Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring

Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring DVD cover

Lord Of The Rings,The : Fellowship Of The Ring,The - 2001

New Line Cinema/Wingnut Films - 175 min.(theatrical) or 210min.(extended)

DVD UPC # 794043554223(theatrical); 5017239191695(theatrical); 065935142089(theatrical); 7036988002906(theatrical); 8716777002537(theatrical); 7321921054112(theatrical); 9398710842395(theatrical); 7321923054110(theatrical); 8010020091584(theatrical); 5017239194146(theatrical); 9398710355598(theatrical); 9780780638372(theatrical)
794043554926(Extended); 9398710357394(Extended); 5017239191718(Extended); 8716777002889(Extended); 9398710357394(Extended); 7391772368737(extended); 7321922238566(extended); 794043111280(extended); 7036988003385(extended); 7321921238314(extended)
794043710827(theatrical trilogy); 794043734724(extended trilogy); 5017239192548(extended trilogy);
794043141522(Blu-ray); 9398710355581(Blu-ray); 5017239120169(Blu-ray); 5051889022312(Blu-ray)
9398711076089(Blu-ray Trilogy); 5017239151415(Blu-ray Trilogy); 794043131622(Blu-ray Trilogy); 794043140136(Blu-ray Trilogy); 794043140617(Blu-ray Extended Trilogy)

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

Principal Filmmakers: Peter Jackson, Director, Writer, Producer; Barrie M. Osborne, Producer; Tim Sanders, Producer; Fran Walsh, Writer, coproducer; Philippa Boyens, Writer; Mark Ordesky, Executive Producer; Bob and Harvey Weinstein, Executive Producers; Rick Porras, Associate Producer; Ellen M. Somers, Associate Producer; Andrew Lesnie, Director of Photography; Richard Taylor, Creature/Miniature/Armor/Special Makeup Effects Supervisor; Grant Major, Production Supervisor; Ngila Dickson, Costume Designer; Howard Shore, Composer; Jamie Selkirk, Post-Production Supervisor; John Gilbert, Editor; Michael J. Horton, Editor; Jim Rygiel, Visual Effects Supervisor; Alan Lee, Conceptual Artist/Set Decorator; John Howe, Conceptual Artist; Dan Hennah, Supervising Art Director; Peter Owen, Makeup and Hair Design; Peter King, Makeup and Hair Design.

Censor Rating: M - Review Rating: A

New Zealand filmmaker Peter Jackson fulfills his lifelong dream of transforming author J.R.R. Tolkien's best-selling fantasy epic into a motion picture. Frodo Baggins, a Hobbit resident of the medieval "Middle-earth" discovers that a ring bequeathed to him by beloved relative and benefactor Bilbo is in fact the "One Ring," a device that will allow its master to manipulate dark powers and enslave the world. Frodo is charged by the wizard Gandalf to return the ring to Mount Doom, the evil site where it was forged millennia ago and the only place where it can be destroyed. Accompanying Frodo is a fellowship of eight others: his Hobbit friends Sam, Merry, and Pippin; plus Gandalf; the human warriors Aragorn and Boromir; Elf archer Legolas; and Dwarf soldier Gimli. The band's odyssey to the dreaded land of Mordor, where Mount Doom lies, takes them through the Elfish domain of Rivendell and the forest of Lothlorien, where they receive aid and comfort from the Elf princess Arwen, her father, Elrond, and Queen Galadriel. In pursuit of the travelers and their ring are Saruman -- a traitorous wizard and kin, of sorts, to Gandalf -- and the Dark Riders, under the control of the evil, mysterious Sauron. The Fellowship must also do battle with a troll, flying spies, Orcs, and other deadly obstacles both natural and otherwise as they draw closer to Mordor. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) was filmed in Jackson's native New Zealand, closely followed by its pair of sequels, The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003). -- Karl Williams - All Movie Review

The Standard Release

It is available in standard (pan & scan) and Widescreen versions. The VHS NTSC or R1 DVD version sells for under $10us. The R4 PAL set is selling for $20nz or $20au. R2 PAL versions are selling for about #6.

