent set by its predecessors by releasing an Extended Edition (263 minutes) with new editing and added special effects and music, Sony VAIO VPCCW18FJ/W Battery along with four commentaries and six hours of supplementary material, plus 10 minutes of fan-club credits. However, this set took longer to produce than the others because the cast and crew were spread all over the world working on other projects.[63] The set was finally released on 10 December 2004 in the UK and 14 December in the U.S. Sony VAIO VPCCW19FJ/W Battery The final ten minutes comprises a listing of the charter members of the official fan club who had paid for three-year charter membership. New scenes such as: Éowyn's Dream, The Voice of Saruman, The Decline of Gondor, The Wizard's Pupil, Crossroads of the Fallen King, Merry's Simple Courage, Sony VAIO VPCCW1AFJ Battery The Witch-king's Hour, The Houses of Healing, The Mouth of Sauron, The Corsairs of Umbar & Sam's Warning, are added to progress the story and give it, as well as the characters depicted, more depth. Along with the new scenes, additional footage as been added to the battles in Osgiliath, Minas Tirith & Pelennor Fields. Sony VAIO VPCCW1AHJ Battery Likewise, more footage has been added to the Paths of the Dead, Edoras, as well as the time spent at Minas Tirith.A collectors' box set was also released, which included the Extended Set plus a sculpture of Minas Tirith and a bonus 50-minute music documentary DVD, Howard Shore: Creating The Lord of the Rings Symphony: A Composer's Journey Through Middle-earth. Sony VAIO VPCCW1S1E Battery The DVD has a DTS-ES soundtrack. The DVD also features two humorousEaster Eggs, one where Dominic Monaghan plays a German interviewer with Elijah Wood over a phone, and another where Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller attempt to convince Jackson to make a sequel, originally shown at the 2004 MTV Movie Awards. Sony VAIO VPCCW1S1E/B Battery Both can be accessed via a Ring icon on the last page of both Disc 1 and 2's scene indexes. On 29 August 2006, a Limited Edition of The Return of the King was released. This Limited Edition contains two discs, the first is a two-sided DVD containing both the Theatrical and Extended editions of the film. Sony VAIO VGN-SR240N/B Battery The second disc is a bonus disc that contains a new behind-the-scenes documentary. The theatrical Blu-ray version of The Lord of the Rings was released in the United States on 6 April 2010.The individual Blu-ray disc of The Return of the King was released on 14 September 2010 with the same special features as the complete trilogy release, Sony VAIO VGN-SR290JTH Battery except there was no digital copy.The Extended Edition was released in the United States on 28 June 2011. Sony VAIO VGN-SR290JTJ Battery,Sony VAIO VGN-SR290JTQ Battery,Sony VAIO VGN-SR290JVB/C Battery

Sunday, July 29, 2012

The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy novel written by English philologist and University of Oxford professorJ. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit(1937), but eventually developed into a much larger work. Sony VAIO PCG-3B1M Battery

It was written in stages between 1937 and 1949, much of it during World War II.[1] It is the third best-selling novel ever written, with over 150 million copies sold.[2]

The title of the novel refers to the story's main antagonist, the Dark Lord Sauron,[note 1] Sony VAIO PCG-3C1T Battery

who had in an earlier agecreated the One Ring to rule the other Rings of Power as the ultimate weapon in his campaign to conquer and rule all ofMiddle-earth. From quiet beginnings in the Shire, a Hobbit land not unlike the English countryside, the story ranges across north-west Middle-earth, Sony VAIO PCG-3D1M Battery

following the course of the War of the Ring through the eyes of its characters, notably the hobbits Frodo Baggins, Samwise "Sam" Gamgee, Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck and Peregrin "Pippin" Took, but also the hobbits' chief allies and travelling companions: Aragorn, a Human Ranger; Boromir, a man from Gondor; Sony VAIO PCG-3G2M Battery

Gimli, a Dwarfwarrior; Legolas, an Elven prince; and Gandalf, a Wizard.

The work was initially intended by Tolkien to be one volume of a two-volume set, with the other being The Silmarillion, but this idea was dismissed by his publisher.[4][5] It was decided for economic reasons to publish The Lord of the Ringsas three volumes over the course of a year from 21 July 1954 to October 1955, Sony VAIO PCG-5R1M Battery

thus creating the now familiar Lord of the Rings trilogy.[4][6] The three volumes were entitled The Fellowship of the RingThe Two Towers, and The Return of the King. Structurally, the novel is divided internally into six books, two per volume, with several appendices of background material included at the end of the third volume. Sony VAIO PCG-7141M Battery

The Lord of the Rings has since been reprinted numerous times and translated into many languages.

Tolkien's work has been the subject of extensive analysis of its themes and origins. Although a major work in itself, the story was only the last movement of a larger epic Tolkien had worked on since 1917, in a process he described asmythopoeia.[7] Sony VAIO PCG-7143M Battery

Influences on this earlier work, and on the story of The Lord of the Rings, include philology, mythology, religion and the author's distaste for the effects of industrialization, as well as earlier fantasy works and Tolkien's experiences in World War I.[1] The Lord of the Rings in its turn is considered to have had a great effect on modern fantasy; Sony VAIO PCG-7151M Battery

the impact of Tolkien's works is such that the use of the words "Tolkienian" and "Tolkienesque" has been recorded in the Oxford English Dictionary.[8]

The enduring popularity of The Lord of the Rings has led to numerous references in popular culture, the founding of many societies by fans of Tolkien's works,[9] Sony VAIO PCG-7154M Battery

 and the publication of many books about Tolkien and his works. The Lord of the Rings has inspired, and continues to inspire, artwork, music, films and television, video games, and subsequent literature. Award-winning adaptations of The Lord of the Rings have been made for radio, theatre, and film. Sony VAIO PCG-7162M Battery

Long before the events of the novel, the Dark Lord Sauron forges the One Ring to dominate the other Rings of Power and corrupt those who wear them: the leaders of Men, Elves and Dwarves. He is defeated in battle, and Isildur cuts the One Ring from Sauron's finger, claiming it as an heirloom for his line. Sony VAIO PCG-7181M Battery

Isildur is later ambushed and killed by Orcs in the Gladden fields, and the Ring is lost in the River Anduin. Over two thousand years later, the Ring is found by a river-dwelling hobbit calledDéagol. His relative[11] Sméagol immediately falls under the Ring's spell and strangles Deagol to acquire it, and is banished for his crime. Sony VAIO PCG-41112M Battery

Sméagol hides under the Misty Mountains, where the Ring extends his lifespan and transforms him over the course of hundreds of years into a twisted, corrupted creature calledGollum. He loses the Ring and, as recounted in The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins finds it. Sony VAIO PCG-7153M Battery

Meanwhile, Sauron remanifests in a new physical form and reoccupies his old realm of Mordor. Gollum sets out in search of the Ring, but is captured by Sauron, who learns from him that Bilbo Baggins now has it. Gollum is set loose and Sauron, who needs the Ring to regain his full power, sends forth his powerful servants, the Nazgûl, to seize it. Sony VAIO PCG-71312M Battery

The novel begins in the Shire, with the hobbit Frodo Baggins inheriting the Ring from Bilbo, his cousin[note 2] and guardian. Both are unaware of its origin, butGandalf the Grey, a wizard and old friend of Bilbo, suspects the Ring's identity. When he becomes certain, he advises Frodo to take it away from the Shire. Sony VAIO PCG-7144M Battery

Frodo leaves, accompanied by his gardener and friend, Samwise ("Sam") Gamgee, and two cousins, Meriadoc ("Merry") Brandybuck and Peregrin ("Pippin") Took. They nearly encounter the Nazgûl while still in the Shire, but shake off pursuit by cutting through the Old Forest, where they are aided by the enigmatic Tom Bombadil, Sony VAIO PCG-7191L Battery

who alone is unaffected by the Ring's corrupting influence. After leaving the forest, they stop in the town of Bree where they meet Aragorn, Isildur's heir. Though initially distrusted, he joins them as guide and protector. They flee from Bree after narrowly escaping another assault, Sony VAIO PCG-3C1M Battery

but the Nazgûl follow and attack them on the hill of Weathertop, wounding Frodo with a Morgul blade. Aragorn leads the hobbits toward the Elven refuge of Rivendell, while Frodo gradually succumbs to the wound. The Ringwraiths nearly overtake Frodo at the Ford of Bruinen, Sony VAIO PCG-3F1M Battery

but flood waters summoned by Elrond, master of Rivendell, rise up and overwhelm them.

