full title
· The Lord of the Rings
· The Fellowship of the Ring
· The Two Towers
· The Return of the King
leading actors Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood
supporting actors/actresses Sean Bean, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd,
Brad Dourif, Bernard Hill, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Dominic Monaghan,
John Noble, Paul Norell, Miranda Otto, Craig Parker, John Rhys-Davies,
Andy Serkis, Harry Sinclair, Liv Tyler, Karl Urban, Hugo Weaving,
David Wenham
type of work Feature film
genre Epic fantasy
language English
time and place produced New Zealand, 1999–2001
awards
· The Fellowship of the Ring (2002)
· Winner, Best Cinematography (Andrew Lesnie)
· Winner, Best Visual Effects (Jim Rygiel, Randall William
Cook,
· Richard Taylor)
· and Mark Stetson
· Winner, Best Makeup (Peter Owen, Richard Taylor)
· Winner, Best Original Score (Howard Shore)
· The Two Towers (2003)
· Winner, Best Sound Editing (Ethan Van der Ryn, Michael Hopkins)
· Winner, Best Visual Effects (Jim Rygiel, Joe Letteri,
Randall William Cook,
· Alex Funke)
· The Return of the King (2004)
· Winner, Best Picture
· Winner, Best Director (Peter Jackson)
· Winner, Best Adapted Screenplay (Fran Walsh, Philippa
Boyens, Peter
· Jackson)
· Winner, Best Art Direction (Grant Major)
· Winner, Best Set Decoration (Dan Hennah, Alan Lee)
· Winner, Best Costume Design (Ngila Dickson, Richard
Taylor)
· Winner, Best Film Editing (Jamie Selkirk)
· Winner, Best Original Score (Howard Shore)
· Winner, Best Original Song (Fran Walsh, Howard Shore,
Annie Lennox)
· Winner, Best Makeup (Richard Taylor, Peter King)
· Winner, Best Sound Mixing (Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick,
Michael
· Hedges, Hammond Peek)
· Winner, Best Visual Effects (Jim Rygiel, Joe Letteri,
Randall William Cook,
· Alex Funke)
dates of release
· The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
· The Two Towers (2002)
· The Return of the King (2003)
producers Peter Jackson, Barrie M. Osborne, Fran Walsh
setting (time) The third age of Middle-earth
setting (place) Middle-earth
protagonist Frodo Baggins
major conflict The major conflict is the battle for Middle-earth between
its diverse inhabitants, including humans, elves, dwarves, hobbits, and
wizards, and the dark forces of Sauron.
rising action The war for Middle-earth is largely fought on traditional battlefields
between two opposing armies, but the real battle is fought within
the hearts of its inhabitants. Symbolizing this internal struggle
is Frodo’s quest to destroy the ring of power, which can be accomplished
only if he is able to withstand the great temptation the ring represents.
climax The climax of the film occurs at Mount Doom, as Frodo
debates whether to let the ring fall into the fires that created
it, thereby destroying it, or to keep the ring for himself.
falling action The falling action is long and drawn out and includes
Sam and Frodo’s rescue from the lava-drenched plains of Mordor,
Frodo’s convalescence, the coronation of Aragorn, the hobbits’ return
to the Shire, and the departure of Frodo, Bilbo, and Gandalf with the
elves.
themes The king vs. the steward; the limits of fellowship;
the Shire as a fantasy of home
motifs Mordor; the temptation of the ring; journeys
symbols Water; the ring; Mount Doom
foreshadowing
· Bilbo’s restlessness and his reluctance to give up
the ring foreshadow the awesome challenge the ring will pose for
Frodo.
· Frodo’s vision in Galadriel’s mirror and Pippin’s vision
in the seeing stone predict the fate of Middle-earth should the fellowship
fail in its mission.
· Isildur’s failure to drop the ring into Mount Doom
anticipates Frodo’s own reluctance.
· Boromir’s attempt to snatch the ring from Frodo anticipates Gollum’s
repeated attempts to steal the ring, as well as those of Boromir’s
brother, Faramir.
· When Frodo jumps into the water to rescue Sam at the
end of The Fellowship of the Ring, the action anticipates
the flashback at the beginning of The Return of the King,
which shows Sméagol’s friend’s dive for the ring of power.