The DVD is a 2 disc set. One disc is the PG-13 cut of the 178-minute film that was seen in theatres. It is presented in a 16:9 widescreen with Dolby Digital EX 5.1 Surround Sound. Differing subtitles and closed captions are added, depending upon the market and the zone.
The second disc contains over two hours of content including:
An inside look at the special extended DVD edition being released in November (See below).
A 10 minute preview of The Two Towers, hosted by Peter Jackson.
The "Welcome To Middle- Earth" Houghton Mifflin Special
The Fox Network "The Quest For The Ring: Special
The Sci-Fi channel "A Passage To Middle-Earth: Special
Some 15 additional featurettes originally created for lordoftherings.net which include:
Finding Hobbiton
Hobbiton Comes Alive
Believing the World of Bree
Ringwraiths: The Fallen Kings
Languages of Middle Earth
Two Wizards
Music of Middle Earth
Details of Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortenson, Orlando Bloom, Cate Blanchett, Liv Tyler and Ian McKellan
Weathertop: The Windy Hill
Theatrical Trailers and TV Spots
Enya's "May It Be" Video
A Preview of the Electronic Arts 'The Two Towers' video game
Exclusive online content, via DVD-ROM and more

Six Disc Trilogy Set

A six disc Trilogy set in a slipcase, of the theatrical version of all three films, is available for about $20us, 20#, 17eur, $40nz.

The 9-disc Blu-ray Standard Trilogy Set

The three "The Lord of the Rings" films are 1080p Blu-ray in their original aspect ratio of 2.40:1 using dual-layer BD50s and a VC-1 codec with DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 ES matrix English or Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Spanish. There are both English and Spanish subtitle options with the ntsc region A version.

The theatrical-version Blu-ray trilogy set includes nine discs: three high-definition Blu-ray discs of the films, three standard-definition DVDs of special features, and three standard-definition digital copies. Here's a rundown on what's on each of the discs.

Disc one contains "The Fellowship of the Ring" in Blu-ray, along with forty scene selections; BD-Live; two teaser trailers; one theatrical trailer; one super trailer for the Trilogy; and video-game trailers for "The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest" and "The Lord of the Rings: War in the North" in HD.

Disc two is a DVD containing the bulk of the special bonus features for "The Fellowship of the Ring," presented in standard definition. First up is a sixteen-minute featurette, "Welcome to Middle-earth: Houghton Mifflin In-Store Special," dealing with the books' publisher and their adaptation to the screen. Next is a Fox TV special, "Quest for the Ring," a twenty-one minute promo. Following that is a forty-one minute Sci-Fi Channel special, "A Passage to Middle Earth," that essentially repeats a lot of what the first two featurettes cover. Then, we find fifteen brief featurettes from lordoftherings.net, each of them about two-to-five minutes each. Finally, we get six TV spots; a music video, "May It Be Music," with Enya; a preview of the movie's extended DVD edition; and a preview of "The Two Towers."

Disc three contains "The Two Towers" in Blu-ray, along with fifty-three scene selections, a teaser and theatrical trailer, trailers for the Trilogy and video games, and BD-Live access.

Disc four is a DVD containing the majority of the bonus features for "The Two Towers," presented in standard definition. First up is "On the Set of The Lord of the Rings," a fourteen-minute STARZ Encore Special. Next is "Return to Middle-earth," a forty-three minute WB special with the stars of the film. After that is "The Long and Short of It," a seven-minute short film directed by Sean Astin, followed by "The Making of The Long and the Short of It," eight minutes. I think it's amusing that the making-of film is longer than the film it's discussing. Then, there's another lordoftherings.net featurette gallery, this one highlighting the technical aspects of the filmmaking, that includes eight brief segments at several minutes each. Finally, we get a music video, "Golum's Song," with Emiliana Torrini; a special Extended DVD edition preview; and a behind-the-scenes preview of "The Return of the King."

Disc five contains "The Return of the King" in Blu-ray, along with sixty scene selections, a pair of theatrical trailers in HD, a Trilogy trailer in HD, a special Extended DVD edition preview in HD, two video-game trailers in HD, and BD-Live access.

Disc six is a DVD containing the greater part of the special features for "The Return of the King," presented in standard definition. First is "The Quest Fulfilled: A Director's Vision," twenty-three minutes with the director, cast, and filmmakers. Next is "A Filmmaker's Journey: Making The Lord of the Rings," twenty-eight minutes of more of the same, with an emphasis on the technical aspects of the filmmaking. After that is National Geographic's "Behind the Movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," forty-six minutes, the best of the documentaries because it delves into some of the historical background of the story. Then, there's a gallery of six brief featurettes from lordoftherings.net highlighting the film's breakthrough special effects and character detail. The disc ends with thirteen TV spots of about thirty seconds each and a special Extended DVD Edition preview.

Discs seven, eight, and nine contain standard-definition digital copies of the films for iTunes and Windows Media, the offer expiring April 4, 2011.