Frodo recovers in Rivendell under the care of Elrond. The Council of Elrond reveals much significant history about Sauron and the Ring, as well as the news that Sauron has corrupted Gandalf's fellow wizard, Saruman. Sony VAIO PCG-3H1M Battery

The Council decides that the best course of action is to destroy the Ring, which can only be done by returning it to the flames of Mount Doom in Mordor, where it was forged. Frodo volunteers to take on the daunting task, and a "Fellowship of the Ring" is formed to aid him: Sam, Merry, Pippin, Aragorn, Gandalf, Gimli the Dwarf, Legolas the Elf, and the man Boromir, son of the Ruling Steward Denethor of the realm ofGondor. Sony VAIO PCG-3J1M Battery

After a failed attempt to cross the Misty Mountains via the pass below Caradhras, the company are forced to try a more perilous path through the Mines of Moria. There, they are attacked by Orcs and the Watcher in the Water. They also learn the fate of Balin and his company of dwarves. Sony VAIO PCG-8141M Battery

Gandalf casts an ancient Balroginto a chasm, but is himself dragged in. The others escape and take refuge in the Elven forest of Lothlórien, where they are counseled by the Lady Galadriel andCeleborn.

With boats and gifts from Galadriel, the company then travel down the River Anduin to the hill of Amon Hen. Sony VAIO PCG-8161M Battery

Boromir succumbs to the lure of the Ring and attempts to take it. Frodo flees to continue the quest alone, though Sam guesses his intent and comes along. Meanwhile, Orcs sent by Saruman kill Boromir and kidnap Merry and Pippin.

After agonizing over which pair of hobbits to follow, Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas pursue the Orcs bearing Merry and Pippin to Saruman. Sony VAIO PCG-3C2M Battery

In the kingdom of Rohan, the Orcs are slain by the Rohirrim. Merry and Pippin escape into Fangorn Forest, where they are befriended by Treebeard, the oldest of the tree-like Ents. Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas track the hobbits to Fangorn, and encounter Gandalf, resurrected as the significantly more powerful "Gandalf the White" after giving his life to destroy the Balrog. Sony VAIO PCG-5N2M Battery

After Gandalf assures them that Merry and Pippin are safe, they go to free Théoden, King of Rohan, from the influence of Saruman's henchman Gríma Wormtongue, and to aid the Rohirrim in a stand against Saruman's now unleashed armies. Théoden leads an army to the ancient fortress ofHelm's Deep along with Aragorn, Sony VAIO PCG-5P1M Battery

Legolas, and Gimli, while Gandalf rides off to gather more of the Rohirrim. Helm's Deep is besieged by Saruman's forces, but Gandalf and reinforcements arrive just in time to rout the enemy.

Meanwhile, the Ents, roused from their customarily peaceful ways by Merry and Pippin, Sony VAIO PCG-5S1M Battery

attack Saruman's stronghold of Isengard, trapping the wizard in the tower of Orthanc. Gandalf, Théoden and the others arrive and confront Saruman. When Saruman rejects Gandalf's offer of redemption, Gandalf strips him of his rank and most of his powers. Sony VAIO PCG-9Z1M Battery

Pippin is drawn to look into a palantír, a seeing-stone that Saruman had used to communicate with Sauron; this leads Sauron to think that Pippin is the Ring-bearer and that Saruman has captured him. For Pippin's protection, Gandalf takes him along to Minas Tirith in Gondor. Sony VAIO PCG-7171M Battery

Frodo and Sam capture Gollum, who had been following them since Moria, and force him to guide them to Mordor. Finding Mordor's Black Gate impassable, they travel instead to a secret pass. Torn between his loyalty to Frodo and his desire for the Ring, Gollum eventually betrays Frodo by leading him to the great spider Shelob in the tunnels of Cirith Ungol. Sony VAIO PCG-7186M Battery

Frodo is felled by Shelob's bite, but Sam fights her off. Sam takes the Ring and leaves Frodo, believing him to be dead. When Orcs find Frodo, Sam overhears them say that Frodo is in fact only unconscious. Sam determines to rescue him from Cirith Ungol.

Sauron unleashes a military assault upon Gondor. Sony VAIO PCG-81112M Battery

Gandalf arrives with Pippin at the city of Minas Tirith to alert Denethor of the impending attack. The city isbesieged, and Denethor, under the influence of Sauron through another palantír, despairs and commits suicide, nearly taking his remaining son Faramir with him. Sony VAIO PCG-31311M Battery

With time running out, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli take the Paths of the Dead, where Aragorn raises an undead army of oath-breakers bound by an ancient curse. The ghostly army help them to defeat the Corsairs of Umbar invading southern Gondor. The forces now freed from the south and Rohan's cavalry break the siege of Minas Tirith. Sony VAIO PCG-8152M Battery

Sam rescues Frodo from the tower of Cirith Ungol, and they cross Mordor. Meanwhile, in order to distract Sauron, Aragorn leads the remaining Gondorian and Rohirrim soldiers in a march on the Black Gate of Mordor. In the climactic battle, the vastly outnumbered alliance of Gondor and Rohan fight desperately against Sauron's armies. Sony VAIO PCG-31111M Battery

At the edge of the Cracks of Doom, Frodo is unable to resist the Ring any longer, and claims it for himself. Gollum suddenly reappears, struggles with Frodo and bites off his finger, Ring and all. Celebrating wildly, Gollum falls into the fire, taking the Ring with him. With the destruction of the One Ring, Sony VAIO PCG-61111M Battery

Sauron perishes along with the Nazgûl, and his armies are thrown into confusion.

With the end of the War of the Ring, Aragorn is crowned Elessar, King of Arnor and Gondor, and marries his longtime love, Arwen, daughter of Elrond.

Saruman escapes from Isengard and enslaves the Shire. Sony VAIO PCG-51112M Battery

The four hobbits, upon returning home, raise a rebellion and overthrow him. Gríma turns on Saruman and kills him, and is in turn killed by hobbit archers. The War of the Ring thus comes to its true end on Frodo's very doorstep. Merry and Pippin are acclaimed heroes, and Sam marries Rosie Cotton, and uses his gifts from Galadriel to restore the Shire. Sony VAIO PCG-51211M Battery

Frodo, however, remains wounded in body and spirit after his difficult journey bearing the weight of the One Ring. Some years later, accompanied by Bilbo and Gandalf, he sails from the Grey Havens west over the Sea to theUndying Lands to find peace. After Rosie's death, Sam gives his daughter the Red Book of Westmarch, Sony VAIO PCG-51212M Battery

containing the story and adventures of Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry. Sam is then said to have himself crossed west over the Sea, the last of the Ring-bearers.

Background

The Lord of the Rings started as a sequel to J. R. R. Tolkien's earlier work, The Hobbit, published in 1937. Sony VAIO PCG-41111M Battery

The popularity of The Hobbit had led George Allen & Unwin, the publishers, to request a sequel. Tolkien warned them that he wrote quite slowly, and responded with several stories he had already developed. Having rejected his contemporary drafts for The Silmarillion, putting on hold Roverandom, and accepting Farmer Giles of Ham, Sony VAIO PCG-41111V Battery

Allen & Unwin thought more stories about hobbits would be popular.[13] So at the age of 45, Tolkien began writing the story that would become The Lord of the Rings. The story would not be finished until 12 years later, in 1949, and would not be fully published until 1955, when Tolkien was 63 years old. Sony VAIO PCG-61412V Battery

Persuaded by his publishers, he started "a new Hobbit" in December 1937.[12] After several false starts, the story of the One Ring emerged. The idea for the first chapter ("A Long-Expected Party") arrived fully formed, although the reasons behind Bilbo's disappearance, Sony VAIO PCG-71112M Battery

the significance of the Ring, and the title The Lord of the Rings did not arrive until the spring of 1938.[12] Originally, he planned to write a story in which Bilbo had used up all his treasure and was looking for another adventure to gain more; however, he remembered the Ring and its powers and decided to write about that instead. Sony VAIO PCG-81111V Battery

Writing was slow, due to Tolkien having a full-time academic position, and needing to earn further money as a university examiner.[14] Tolkien abandoned The Lord of the Rings during most of 1943 and only re-started it in April 1944,as a serial for his son Christopher Tolkien, who was sent chapters as they were written while he was serving in South Africa with the Royal Air Force. Sony VAIO PCG-81111V Battery

Tolkien made another concerted effort in 1946, and showed the manuscript to his publishers in 1947.[12] The story was effectively finished the next year, but Tolkien did not complete the revision of earlier parts of the work until 1949.[12]The original manuscripts, which total 9,250 pages, now reside in the J.R.R. Tolkien Collection at Marquette University. Sony VAIO PCG-81212M Battery

The Lord of the Rings developed as a personal exploration by Tolkien of his interests in philology, religion (particularlyRoman Catholicism[17]), fairy tales, Norse and general Germanic mythology, and also Celtic,Slavic,Persian,[24] Greek,[25] and Finnish mythology. Sony VAIO PCG-81212V Battery

Tolkien acknowledged, and external critics have verified, the influences ofGeorge MacDonald and William Morris[27] and the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf.[28] The question of a direct influence of Wagner'sThe Ring Cycle on Tolkien's work is often debated by critics.

