LOTR Rewatch - the Fellowship
\o/ It feels (and it has been) like ages since I watched Fellowship of the Ring. Man alive, it brings back memories - mostly of my time in the UK. I saw Fellowship for the first time in a cinema on Highstreet Kensington with a friend who was very sceptical about the movie. The lady next to me in the cinema kept on shushing me while I tried to eat my sweets :(
My first impression of Fellowship was mostly squee. The reservations were mostly due to the depiction of the elves. My impression of the elves in the book was of a lighter, happier people. Strangely enough, I got more of that feel in the Hobbit than I did LOTR.
Now to the rewatch!
[Spoiler (for the Hobbit)]
I must say, having seen the Hobbit, and now watching Fellowship I find it odd that PJ showed Bilbo finding the Ring in a slightly different way in each movie. Its not material, but I would have expected consistency.
I love all of the characters introductions - bar Frodo's, but I'll come back to him. Sam is instantly endearing, Gandalf instantly familiar and amusing. Merry & Pippin - well two lovable rogues designed for comic effect but still so awesome. Aragorn... gah... gah, the scurffy hotness, sitting there all hooded and smoking and then his hair and scruff and *gah*. The rest of the Fellowship get the whole slow mo introduction, Elf, Dwarf and Man. I loved that Sean Bean was Boromir - he was perfectly cast. I still have my doubts about Orlando, but ... those may be retrospective doubts inserted now by subsequent movies he was in.
Back to Frodo. LOTR is essentially his story, even if Aragorn ends up taking a good portion too (\o/). And Frodo intially and on each rewatch takes a little while to settle into character for me. Elijah has those beautiful eyes and PJ has a lot of close ups on them and its effective but... irksome? Anyhoo, for me I usually prefer Frodo and Sam moments than I do anything else with Frodo. Don't get him wrong, I love him (and Elijah) and I think its mostly just a pet peeve about all the hurt and attention he gets. What? Stop looking at me like... yes, I'm an h/c addict... just mostly Aragorn hurt...
Moving on: The score - man alive I love this score. As I watch it feels like I know it by heart, I can time when the music will change and I hum along to the elvish stuff and 'dum dum dum' along with the Moria stuff. Just fabulous score.
I'd forgotten how creepy the wraiths were - that sound they make is just... *shudders*. I am also still glad PJ exercised some discretion to left out Tom Bombadil and other stuff. And I didn't mind Arwen bumping Glorfingel (I forget if that's his name) as well.. its just means more Arwen! :) I love Liv Tyler.
And yep, every time I watch these movies I am blown away at the scenery and beauty of NZ and the sets and attention to detail. The behind the scenes stuff still fascinates me and how they made all the costumes etc.
[Spoiler (for the Hobbit)]
I must say though that Bag End seemed at lot cosier and busier in the Hobbit than it does in Fellowship. I think they took the original set down so...
I love the whole Mines of Moria sequence, right from the Doors through the end. Its just a roller coaster of action, humour and profound words. We get to see Gollum and the fate of Balin (sighs for the Hobbit), and Gandalf's speech to Frodo about Gollum and making the most of what you have. Just great. The fight in Balin's tomb and the orcs chasing them and then the Balrog... for me I think its the climax of the movie. The score when Gandalf falls stills gives me goosebumps *points at arms* see, even when I think about it. All fantastic!
I actually didn't like Lorien so much - see above comment about the Elves. For me, PJ got the Elves wrong. I feel that they are less 'other worldly' and more, gosh its hard to define - more solid. PJ depicts them as eerie, and frail with long hair and flowing robes and ... Bluegh. My elves (when I read the Hobbit and LOTR) were bright, and cheery and drew you in, you wanted to stay there because they were fun, and attractive... not mopey and sad.
Amon Hen sequence... this one gives me good chills. Oh yes... Aragorn chasing Frodo and then letting him go "I would have gone with you to the End"... *shivers* I'll wax lyrical about Viggo just now. When Aragorn salutes the Urkhai, my womb does flip flops of squee. The score for the battle is perfect, and the chase and the sword play and the FATE you know awaits Boromir and Merry & Pippin... oooo, more goosebumps.
Call me weird, but I love the sequence when Boromir gets shot. It is just shot to perfection, the combination of slow mo, the big Urkhai's snars, those frigging HUGE arrows. *wibbles* And when the Urkhai is standing over Boromir, about to finish him off.... *\o/* Aragorn and his scruff and dirt and he takes that Urkhai down!! *heeeeeeee!* and then all the manly bonding and tears and ... I am fangirl h/c mess by the end. Just... everything *HEARTS*
and then it all wraps up and Sam follows Frodo, Sam who is my second favourite character - I think Sean Astin was superb!! we say farewell to Boromir and the chase is about to begin... and it all ends in soft singing and the audience goes wild.
As the first part of a trilogy, it is perfection. Setting the scene, establishing characters and plot ... but its also more. It is its own story, a quest, a fellowship of strangers who become friends. Yes, the fellowship breaks and as readers/watchers we mourn. It was a beautiful thing. I would love to read an AU where the fellowship stayed together all the way to Mordor.
Ok, in conclusion. Viggo Mortensen. He hasn't done much since LOTR (that I've seen) as he choses odd roles. I had only seen him in one movie (that I recognised him in) prior to LOTR. It doesn't matter though. Because, Viggo is such a quality actor on the screen that you don't see him - you see Aragorn. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn from start to finish. Right down the dirt under his fingernails. I liked Aragorn in the book, but found him a bit pompous at times. Viggo (and PJ) take a more uncertain, doubtful slant on the character and I love that. I love his humanity and fears and doubts... because he overcomes them. He acts inspite of his ancestors failures. He is a consumate hero - for me. It doesn't hurt that he's hot either. I think Aragorn is Viggo's ultimate role (one he nearly didn't take) and I love each and every single scene he is in. :)
So, next... the Two Towers *cue the music*