Discs one through six, the Blu-ray movie and DVD special features discs, fit into a single Blu-ray keep case, and discs seven through nine, the digital copies, fit into another. An embossed, hard-cardboard slipcase encloses both cases, and an informational insert of disc contents is included within the set.

NOTE: The Blu-ray version version in Australia and New Zealand is either a Trilogy set at $90-100nz, or as separate 2-disc PAL Region B/C sets of Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and Return of the King at $35-40nz each. The feature technical specs are the same as the Trilogy region A version. The only extras are some trailers.

The Extended Release

It is in two versions. A leather-bound hardcover book style set, and a more elaborate Collector's Gift Set. Expect the 4 disc DVD set to sell for about $20us, in the U.K. for 15#, in Australia for about $45au, New Zealand about $35nz. Expect the Collector's Gift Set to go for about $60us, about 30# or about $80au.
The standard set is widescreen, with Dolby Digital 5.1 EX and Surround sound. It contains approximately 30 additional minutes of scenes restored to the film which includes:

A new opening sequence in which Bilbo provides background on Hobbits and their history, in voice-over, as he is writing his memoirs.
A new introduction to Samwise, seen in his capacity as a gardener.
A scene taking place at the Green Dragon Inn, which introduces the camaraderie of the Hobbits and sets up the geopolitics of the story.
The Hobbits witnessing the departure of the Elves from Middle Earth on the way to Bree.
Aragorn watching over the sleeping Hobbits, singing the ballad of Beren and Luthien.
Aragorn at his mother's grave, in which we learn that he was raised by Elves and that Sauron has long hunted him.
Two new moments during the departure from Rivendale, one in which we see Arwen's emotional reaction to Aragorn's leaving, and another in which Elrond sees the Fellowship off.
A scene with the Fellowship in the mines of Moria, in which we learn how the Dwarves themselves unleased the fire-demon that eventually destroyed them.
A scene at Lothlorien, where Galadriel bestows, upon each of the Fellowship, a gift which will play an important role later in the Trilogy.
More footage of the battle at Amon Hen.
And Howard Shore is recording new music cues for all these added scenes, which includes a song from Gandalf. The soundtrack will be Dolby Digital 5.1 EX with 5.1 Surround Sound from both Dolby and DTS. It has been reported that the French are getting a DTS 6.1 ES track on their version of the extended film.

This 210 (approx.) length version of the film 12 on two of the discs. The other two discs contain more than six hours of in depth, behind the scenes material, as well as a feature length director's audio commentary, art and photo galleries, and documentaries.

The Collector's Gift Set includes the National Geographic: Beyond the Movie DVD, a set of exclusive Decipher game cards, and a pair of bookends sculpted by WETA artists to look like the Argonath - all in packaging designed by Alan Lee.

Twelve Disc Trilogy Set

A Trilogy packaging of the Extended editions, in slipcase, is available for about $60us, 40#, 50eur, $70au or $80nz. It contains the same material as the separate four-disc expanded edition versions of the three features.

The 15 Disc Extended Edition Blu-ray Trilogy Set

As of March 2011, Warner Home Video has officially announced the Blu-ray release of the extended version of The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy starting June 28, 2011. This three-movie collection will be presented in a 15-disc set (6 BDs, 9 DVDs), packaged in multi-disc elite packaging inside a premium rigid slipcase, selling for under $100us, $130nz or 60#uk. Each movie will be split across two discs. Audio will be 6.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. The Fellowship of the Ring has been remastered from the original 2k digital files. Contents by disc is as follows:

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring feature, Extended Edition - Part 1 (BD)
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - The Untold Story Trailer
Commentaries: Director and writers, Design team, Production and post production teams, Cast, BD-Live

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring feature, Extended Edition - Part 2 (BD)
Commentaries: Director and writers, Design team, Production and post production teams, Cast, BD-Live

The Appendices Part 1 From Book to Vision (DVD)
Peter Jackson Introduction, J.R.R. Tolkien: Creator of Middle-earth, From Book to Script, Visualizing the Story, Designing and Building Middle-earth, Middle-earth Atlas Interactive, New Zealand and Middle-earth Interactive

The Appendices Part Two From Vision to Reality (DVD)
Elijah Wood Introduction, Filming The Fellowship of the Ring, Visual Effects, Post Production: Putting It All Together, Digital Grading, Sound and Music, The Road Goes Ever On?