Tolkien included neither any explicit religion nor cult in his work. Sony VAIO PCG-51111M Battery

Rather the themes, moral philosophy, and cosmology of the Lord of the Rings reflect his Catholic worldview. In one of his letters Tolkien states, "The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision. Sony VAIO VPCS13X9E/B battery

That is why I have not put in, or have cut out, practically all references to anything like 'religion', to cults or practices, in the imaginary world. For the religious element is absorbed into the story and the symbolism."[17]

Some locations and characters were inspired by Tolkien's childhood in Birmingham, Sony VAIO VPCS12V9E/B battery

where he first lived near Sarehole Mill, and later near Edgbaston Reservoir.[29] There are also hints of the Black Country, which is within easy reach of north west Edgbaston. This shows in such names as "Underhill", and the description of Saruman's industrialization of Isengard and The Shire. Sony VAIO VPCS12V9E/B battery

It has also been suggested that The Shire and its surroundings were based on the countryside around Stonyhurst Collegein Lancashire where Tolkien frequently stayed during the 1940s.The work was influenced by the effects of his military service during World War I, to the point that Frodo has been "diagnosed" as suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Sony VAIO VPCF13M8E/B battery

or "shell-shock," which was first diagnosed at the Battle of the Somme, at which Tolkien served.[31]

Publication history

A dispute with his publisher, George Allen & Unwin, led to the book being offered to Collins in 1950. Sony VAIO VPCF13Z0E/B battery

Tolkien intended The Silmarillion (itself largely unrevised at this point) to be published along with The Lord of the Rings, but A&U were unwilling to do this. After Milton Waldman, his contact at Collins, expressed the belief that The Lord of the Rings itself "urgently wanted cutting", Tolkien eventually demanded that they publish the book in 1952. Sony VAIO VPCM13M1E/L battery

Collins did not; and so Tolkien wrote to Allen and Unwin, saying, "I would gladly consider the publication of any part of the stuff."[12]

For publication, the book was divided into three volumes: The Fellowship of the Ring (Books I, The Ring Sets Out, and II, The Ring Goes South), Sony VAIO VPCM13M1E/W battery

The Two Towers(Books III, The Treason of Isengard, and IV, The Ring Goes East), and The Return of the King (Books V, The War of the Ring, and VI, The End of the Third Age, plus six appendices). This was due largely to post-war paper shortages, as well as being a way to keep down the price of the book. Sony VAIO VPCF22M1E battery

Delays in producing appendices, maps and especially indices led to the volumes being published later than originally hoped — on 21 July 1954, on 11 November 1954 and on 20 October 1955 respectively in the United Kingdom, and slightly later in the United States. The Return of the King was especially delayed. Sony VAIO VPCF11M1E/H battery

Tolkien, moreover, did not especially like the title The Return of the King, believing it gave away too much of the storyline. He had originally suggested The War of the Ring, which was dismissed by his publishers.[33]

The books were published under a profit-sharing arrangement, Sony VAIO VPCF13M0E/B battery

whereby Tolkien would not receive an advance or royalties until the books had broken even, after which he would take a large share of the profits.[34] It has ultimately become the third best-selling novel ever written, with over 150 million copies sold.[2]Only A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens and Sony VAIO VPCYB2M1E battery

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry have sold more copies worldwide (over 200 million each) while the fourth best-selling novel is Tolkien's The Hobbit.[35][36][37]

Editions and revisions

In the early 1960s Donald A. Wollheim, science fiction editor of the paperback publisher Ace Books, Sony VAIO VPCYB3V1E battery

claimed that The Lord of the Rings was not protected in the United States under American copyright law because Houghton Mifflin, the U.S. hardcover publisher, had neglected to copyright the work in the United States.Ace Books then proceeded to publish an edition, unauthorized by Tolkien and without paying royalties to him. Sony VAIO VPCY11M1E battery

Tolkien took issue with this and quickly notified his fans of this objection.[40] Grass-roots pressure from these fans became so great that Ace Books withdrew their edition and made a nominal payment to Tolkien.Authorized editions followed from Ballantine Books and Houghton Mifflin to tremendous commercial success. Sony VAIO VPCS12L9E/B battery

By the mid-1960s the novel had become a cultural phenomenon. Tolkien undertook various textual revisions to produce a version of the book that would be published with his consent and establish an unquestioned US copyright. This text became the Second Edition of The Lord of the Rings, published in 1965. Sony VAIO VPCF11S1E/B battery

 Houghton Mifflin editions after 1994 consolidate variant revisions by Tolkien, and corrections supervised by Christopher Tolkien, which resulted, after some initial glitches, in a computer-based unified text.[43]

Posthumous publication of drafts

From 1988 to 1992 Christopher Tolkien published the surviving drafts of The Lord of The Rings, Sony VAIO VPCYB3V1E/R Battery

chronicling and illuminating with commentary the stages of the text's development, in volumes 6–9 of his History of Middle-earth series. The four volumes carry the titles The Return of the ShadowThe Treason of Isengard,The War of the Ring, and Sauron Defeated. Sony VAIO VPCF23P1E Battery

The novel has been translated, with various degrees of success, into at least 38 other languages.[44] Tolkien, an expert in philology, examined many of these translations, and made comments on each that reflect both the translation process and his work. As he was unhappy with some choices made by early translators, Sony VAIO VPCF23N1E Battery

such as the Swedish translation by Åke Ohlmarks,[45] Tolkien wrote a "Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings" (1967). Because The Lord of the Rings purports to be a translation of the fictitious Red Book of Westmarch, with the English language representing the Westron of the "original", Sony VAIO VPCY21S1E/L Battery

Tolkien suggested that translators attempt to capture the interplay between English and the invented nomenclature of the English work, and gave several examples along with general guidance.

Reception

The Lord of the Rings has received mixed reviews since its inception, Sony VAIO VPCY21S1E/G battery

ranging from terrible to excellent, though recent reviews in various media have been, on the whole, highly positive and Tolkien's literary achievement is slowly being acknowledged as a significant one. On its initial review the Sunday Telegraph felt it was "among the greatest works of imaginative fiction of the twentieth century." Sony VAIO VPCF24M1E battery

The Sunday Times seemed to echo these sentiments when in its review it was stated that "the English-speaking world is divided into those who have read The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and those who are going to read them."[46] TheNew York Herald Tribune also seemed to have an idea of how popular the books would become,Sony VAIO VPC CW2MFX/PU Battery

writing in its review that they were "destined to outlast our time."[47] W. H. Auden, an admirer of Tolkien's writings, regarded The Lord of the Rings as a "masterpiece", further stating that in some cases it outdid the achievement of John Milton's Paradise Lost.[48]

New York Times reviewer Judith Shulevitz criticized the "pedantry" of Tolkien's literary style, Sony VAIO VPC S11V9E/B Battery

saying that he "formulated a high-minded belief in the importance of his mission as a literary preservationist, which turns out to be death to literature itself."[49] Critic Richard Jenkyns, writing in The New Republic, criticized the work for a lack of psychological depth. Both the characters and the work itself are, according to Jenkyns, Sony VAIO VPCB119GJ/B Battery

"anemic, and lacking in fibre."[50] Even within Tolkien's literary group, The Inklings, reviews were mixed. Hugo Dyson complained loudly at its readings, and Christopher Tolkien records Dyson as "lying on the couch, and lolling and shouting and saying, 'Oh God, not another Elf!'"Sony VAIO VPCB11AGJ Battery

However, another Inkling, C. S. Lewis, had very different feelings, writing, "here are beauties which pierce like swords or burn like cold iron. Here is a book which will break your heart." Despite these reviews and its lack of paperback printing until the 1960s, The Lord of the Rings initially sold well in hardback. Sony VAIO VPCB11AVJ Battery

In 1957, The Lord of the Rings was awarded the International Fantasy Award. Despite its numerous detractors, the publication of the Ace Books and Ballantinepaperbacks helped The Lord of the Rings become immensely popular in the United States in the 1960s. The book has remained so ever since, Sony VAIO VPCB11V9E Battery

ranking as one of the most popular works of fiction of the twentieth century, judged by both sales and reader surveys.[53] In the 2003 "Big Read" survey conducted in Britain by the BBC, The Lord of the Rings was found to be the "Nation's best-loved book." In similar 2004 polls both Germany[54] and Australia[55] Sony VAIO VPCB11X9E Battery

also found The Lord of the Rings to be their favourite book. In a 1999 poll of Amazon.com customers, The Lord of the Rings was judged to be their favourite "book of the century."[56] The Lord of the Rings was awarded the Prometheus Hall of Fame Award in 2009. Sony VAIO VPCCW18FJ/P Battery

Ethan Gilsdorf, writing for The Boston Globe, commented that while there are movements within academia to approach The Lord of the Rings as a serious literary work, the 2001–2003 film trilogy has contributed to a dumbing down of the reception of the novel by the forces of mass-commercialization.[57] Sony VAIO VPCCW18FJ/R Battery

Although The Lord of the Rings was published in the 1950s, Tolkien insisted that the One Ring was not an allegory for the Atomic Bomb,[58] nor were his works a strict allegory of any kind, but were open to interpretation as the reader saw fit.

A few critics have found what they consider to be racial elements in the story, Sony VAIO VPCCW18FJ/W Battery

generally based upon their views of how Tolkien's imagery depicts good and evil, characters' race (e.g. Elf, Dwarf, Hobbit, Southron, Númenórean, Orc); and that the character's race is seen as determining their behaviour. Counter-arguments note that race-focused critiques often omit relevant textual evidence to the contrary, Sony VAIO VPCCW19FJ/W Battery

cite imagery from adaptations rather than the work itself;[67] ignore the absence of evidence of racist attitudes or events in the author's personal life[64][67][68] and claim that the perception of racism is itself a marginal view.[68]

Critics have also seen social class rather than race as being the determinant factor for the portrayal of good and evil. Sony VAIO VPCCW1AFJ Battery

Commentators such as science fictionauthor David Brin have interpreted the work to hold unquestioning devotion to a traditional elitist social structure.[69] In his essay "Epic Pooh", science fiction and fantasy author Michael Moorcock critiques the world-view displayed by the book as deeply conservative, Sony VAIO VPCCW1AHJ Battery

in both the 'paternalism' of the narrative voice and the power-structures in the narrative.[70] Tom Shippey cites the origin of this portrayal of evil as a reflection of the prejudices of European middle-classes during the inter-war years towards the industrial working class.[71] Sony VAIO VPCCW1S1E Battery

The book has been read as fitting the model of Joseph Campbell's "monomyth".

The Lord of the Rings has been adapted for film, radio and stage.

The book has been adapted for radio four times. In 1955 and 1956, the BBC broadcast The Lord of the Rings, a 12-part radio adaptation of the story. Sony VAIO VPCCW1S1E/B Battery

In the 1960s radio station WBAI produced a short radio adaptation. A 1979 dramatization of The Lord of the Rings was broadcast in the United States and subsequently issued on tape and CD. In 1981, the BBC broadcast The Lord of the Rings, a new dramatization in 26 half-hour instalments. Sony VAIO VPCCW1S1E/L Battery

This dramatization of The Lord of the Ringshas subsequently been made available on both tape and CD both by the BBC and other publishers. For this purpose it is generally edited into 13 one hour episodes.

Two film adaptations of the book as a whole have been made. Sony VAIO VPCCW1S1E/P Battery

The first was J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (1978), by animator Ralph Bakshi, the first part of what was originally intended to be a two-part adaptation of the story; it covers The Fellowship of the Ring and part of The Two Towers. When Bakshi's investors shied away of financing the second film that would complete the story, Sony VAIO VPCCW1S1E/R Battery

the remainder of the story was covered in an animated television special byRankin-Bass. Stylistically, the two segments are very different. The second and far more critically and commercially successful adaptation was Peter Jackson's live action The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, Sony VAIO VPCCW1S1E/W Battery

produced by New Line Cinema and released in three installments as The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). All three parts received nearly universal acclaim and were each nominated for and won multiple Academy Awards, Sony VAIO VPCCW21FX/B Battery

including consecutive Best Picture nominations. The final instalment of this trilogy was the second film to break the one-billion-dollar barrier and won a total of 11 Oscars (something only two other films in history, Ben-Hur and Titanic, have accomplished), including "Best Picture", "Best Director", "Best Adapted Screenplay" and "Best Original Score".Sony VAIO VPCCW21FX/L Battery

The Hunt for Gollum, a fan film based on elements of the appendices to The Lord of the Rings, was released on the internet in May 2009 and has been covered in major media.[73]

In 1990, Recorded Books published an audio version of The Lord of the Rings,[74] with British actor Rob Inglis –Sony VAIO VPCCW21FX/R Battery

who had previously starred in one-man stage productions of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings – reading. A large-scale musical theatre adaptation, The Lord of the Rings was first staged in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 2006 and opened in London in May 2007. Sony VAIO VPCCW21FX/W Battery

Influences on the fantasy genre

The enormous popularity of Tolkien's epic saga greatly expanded the demand for fantasy fiction. Largely thanks to The Lord of the Rings, the genre flowered throughout the 1960s, and enjoys popularity to the present day. Sony VAIO VPCCW26EC Battery

The opus has spawned many imitators, such as The Sword of Shannara, which Lin Carter called "the single most cold-blooded, complete rip-off of another book that I have ever read".The work also had an influence upon such science fiction authors as Frank Herbert and Arthur C. Clarke[76] and filmmakers such as George Lucas. Sony VAIO VPCCW26FX/B Battery

Dungeons & Dragons, which popularized the role-playing game (RPG) genre in the 1970s, features many races found in The Lord of the Rings, most notably halflings(another term for hobbits), elves, dwarves, half-elves, orcs, and dragons. However, Gary Gygax, lead designer of the game, Sony VAIO VPCCW28EC Battery

maintained that he was influenced very little by The Lord of the Rings, stating that he included these elements as a marketing move to draw on the popularity the work enjoyed at the time he was developing the game.Because D&D has influenced many popular role-playing video games through Dragon Warrior, Sony VAIO VPCCW28FJ/P Battery

the influence of The Lord of the Ringsextends to many of them as well, with titles such as EverQuest, the Warcraft series, and the Elder Scrolls series of games[81] as well as, quite naturally, video games set in Middle-earth itself.Research also suggests that some consumers of fantasy games derive their motivation from trying to create an epic fantasy narrative which is influenced by the Lord of the Rings. Sony VAIO VPCCW28FJ/R Battery

In 1965, songwriter Donald Swann, who was best known for his collaboration with Michael Flanders as Flanders & Swann, set six poems from The Lord of the Ringsand one from The Adventures of Tom Bombadil ("Errantry") to music. When Swann met with Tolkien to play the songs for his approval, Sony VAIO VPCCW28FJ/W Battery

Tolkien suggested for "Namárië" (Galadriel's lament) a setting reminiscent of plain chant, which Swann accepted.The songs were published in 1967 as The Road Goes Ever On: A Song Cycle,and a recording of the songs performed by singer William Elvin with Swann on piano was issued that same year by Caedmon Records as Poems and Songs of Middle Earth. Sony VAIO VPCCW29FJ/W Battery

In 1988, Dutch composer and trombonist Johan de Meij completed his Symphony No. 1 "The Lord of the Rings", which encompassed 5 movements, titled "Gandalf", "Lothlórien", "Gollum", "Journey in the Dark", and "Hobbits". In 1989 the symphony was awarded the Sudler Composition Award, awarded biennially for best wind band composition. Sony VAIO VPCCW2AFJ Battery

The Danish Tolkien Ensemble have released a number of albums that feature the complete poems and songs of The Lord of the Rings set to music, with some featuring recitation by Christopher Lee.Rock bands of the 1970s were musically and lyrically inspired by the fantasy embracing counter-culture of the time; Sony VAIO VPCCW2AHJ Battery

British 70s rock band Led Zeppelin recorded several songs that contain explicit references to The Lord of the Rings ("Ramble On", "The Battle of Evermore", "Over the Hills and Far Away", and "Misty Mountain Hop"). In 1970, the Swedish musician Bo Hansson released an instrumental concept album based on the book entitled Sagan om ringen Sony VAIO VPCCW2S1E Battery