Behind-the-scenes documentary created by filmmaker Costa Botes during filming of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (DVD)

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers feature, Extended Edition - Part 1 (BD)
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - The Untold Story Trailer
Commentaries: Director and writers, Design team, Production and post production teams, Cast, BD-Live

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers feature, Extended Edition - Part 2 (BD)
Commentaries: Director and writers, Design team, Production and post production teams, Cast, BD-Live

The Appendices Part 3: The Journey Continues (DVD)
Peter Jackson Introduction, JRR Tolkien: Origin of Middle-earth, From Book to Script: Finding the Story, Designing and Building Middle-earth, Gollum, Middle-earth Atlas Interactive, New Zealand as Middle-earth

The Appendices Part 4: The Battle for Middle-earth (DVD)
Elijah Wood Introduction, Filming The Two Towers, Visual Effects, Editorial: Refining the Story, Music and Sound, The Battle for Helm's Deep is Over?

Behind-the-scenes documentary created by filmmaker Costa Botes during filming of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (DVD)

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King feature, Extended Edition - Part 1 (BD)
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - The Untold Story Trailer
Commentaries: Director and writers, Design team, Production and post production teams, Cast, BD-Live

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King feature, Extended Edition - Part 2 (BD)
Commentaries: Director and writers, Design team, Production and post production teams, Cast, BD-Live

The Appendices Part 5: The War of the Ring (DVD)
Peter Jackson Introduction, JRR Tolkien: The Legacy of Middle-earth, From Book to Script, Designing and Building Middle-earth, Home of the Horse Lords, Middle-earth Atlas, New Zealand as Middle-earth

The Appendices Part 6: The Passing of an Age (DVD)
Introduction, Filming The Return of the King, Visual Effects, Post-Production: Journey´s End, The Passing of an Age, Cameron Duncan: The Inspiration for Into the West

Behind-the-scenes documentary created by filmmaker Costa Botes during filming of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (DVD)

DealOZ North American price comparisons for Extended Blu-ray Trilogy

DealOZ North American price comparison site for Standard Edition of Fellowship of the Ring

Netflix Streaming to a PC, Mac, TV or other device

Amazon Video On Demand - Online Purchase and/or Rental - with free trailers or opening credits sample

iTunes Movie Preview and Download

SOUNDTRACK ON AUDIO CD

Click for Lord of the Rings - Fellowship of the Ring CD Details

REVIEWS

Roger Ebert Review

Moria Review

Metacritic consolidated reviews

DVD Compare's Review

DVD Compare's Ext. Ed. Review

Urban Cinefile Review - Theatrical Version

Urban Cinefile Review - Extended Edition

Michaeldvd Region 4 Reviews of Standard Edition

Michaeldvd Region 4 Reviews of Extended Edition

All Movie Guide Review

Movie Review Query - 316 articles

TRAILER AND OTHER TITLE RELATED LINKS

Official Trailer

The New Zealand Box Office Million Dollar Movie List

Costa Botes' Website info on his behind the scenes documentation of the production.

Internet Movie Poster Awards

Info on the book: 'Lord of the Rings Location Guidebooks'

Info on the book: 'The Rough Guide To Lord of the Rings'

Info on the book: 'Lord of the Rings: The Making of the Movie Trilogy'

Information at IMDB

Short videos of special effects samples at WETA Workshop

Six sample insight videos from Weta Digital

Peter Jackson on Charlie Rose - Feb. 22, 2002

The One Ring Net

Official Lord of the Rings Website

The boxoffice numbers - worldwide

AWARDS - As of JULY 2003

AFI Awards, USA - 2002

AFI Digital Effects Artist of the Year - Jim Rygiel
AFI Movie of the Year - Peter Jackson, Barrie M. Osborne, Tim Sanders (I), Frances Walsh
AFI Production Designer of the Year - Grant Major

ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards - 2002

ASCAP - Top Box Office Films - Howard Shore

Academy Awards Oscars USA - 2002

Best Cinematography - Andrew Lesnie
Best Effects, Visual Effects - Randall William Cook, Jim Rygiel, Mark Stetson, Richard Taylor (III)
Best Makeup - Peter Owen, Richard Taylor (III)
Best Music, Original Score - Howard Shore

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films - 2002

Saturn Award - Best Direction - Peter Jackson
Best Fantasy Film
Best Supporting Actor - Ian McKellen

Australian Film Institute - 2002

Best Foreign Film

AOL Awards - 2002

DVD Movies - Premiere Award for the best, new release, Special Edition of the year.
Additional DVD Premiere awards for: audio commentary, enhanced or reconstructed scenes, overall new extra features, original retrospective documentary (for appendises).