 (translated as "The Saga of the Ring", which was the title of the Swedish translation of The Lord of the Rings at the time).[86] The album was subsequently released internationally as Music Inspired by Lord of the Rings in 1972.[86] The songs "Rivendell" and "The Necromancer" by the progressive rock band Rush were inspired by Tolkien. Sony VAIO VPCCW2S1E/B Battery

AndStyx also paid homage to Tolkien on their "Pieces of Eight" album with the song "Lords of the Ring," while Black Sabbath's song, "The Wizard", which appeared on their debut album, was influenced by Tolkien's hero, Gandalf. The heavy metal band Cirith Ungol took their name from a fictional place in Middle-earth of thesame name. Sony VAIO VPCCW2S1E/L Battery

 Progressive rock group Camel paid homage to the text in their lengthy composition "Nimrodel/The Procession/The White Rider", and Progressive rock band Barclay James Harvest was inspired by the character Galadriel to write a song by that name, and used "Bombadil", Sony VAIO VPCCW2S1E/P Battery

the name of another character, as a pseudonym under which their 1972 single "Breathless"/"When the City Sleeps" was released; there are other references scattered through the BJH oeuvre.Later, from the 1980s to the present day, many Heavy metal acts have been influenced by Tolkien. Sony VAIO VPCCW2S1E/R Battery

 Blind Guardian has written many songs relating to Middle-earth, including the full concept album Nightfall in Middle Earth. Almost all of Summoning's songs and the entire discography of Battlelore are Tolkien-themed.Gorgoroth and Amon Amarth take their names from an area of Mordor, and Burzum take their name from the Black Speech of Mordor. Sony VAIO VPCCW2S1E/W Battery

The Finnish metal band Nightwishand the Norwegian metal band Tristania have also incorporated many Tolkien references into their music. In 2001, the Hungarian metal band Cross Borns released ametal opera with the title Kalandozás Középföldén (Adventure in Middle Earth) based on the story of Lord of the Rings. Sony VAIO VPCCW2S5C CN1 Battery

Due to legal reasons, they couldn't use the original title.

Enya wrote an instrumental piece called "Lothlórien" in 1991, and composed two songs for the film The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring—"May It Be" (sung in English and Quenya) and "Aníron" (sung in Sindarin). Sony VAIO VPCF112FX/B Battery

Impact on popular culture

The Lord of the Rings has had a profound and wide-ranging impact on popular culture, beginning with its publication in the 1950s, but especially throughout the 1960s and 1970s, during which time young people embraced it as a countercultural saga. Sony VAIO VPCF115FG/B Battery

"Frodo Lives!" and "Gandalf for President" were two phrases popular among American Tolkien fans during this time.[88]

In one scene of the 1993 film, Six Degrees of Separation, Paul (Will Smith) mocks The Lord of the Rings books in front of Ian McKellen's character. Sony VAIO VPCF116FGBI Battery

Less than a decade after this film was made, Ian McKellen would play the role of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

Parodies like the Harvard Lampoon's Bored of the Rings, the VeggieTales episode "Lord of the Beans", Sony VAIO VPCF117FJ/W Battery

the South Park episode "The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers", the Futurama film "Bender's Game", The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius episode "Lights! Camera! Danger!", The Big Bang Theoryepisode "The Precious Fragmentation", and the American Dad! episode "The Return of the Bling" are testimony to the work's continual presence in popular culture. Sony VAIO VPCF117HG/BI Battery

In 1969 Tolkien sold the merchandising rights to The Lord of The Rings (and The Hobbit) to United Artists under an agreement stipulating a lump sum payment of £10,000[89] plus a 7.5% royalty after costs,[90] payable to Allen & Unwin and the author.[91] In 1976 (three years after the author's death) United Artists sold the rights to Saul Zaentz Company, Sony VAIO VPCF118FJ/W Battery

who trade as Tolkien Enterprises. Since then all "authorized" merchandise has been signed-off by Tolkien Enterprises, although the intellectual property rights of the specific likenesses of characters and other imagery from various adaptations is generally held by the adaptors.[92] Sony VAIO VPCF119FC Battery

Outside any commercial exploitation from adaptations, from the late 1960s onwards there has been an increasing variety of original licensed merchandise, from posters and calendars created by illustrators such as Pauline Baynes and the Brothers Hildebrandt, to figurines and miniatures to computer, video, tabletop and role-playing games. Sony VAIO VPCF119FC/BI Battery

Recent examples include the Spiel des Jahres award winning (for best use of literature in a game) board game The Lord of the Rings by Reiner Knizia and the Golden Joystick award-winning massively multiplayer online role-playing game, The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmarby Turbine, Inc.. Sony VAIO VPCF119FJ/BI Battery

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a 2001 epic[2][3] fantasy film[4] directed by Peter Jacksonbased on the first volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (1954–1955). It was followed by The Two Towers(2002) and The Return of the King (2003), based on the second and third volumes of The Lord of the Rings. Sony VAIO VPCF11AFJ Battery

Set in Middle-earth, the story tells of the Dark Lord Sauron, who is seeking the One Ring. The Ring has found its way to the young hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood). The fate of Middle-earth hangs in the balance as Frodo and eight companions who form the Fellowship of the Ring begin their journey to Mount Doom in the land of Mordor, Sony VAIO VPCF11AGJ Battery

the only place where the Ring can be destroyed.

Released on 10 December 2001, the film was highly acclaimed by critics and fans alike, especially as many of the latter judged it to be the most sufficiently faithful adaptation of the original story out of Jackson's film trilogy. Sony VAIO VPCF11AHJ Battery

It was a major box office success, earning over $870 million worldwide, and the second highest-grossing film of 2001 in the U.S. and worldwide (behind Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone) which made it the 5th highest-grossing film ever at the time.

Today it is the 26th highest-grossing worldwide film of all time. Sony VAIO VPCF11JFX/B Battery

It won four Academy Awards and five BAFTAs, including Best Film and Best Director BAFTA awards. The Special Extended Edition was released to DVD on November 12, 2002 and toBlu-ray on June 28, 2011. In 2007, The Fellowship of the Ring was voted number 50 on the American Film Institute's list of 100 greatest American films. Sony VAIO VPCF11M1E Battery

The AFI also voted it the second greatest fantasy film of all time during their AFI's 10 Top 10 special.In the Second Age, the Dark Lord Sauron attempts to conquer Middle-Earth using his One Ring. In battle against theElves and Men, Prince Isildur cuts the Ring from Sauron's hand, destroying his physical form and vanquishing his army. Sony VAIO VPCF11M1E/H Battery

However, Sauron's "life force" is bound to the Ring, allowing him to survive while the Ring remains. Isildur, corrupted by the Ring's power, refuses to destroy it. When Isildur is killed by Orcs, the Ring is lost in a river for 2,500 years. The Ring is found by Gollum, who possesses it for centuries until it is found by the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins. Sony VAIO VPCF11MFX/B Battery

Sixty years later, Bilbo leaves the Ring to his nephew, Frodo Baggins. Upon learning that the Ring belonged to Sauron, the Wizard Gandalf the Grey warns Frodo that Sauron's forces will come for him. Gandalf catches Frodo's gardenerSamwise Gamgee eavesdropping underneath a window and sends him with Frodo to leave the Shire. Sony VAIO VPCF11S1E Battery

Gandalf rides to Isengardto meet with the head of his order, Saruman the White, who reveals that Sauron's servants, the Nazgûl, have been sent to capture the Ring. Saruman reveals himself to be in service to Sauron, and imprisons Gandalf atop his tower. Saruman commands Sauron's Orcs to construct weapons of war and produce a new breed of Orc fighters: the Uruk-hai. Sony VAIO VPCF11S1E/B Battery

While traveling to Bree, Frodo and Sam are joined by Merry and Pippin, and are nearly captured by the Nazgûl. At theInn of the Prancing Pony, Frodo meets the mysterious ranger Aragorn, who hides them from their pursuers and agrees to lead them to Rivendell. During the journey they are attacked by the Nazgûl. Sony VAIO VPCF11Z1E Battery

Aragorn fights off the creatures, but Frodo is wounded by their morgul blade, which will turn him into a wraith. While chased by the Nazgûl, Frodo is saved by theElf Arwen who uses her magic to summon a surge of water that sweeps away the pursuing Nazgûl. Arwen takes Frodo to Rivendell where he is healed by her father, Elrond. Sony VAIO VPCF11Z1E/BI Battery

Gandalf escapes Saruman's tower with the aid of Gwaihir the eagleand travels to Rivendell. Elrond calls a council of the races still loyal to Middle-earth to decide what should be done with the Ring. It is revealed that the Ring can only be destroyed by throwing it into the fires of Mount Doom, where it was forged. Sony VAIO VPCF11ZHJ Battery

Frodo volunteers to take the Ring, accompanied by Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, and Aragorn. They are joined by the Elf Legolas, the Dwarf Gimli, and Boromir, man of Gondor, to form the Fellowship of the Ring.The Fellowship set out but are hindered by Saruman's magic. Sony VAIO VPCF127HGBI Battery

They travel through the dwarf Mines of Moria. Inside, they find that Orcs have overrun the mines and slain the Dwarves; they also realize that Gollum is following them, determined to reclaim the Ring. The Fellowship is attacked by Orcs and a Balrog, an ancient demon of fire and shadow. Sony VAIO VPCF137HG/BI Battery

Gandalf confronts the Balrog, allowing the others to escape, but both Gandalf and the Balrog fall into an abyss. Mourning Gandalf's death, the group flees to Lothlórien, where they are sheltered by its rulers, the Elves Galadrieland Celeborn. That night, Galadriel informs Frodo that it is his destiny to destroy the Ring. Sony VAIO VPCS111FM/S Battery

The Fellowship continue their journey. Meanwhile, Saruman assembles a force of Uruk-hai to hunt the Fellowship.

After arriving at Parth Galen, Boromir gives in to the Ring's corruption and tries to take it from Frodo, believing that it is the only way to save his realm. Sony VAIO VPCS115EC Battery

Frodo manages to escape by wearing the Ring and becoming invisible. Boromir realizes what he has done, and attempts to find Frodo, who decides to continue his journey alone, heeding Galadriel's warning that the Ring will eventually corrupt the other members of the Fellowship.Sony VAIO VPCS115FG Battery

The Uruk-hai arrive and Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli attempt to hold them off while Frodo escapes. Merry and Pippin lead the Orcs away from Frodo and are nearly killed. Boromir tries to save them, but in the process is shot fatally by the Uruk-Hai leader, Lurtz. The Uruk-Hai capture Merry and Pippin. Sony VAIO VPCS117GG Battery

Aragorn slays Lurtz and tends to a dying Boromir, and promises him that the world of men will not fall. Boromir dies with Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas by his side.

Sam finds Frodo, who reluctantly lets Sam join him. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli set out to rescue Merry and Pippin. Sony VAIO VPCS117GGB Battery

As Frodo and Sam gaze out at the land before them, they grieve over the others. Frodo says that he is glad that Sam is with him and the two Hobbits set off towards Mordor.

Before filming began on 11 October 1999, the principal actors trained for six weeks in sword fighting (with Bob Anderson), riding and boating. Sony VAIO VPCS118EC Battery

Jackson hoped such activities would allow the cast to bond so chemistry would be evident on screen as well as getting them used to life in Wellington.[5] They were also trained to pronounce Tolkien's verses properly.[6] After the shoot, the nine cast members playing the Fellowship got a tattoo, Sony VAIO VPCS119FJ/B Battery

the Elvish symbol for the number nine, with the exception of John Rhys-Davies, whose stunt double got the tattoo instead.[7] The film is noted for having an ensemble cast,[8] and some of the cast and their respective characters include: Sony VAIO VPCS119GC Battery

Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins: A hobbit who inherits the One Ring from his uncle, Bilbo Baggins. He is accompanied on his quest by his best friend and fellow hobbit, Samwise Gamgee. Elijah Wood was the first actor to be cast on 7 July 1999.[9] Wood was a fan of the book, and he sent in an audition dressed as Frodo, reading lines from the novel.[10] Sony VAIO VPCS11AFJ Battery

Wood was selected from 150 actors who auditioned.[11]

Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey: An Istari wizard and mentor to Frodo, who helps him decide what to do with the Ring. He becomes the leader of the Fellowship after it is decided to take the Ring to Mount Doom and destroy it. Sony VAIO VPCS11AGJ Battery

Sean Connery was approached for the role, but did not understand the plot,while Patrick Stewart turned it down, as he disliked the script.[12] Before being cast, McKellen had to sort his schedule with 20th Century Fox as there was a two-month overlap with X-Men. He enjoyed playing Gandalf the Grey more than his transformed state in the next two films, Sony VAIO VPCS11AHJ Battery

 and based his accent on Tolkien. Unlike his on-screen character, McKellen did not spend much time with the actors playing the Hobbits, instead working with their scale doubles.[5]

Sean Astin as Samwise "Sam" Gamgee: A Hobbit gardener and Frodo's best friend. Sony VAIO VPCS11AVJ Battery

When caught eavesdropping, Sam is made to become Frodo's companion and from then on becomes very loyal. Astin, who had recently become a father, bonded with the 18-year-old Wood in a protective manner, which mirrored Sam's relationship with Frodo.Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn: Sony VAIO VPCS11J7E/B Battery

Dubbed Strider, he is a Dúnedain ranger and the heir to the throne of Gondor. He travels with the Fellowship on their journey toMordor. He is unsure of whether to become King following the failure of his ancestor, Isildur, to destroy the Ring. Nicolas Cage turned down the role because of "family obligations",Sony VAIO VPCS11M1E/W Battery

while Vin Diesel, a fan of the book, auditioned for Aragorn. Stuart Townsend was cast in the role, before being replaced during filming when Jackson realised he was too young.[10] Russell Crowe was considered as a replacement, but he turned it down after taking what he thought to be a similar role in Gladiator. Sony VAIO VPCS11V9E Battery

Producer Mark Ordesky saw Mortensen in a play. Mortensen's son, a fan of the book, convinced him to take the role. Mortensen read the book on the plane, received a crash course lesson in fencing from Bob Anderson and began filming the scenes on Weathertop.[ Sony VAIO VPCS11V9E/B Battery

Mortensen became a hit with the crew by patching up his costume[15] and carrying his "hero" sword around with him offscreen.Sean Bean as Boromir: A prince of the Stewards of Gondor, he journeys with the Fellowship towards Mordor, although he is tempted by the power of the Ring. Sony VAIO VPCS11X9E/B Battery

Bruce Willis, a fan of the book, expressed interest in the role, while Liam Neeson was sent the script, but passed.[10]

Orlando Bloom as Legolas: Prince of the Elves' Woodland Realm and a skilled archer who accompanies the Fellowship on their journey to Mordor. Sony VAIO VPCS123FGB Battery

Bloom initially auditioned for Faramir, who appears in the second film, a role which went to David Wenham.Billy Boyd as Peregrin "Pippin" Took: A Hobbit who travels with the Fellowship on their journey to Mordor, along with his best friend Merry. He is a prankster, often being a nuisance for Gandalf. Sony VAIO VPCS125EC Battery

Together with Meriadoc Brandybuck (see below), he serves as a comic relief.

Dominic Monaghan as Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck: A Hobbit and a friend (and distant cousin) of Frodo. He helps him find a raft-ferry to escape the Nazgûl, and later travels with the Fellowship on their journey to Mordor, along with his best friend Pippin. Sony VAIO VPCS128EC Battery

Monaghan was cast as Merry after auditioning for Frodo. Together with Pippin (see above), he serves as a comic relief.John Rhys-Davies as Gimli: A Dwarf who accompanies the Fellowship to Mordor after they set out from Rivendell. He initially hates Elves, but changes his attitude in the course of the story, particularly after meeting Lady Galadriel. Sony VAIO VPCS129GC Battery

Billy Connolly was considered for the part of Gimli.[10] Rhys-Davies wore heavy prosthetics to play Gimli, which limited his vision, and eventually he developed eczema around his eyes.[5]

Christopher Lee as Saruman the White: The fallen head of the Istari Order, who succumbed to Sauron's will via his use of the palantír. Sony VAIO VPCS12C7E/B Battery

After capturing Gandalf, he creates an army of Uruk-hai to find and capture the Ring from the Fellowship. Lee is a major fan of the book, and reads it once a year. He has also met J. R. R. Tolkien.[14] He originally auditioned for Gandalf, but was judged too old.[10]

Sala Baker as Sauron: The titular character of the story, who created the One Ring to conquer Middle-earth. Sony VAIO VPCS12L9E/B Battery

He lost the Ring to Isildur, and now seeks it in order to initiate his reign over Middle-earth. He cannot yet take physical form, and is spiritually incarnate as an Eye.