Bodil Awards - 2002

Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film) - Peter Jackson (director)

Bogey Awards of Germany - 2002

Titan Award for Films with 10million + box office in Germany.

Boston Society of Film Critics Awards - 2002

3rd place BSFC Award Best Picture
Runner Up - Best Director - Peter Jackson

British Academy Awards - 2002

Audience Award -
BAFTA Film Award Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects -
Randall William Cook,, Alex Funke (I), Jim Rygiel, Mark Stetson, Richard Taylor (III)
Best Film - Peter Jackson, Barrie M. Osborne, Tim Sanders (I)
Best Make Up/Hair - Peter King (I), Peter Owen, Richard Taylor (III)
David Lean Award for Direction - Peter Jackson

Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards - 2002

BFCA Award Best Composer - Howard Shore
Best Song - Enya (I) - For the song "May It Be".

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards - 2002

CFCA Award Best Cinematography - Andrew Lesnie
Best Original Score - Howard Shore

Cinema Audio Society, USA - 2002

CAS Award Outstanding Sound Mixing for Motion Pictures -
Christopher Boyes (I), Gethin Creagh, Hammond Peek, Michael Semanick

Dallas-Ft. Worth Film Critics Association Awards - 2002

Cinematography

Empire Awards, UK - 2002

Empire Award Best Actor - Elijah Wood
Best Debut - Orlando Bloom
Best Film

Florida Film Critics Circle Awards - 2002

FFCC Award Best Director - Peter Jackson
Best Supporting Actress - Cate Blanchett

Golden Satellite Awards - 2002

Best overall DVD award
Golden Satellite Award Best Film Editing - John Gilbert (IX)
Best Motion Picture, Animated or Mixed Media
Best Sound - Christopher Boyes (I), Gethin Creagh, Hammond Peek, Michael Semanick
Best Visual Effects - Randall William Cook, Alex Funke (I), Jim Rygiel, Richard Taylor (III)

Heartland Film Festival - The Truly Moving Picture Award
Hugo Awards - 2002

Best Dramatic Presentation

Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards - 2001

KCFCC Award Best Director - Peter Jackson
Best Picture

Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards - 2002

Sierra Award Best Cinematography - Andrew Lesnie
Best Costume Design - Ngila Dickson
Best Director - Peter Jackson
Best Score - Howard Shore
Best Song - Enya (I) - For the song "May It Be".
Best Visual Effects - Richard Taylor (III)

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards - 2001

LAFCA Award Best Music Score - Howard Shore

MTV Movie Awards - 2002

Best Movie
Breakthrough Male Performance - Orlando Bloom

Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA - 2002

Golden Reel Award Best Sound Editing - Music, Feature Film, Domestic and Foreign -
Jonathan Allen (II) (scoring mixer)
Nancy Allen (II) (music editor)
Peter Cobbin (scoring mixer) (plaque)
Gethin Creagh (re-recording music mixer) (plaque)
Andrew Dudman (scoring editor)
Mick Gormaley (assistant music editor) (plaque)
John Kurlander (scoring mixer) (plaque)
Suzana Peric (music editor)
Susan Shufro (assistant music editor) (plaque)
Price, Michael (VIII) (scoring editor)
Scott, Nigel (II) (assistant music editor) (plaque)

National Board of Review, USA - 2001

NBR Award Best Production Design/Art Direction -
Joe Bleakley (art director)
Tanea Chapman (set decorator)
Dan Hennah (art director)
Dan Hennah (set decorator)
Alan Lee (II) (set decorator)
Grant Major (production designer)
Victoria McKenzie (set decorator)
Rob Outterside (art director)
Mark Robins (art director)
Ivey, Philip (art director)

Best Supporting Actress - Cate Blanchett
Special Achievement Award - Peter Jackson

Robert Festival - 2002

Robert Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film) - Peter Jackson (director)

Screen Actors Guild Awards - 2002

Actor Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role - Ian McKellen

Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards - 2001

SEFCA Award Best Director - Peter Jackson
Best Screenplay, Adapted - Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, Frances Walsh
Runner(s) up SEFCA Award Best Picture

Video Software Dealers Association
Home Entertainment Awards - 2003

Best Special Edition DVD of the Year, from a major studio

World Soundtrack Awards - 2002

Public Choice Award - Howard Shore
World Soundtrack Award - Best original orchestral soundtrack of the year.

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