Hugo Weaving as Elrond: The Elven master and Lord of Rivendell, who leads the Council of Elrond which ultimately decides to destroy the One Ring. Sony VAIO VPCS12V9E/B Battery

He lost faith in the strength of Men after witnessing Isildur's failure 3,000 years before. David Bowie expressed interest in the role, but Jackson stated, "To have a famous, beloved character and a famous star colliding is slightly uncomfortable."Marton Csokas as Celeborn: An Elf and the co-ruler of Lothlórien along with his wife Galadriel. Sony VAIO VPCY115FGS Battery

Cate Blanchett as Galadriel: An Elf and the co-ruler of Lothlórien along with her husband Celeborn. She shows Frodo a possible outcome of events in hermirror and gives him the Light of Eärendil. Tilda Swinton was also a possibility to the role, but she turned it down, since she was going to play a similar role as Jadis, Sony VAIO VPCY115FX/BI Battery

the White Witch in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Liv Tyler as Arwen: An elf, Arwen escorts Frodo to Rivendell after he is stabbed by the Witch-king. She is the daughter of Elrond, and Aragorn's lover to whom she gives the Evenstar necklace. Sony VAIO VPCY115FXBI Battery

The filmmakers approached Tyler after seeing her performance in Plunkett & Macleane, and New Line Cinema leaped at the opportunity of having one Hollywood star in the film. Actress Helena Bonham Carter had expressed interest in the role.Tyler came to shoot on short occasions, and bonded most with Bloom. Sony VAIO VPCY118EC Battery

She was one of the last actors to be cast, on 25 August 1999.[16]

Ian Holm as Bilbo Baggins: Frodo's uncle who gives him the Ring after he decides to retire to Rivendell. At Rivendell, he gives Frodo a mithril mail-shirt and his own sword, Sting, which can detect the presence of nearby orcs by emitting a bluish glow. Sony VAIO VPCY118GX/BI Battery

Holm previously played Frodo in a 1981 radio adaption ofThe Lord of the Rings, and was cast as Bilbo after Jackson remembered his performance.[10] Sylvester McCoy was contacted about playing the role, and was kept in place as a potential Bilbo for six months before Jackson went with Holm.[17] Sony VAIO VPCY119FJ/S Battery

Lawrence Makoare as Lurtz: The commander of Saruman's orc forces who leads the hunt for the Fellowship as they head to Mordor.Craig Parker as Haldir: Leader of The Galadhrim warriors guarding the border of Lothlórien.Mark Ferguson as Gil-galad: An Elven-King and last ruler of Noldor who fought in the War of the Last Alliance. Sony VAIO VPCY11AFJ Battery

Peter McKenzie as Elendil: High King of Arnor and Gondor who fought in The War Of The Last Alliance and father of Isildur. Killed by Sauron.

Harry Sinclair as Isildur: Son of Elendil and ancestor of Aragorn who fought in The War Of The Last Alliance. Sony VAIO VPCY11AGJ Battery

He got ambushed by Mordor Orcs when The One Ring is passed onto him after he cut off Sauron's hand with his father's sword, Narsil during the war.

Comparison with the source material

Jackson, Walsh and Boyens made numerous changes to the story, for purposes of pacing and character development. Sony VAIO VPCY11AHJ Battery

Jackson said his main desire was to make a film focused primarily on Frodo and the Ring, the "backbone" of the story.[18] The prologue condenses Tolkien's backstory, in which The Last Alliance's seven year siege of the Barad-dûr is a single battle, where Sauron is shown to explode, though Tolkien only said his spirit flees.[19] Sony VAIO VPCY11AVJ Battery

Events at the beginning of the film are condensed or omitted altogether. In the book the time between Gandalf leaving the Ring to Frodo and returning to reveal its inscription, which is 17 years, is compressed for timing reasons.[20] Frodo also spends a few months preparing to move to Buckland, on the eastern border of the shire. Sony VAIO VPCY11M1E/S Battery

This move is omitted and combined with him setting out for Rivendell. Also compressed is the time between Frodo and Sam leaving Bag End and their meeting Merry and Pippin. Characters such asTom Bombadil are left out to simplify the plot and increase the threat of the Ringwraiths. Sony VAIO VPCY11S1E Battery

Such sequences are left out to make time to introduce Saruman, who in the book doesn't appear until a flashback told at the Council of Elrond. Saruman's role is enhanced: he is to blame for the blizzard on Caradhras, a role taken from Sauron and/or Caradhras itself in the book. Gandalf's capture by Saruman is also expanded with a fight sequence. Sony VAIO VPCY11V9E/S Battery

The role of Barliman Butterbur at the Prancing Pony is largely removed for time and dramatic flow.The events at Weathertop were also altered. The location of the fight against the Ringwraiths was changed to the ruins on top of the hill rather than a campsite at its base. Sony VAIO VPCY218EC/BI Battery

When Frodo was stabbed in the book, the party spent two weeks travelling to Rivendell, but in the film this is shortened to less than a week, with Frodo's condition worsening at a commensurately greater rate. Arwen was given a greater role in the film, accompanying Frodo all the way to Rivendell, Sony VAIO VPCY218EC/G Battery

while in the book Frodo faced the Ringwraiths alone at the Ford of Bruinen. The character of Glorfindel was omitted entirely and his scenes were also given to Arwen. She was tacitly credited with the river rising against the Ringwraiths, which was the work of her father Elrond with aid from Gandalf in the book. Sony VAIO VPCY218EC/L Battery

A significant new addition is Aragorn's self-doubt, which causes him to hesitate to claim the kingship of Gondor. This element is not present in the book, where Aragorn intends to claim the throne at an appropriate time. In the book Narsil is reforged immediately when he joins the Fellowship, Sony VAIO VPCY218EC/P Battery

but this event is held over until Return of the King in film to symbolically coincide with his acceptance of his title. These elements were added because Peter Jackson believed that each character should be forced to grow or change over the course of the story.

Elrond's character gained an adversarial edge; Sony VAIO VPCY21S1E/L Battery

he expresses doubts in the strength of Men to resist Sauron's evil after Isildur's failure to destroy the ring as depicted in the prologue. Jackson also shortens the Council of Elrond by spreading its exposition into earlier parts of the film. Elrond's counsellor, Erestor—who suggested the Ring be given to Tom Bombadil—was completely absent from this scene. Sony VAIO VPCY21S1E/P Battery

Gimli's father, Glóin, was also deemed unnecessary.

The tone of the Moria sequence was altered. Although in the book the Fellowship only realises the Dwarves are all dead once they reach Balin's tomb, the filmmakers chose to use foreshadowing devices instead. Sony VAIO VPCY21S1E/SI Battery

Gandalf says to Gimli he would prefer not to enter Moria, and Saruman is shown to be aware of Gandalf's reticence, and also reveals an illustration of the Balrog in one of his books. The corpses of the dwarves are instantly shown as the Fellowship enter Moria.In terms of dramatic structure, the book simply ends; Sony VAIO VGN-SR390NAH Battery

there is no climax, because Tolkien wrote the "trilogy" as a single story published in three volumes. Jackson's version incorporates the first chapter of '"The Two Towers" and makes its events, told in real time instead of flashback, simultaneous with the Breaking of the Fellowship. Sony VAIO VGN-SR41M/P Battery

This finale is played as a climactic battle, into which he introduces the Uruk-hai referred to as Lurtz in the script. In the book, Boromir is unable to tell Aragorn which hobbits were kidnapped by the orcs before he dies. From there, Aragorn deduces Frodo's intentions when he notices that a boat is missing and Sam's pack is gone. Sony VAIO VGN-SR41M/S Battery

In the film, Aragorn and Frodo have a scene together in which Frodo's intentions are explicitly stated.Jackson began working with Christian Rivers to storyboard the trilogy in August 1997, as well as getting Richard Taylor and Weta Workshop to begin creating his interpretation of Middle-earth. Sony VAIO VGN-SR49VN/H Battery

Jackson told them to make Middle-earth as plausible and believable as possible, to think of Middle-earth in a historical manner.In November, Alan Lee and John Howe became the primary conceptual designers for the film trilogy, having had previous experience as illustrators for the book and various other tie-ins. Sony VAIO VGN-SR51B/P Battery

Lee worked for the Art Department creating places such as Rivendell, Isengard, Moria and Lothlórien, giving art nouveau and geometryinfluences to the Elves and Dwarves respectively. Though Howe contributed with Bag End and the Argonath, he focused working on armour having studied it all his life. Sony VAIO VGN-SR51B/S Battery

 Weta and the Art Department continued to design, with Grant Major turning the Art Department's designs into architecture, and Dan Hennah scouting locations.[23] On 1 April 1999, Ngila Dickson joined the crew as costume designer. She and 40 seamstresses would create 19,000 costumes, Sony VAIO VGN-SR51MF Battery

40 per version for the actor and their doubles, ageing and wearing them out for impression of age.The Fellowship of the Ring makes extensive use of digital, practical and make-up special effects throughout. One noticeable illusion that appears in almost every scene involves setting a proper scale so that the characters are all the correct height. Sony VAIO VGN-SR51MF/P Battery

Elijah Wood, who plays Frodo, is 5 ft 6in (1.68 m) tall in real life, but the character of Frodo Baggins is barely four feet in height. Many different tricks were used to depict the hobbits (and Gimli the Dwarf) as being of diminutive stature. (In a happy coincidence, John-Rhys Davies — who played Gimli —Sony VAIO VGN-SR51MF/S Battery

is as tall compared to the Hobbit actors as his character needed to be compared to theirs, so he did not need to be filmed separately as a third variation of height, and is quite taller than Orlando Bloom, who played Legolas.) Large and small scale doubles were used in certain scenes, Sony VAIO VGN-SR51MF/W Battery

while entire duplicates of certain sets (including Bag End in Hobbiton) were built at two different scales, so that the characters would appear to be the appropriate size. At one point in the film, Frodo runs along a corridor in Bag End, followed by Gandalf. Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen were filmed in separate versions of the same corridor, Sony VAIO VGN-SR51MR Battery

built at two different scales, and a fast camera pan conceals the edit between the two. Forced perspective was also employed, so that it would look as though the short Hobbits were interacting with taller Men and Elves. Even the simple use of kneeling down, to the filmmakers' surprise, turned out to be an effective method in creating the illusion. Sony VAIO VGN-SR59VG Battery

For the battle between the Last Alliance and the forces of Sauron that begins the film, an elaborate CGI animation system, called MASSIVE, was developed byStephen Regelous; it allowed thousands of individual animated "characters" in the program to act independently. This helped give the illusion of realism to the battle sequences. Sony VAIO VGN-SR59VG/H Battery

The "Making of" Lord of the Rings DVD reports some interesting initial problems: in the first execution of a battle between groups of characters, the wrong groups attacked each other. In another early demo, some of the warriors at the edge of the field could be seen running away.Sony VAIO VGN-SR70B/S Battery

They were initially moving in the wrong direction, and had been programmed to keep running until they encountered an enemy.

The digital creatures were important due to Jackson's requirement of biological plausibility. Sony VAIO VGN-SR72B/P Battery

Their surface was scanned from large maquettes before numerous digital details of their skeletons and muscles were added. In the case of the Balrog, Gary Horsfield created a system that copied recorded imagery of fire.

The musical score for the Lord of the Rings films was composed by Howard Shore. Sony VAIO VGN-SR72B/S Battery

It was performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, The London Philharmonic Orchestra, The London Voices, and featured several vocal soloists. Two original songs, "Aníron", and the end title theme "May It Be", were composed and sung byEnya, who allowed her label, Reprise Records, to release the soundtrack to this and its two sequels. Sony VAIO VGN-SR73JB/S Battery

In addition to this, Shore composed "In Dreams", which was sung by Edward Ross of the London Oratory School Schola.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was released on 19 December 2001 in 3,359 cinemas where it grossed $47.2 million on its opening weekend. Sony VAIO VGN-SR74FB/S Battery

It went on to make $314.7 million in North America and $555.9 million in the rest of the world for a worldwide total of $870.7 million.[26]The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring received mostly positive reviews from major film critics and was one of the best reviewed films of 2001, receiving 92% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Sony VAIO VGN-SR90FS Battery

Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four stars and wrote, "Peter Jackson ... has made a work for, and of, our times. It will be embraced, I suspect, by many Tolkien fans and take on aspects of a cult. It is a candidate for many Oscars. It is an awesome production in its daring and breadth, and there are small touches that are just right".Sony VAIO VGN-SR90NS Battery

USA Today also gave the film three out of four stars and wrote, "this movie version of a beloved book should please devotees as well as the uninitiated".[29] In his review for The New York Times, Elvis Mitchell wrote, "The playful spookiness of Mr. Jackson's direction provides a lively, light touch, Sony VAIO VGN-SR90S Battery

a gesture that doesn't normally come to mind when Tolkien's name is mentioned".[30]Entertainment Weekly magazine gave the film an "A" rating and Lisa Schwarzbaum wrote, "The cast take to their roles with becoming modesty, certainly, but Jackson also makes it easy for them: Sony VAIO VGN-SR90US Battery

His Fellowship flows, never lingering for the sake of admiring its own beauty ... Every detail of which engrossed me. I may have never turned a page of Tolkien, but I know enchantment when I see it".[31]

In her review for The Washington Post, Rita Kempley praised the cast, Sony VAIO VGN-SR91NS Battery

in particular, "Mortensen, as Strider, is a revelation, not to mention downright gorgeous. And McKellen, carrying the burden of thousands of years' worth of the fight against evil, is positively Merlinesque".[32] Time magazine's Richard Corliss praised Jackson's work: "His movie achieves what the best fairy tales do: Sony VAIO VGN-SR91PS Battery

the creation of an alternate world, plausible and persuasive, where the young — and not only the young — can lose themselves. And perhaps, in identifying with the little Hobbit that could, find their better selves".[33] In his review for The Village Voice, J. Hoberman wrote, "Peter Jackson's adaptation is certainly successful on its own terms".Sony VAIO VGN-SR91S Battery

Rolling Stone magazine's Peter Travers wrote, "It's emotion that makes Fellowship stick hard in the memory ... Jackson deserves to revel in his success. He's made a three-hour film that leaves you wanting more".[35]However, in his review for The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw wrote, Sony VAIO VGN-SR91US Battery

"there is a strange paucity of plot complication, an absence of anything unfolding, all the more disconcerting because of the clotted and indigestible mythic back story that we have to wade through before anything happens at all.

In 2002, the film won four Academy Awards out of thirteen nominations. Sony VAIO VGN-SR92NS Battery

The winning categories were for Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Makeup, and Best Original Score. Despite its praise by fans, the other nominated categories of Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Ian McKellen), Best Art Direction, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Sony VAIO VGN-SR92PS Battery

 Best Original Song (Enya, Nicky Ryan and Roma Ryan for "May It Be"), Best Picture, Best Sound (Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick,Gethin Creagh and Hammond Peek), Costume Design and Best Adapted Screenplay were not won.As of June 2010, it is the 19th highest-grossing film worldwide, with takings of US$870,761,744 from worldwide theatrical box office receipts.[1] Sony VAIO VGN-SR92S Battery

The film won the 2002 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation. It also won Empire readers' Best Film award, as well as five BAFTAs, including Best Film, theDavid Lean Award for Direction, the Audience Award (voted for by the public), Best Special Effects, and Best Make-up. Sony VAIO VGN-SR92US Battery

The film was nominated for an MTV Movie Award for Best Fight between Gandalf and Saruman.

In June 2008, AFI revealed its "Ten top Ten"—the best ten films in ten "classic" American film genres—after polling over 1,500 people from the creative community. Sony VAIO VGN-SR93DS Battery

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was acknowledged as the second best film in the fantasy genre.

Theatrical and Extended release

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was released on VHS and DVD on 6 August 2002. Sony VAIO VGN-SR93JS Battery

A few months later, on 12 November 2002, an Extended Edition was released on VHS and DVD, with 30 minutes of new material, added special effects and music, plus 20 minutes of fan-club credits. The DVD set included four commentaries and over three hours of supplementary material. Sony VAIO VGN-SR93PS Battery

On 29 August 2006, a Limited Edition of The Fellowship of the Ring was released on DVD. The set included both the Theatrical and Extended editions of the film on a double-sided disc along with all-new bonus material. Sony VAIO VGN-SR93YS Battery

The theatrical Blu-ray version of The Lord of the Rings was released in the United States on April 6, 2010. There were two separate sets: one with digital copies and one without.[40] The individual Blu-ray disc of The Fellowship of the Ring was released on September 14, 2010 with the same special features as the complete trilogy release, Sony VAIO VGN-SR94FS Battery

except there was no digital copy.The Extended Editions for Blu-ray were released in the U.S. on June 28, 2011. Sony VAIO VGN-SR94GS Battery,Sony VAIO VGN-SR94HS Battery,Sony VAIO VGN-SR94VS Battery