Generations of more than 100 million people around the globe have grown up with this epic novel. The legend has been translated into 40 different languages and inspired an entire genre of movies and fiction, and has influenced some of the greatest artists of our time. Just last year, The Lord of the Rings was named the number one most popular book of the century. But it has never been told in its entirety on the screen.

Using the power of contemporary cinema technology, New Line Cinema is proud to transform J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings into a history-making motion picture event.

The grand trilogy of live-action feature films - The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King are separately released instalments and marks the return of "Cliffhanger Cinema" for the first time since the serial adventures of decades past.

The Lord of the Rings will collectively re-tell the story of Frodo Baggins, who battles against the Dark Lord, Sauron to save Middle-earth from the grip of evil. In the films, Frodo and The Fellowship embarks on a desperate journey to rid the earth of the source of Sauron's greatest strength, the One Ring - a ring of such power that it cannot be destroyed. His extraordinary adventures across the treacherous landscape of Middle-earth reveal how the power of friendship and courage can hold the forces of darkness at bay.

Tolkien's mythic vision will come to life through cutting-edge cinema technology and artistry. Never before has such a monumental undertaking been contemplated or executed. The commitment of time, resources and manpower are unheard of as all three films and more than 1,000 effects shots are being produced concurrently with the same director and core cast.

Director Peter Jackson, whose visionary style of filmmaking and emotional acuity won accolades for his Heavenly Creatures and The Frighteners, brings his deep love for the source materials to the project. Produced by Barrie M. Osborne, the films feature a strong international cast that includes (in alphabetical order) Sean Astin, Sean Bean, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Brad Dourif, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Ian McKellen, Dominic Monaghan, Viggo Mortensen, John Rhys-Davis, Andy Serkis, Liv Tyler and Elijah Wood.

The real star of the films is the story itself - a classic hero's quest in which the smallest of beings changes the course of the future with the vastness of his courage.

It seems that I was rather fortunate to see the incredible trailer of Lord Of The Rings. In America, when the first trailer of the film was shown people started queuing up to see it three days before the time. There was quite a hefty reaction from the audience in South Africa. I don't think it is usual to see a trailer for a film almost 11 months in advance. What made it even more jaw-dropping was that the trailer advertised the second part of the trilogy - due December 2002 - and part three, due in December 2003.

The Fellowship of the Ring In this first part of the trilogy, the shy young hobbit Frodo Baggins inherits a ring; but this ring is no mere trinket. It is the One Ring, an instrument of absolute power that could allow Sauron, the dark Lord of Mordor, to rule Middle-Earth and enslave its peoples. Frodo, together with a loyal fellowship of hobbits, men, a wizard, a dwarf and an elf must take The Ring across Middle-Earth to the Crack of Doom, where it first was forged, and destroy it forever. Such a journey means venturing deep into territory held by the Dark Lord, where he is amassing his army of orcs. And it is not only external evils that the Fellowship must combat, but also internal dissension and the corrupting influence of The Ring itself. The course of future history is entwined with the fate of the fellowship. Tolkien's epic was first brought to the screen as an animated cartoon version in 1978. With Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Bean, Ian Holm, Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee. Directed by Peter Jackson..

AWARDS AND BOX OFFICE: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING AROUND THE WORLD

New Line Cinema's epic adventure The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was embraced by moviegoers the world over, from diehard fans of the books to newcomers to Middle-earth. The film was also honored with a number of awards and nominations.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was nominated for 13 Oscars, the third highest number of nominations for any film. In March of 2002, the film won four for Cinematography (Andrew Lesnie), Makeup (Peter Owen and Richard Taylor), Music Score (Howard Shore), and Visual Effects (Jim Rygiel, Randall William Cook,
Richard Taylor and Mark Stetson)

It was a winner in the American Film Institute Awards: Picture of the Year, Digital Effects Artist of the Year Jim Rygiel, Production Designer of the Year Grant Major.

The film was nominated for 13 British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards,winning five: Audience Award, Best Film, Best Achievement in Visual Effects Jim Rygiel, Richard Taylor, Alex Funke, Randall William Cook, Mark Stetson; Best Makeup/Hair Peter Owen, Peter King, Richard Taylor; David Lean Award for Direction Peter Jackson.

It also won the Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music Howard Shore

In addition, Peter Jackson was nominated by the Director's Guild of America and Ian McKellen received the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. The film also won awards from the National Board of Review, ASCAP, the Broadcast Film Critics Association, critics organisations from Chicago, Florida, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Motion Picture Sound Editors, won an MTV Movie Award and was nominated for four Golden Globes.

The soundtrack for New Line Cinema's epic The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings has been certified Platinum internationally, with over a million units sold; and Gold domestically (over 500,000 units sold). The music, composed, arranged and conducted by Howard Shore and featuring two original songs performed by multi-platinum recording artist Enya, won honors from the American Film Institute and were nominated for Academy Awards and Golden Globes for Best Score and Best Song.

The DVD broke records when it was released in August 2002. Currently, a sales record for the first day has been set in the UK with The Lord of the Rings selling 1.27 million copies.


A MAGICAL FELLOWSHIP
Review by Daniel Dercksen

If you walk into Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring cold, not having read Tolkien's literary masterwork or not knowing anything about the story, you will enter a world you have never experienced, and experience a film that will remain with you for many years to come.

If you are an avid Tolkien reader, and know the abc of Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring as well as the back story "The Hobbit", .you will encounter one of the finest cinematic adaptations in the history of filmmaking.

It is not often that a director manages to bewitch an audience for three hours, keeping them firmly in the palm of his hands as he challenges them visually, emotionally and physically. With Heavenly Creatures and The Frighteners, New Zealand director Peter Jackson proved that he is a master of his craft. With Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring he firmly establishes his command of being an actor's director and dealing with big-budget effects.

Unlike Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the characters of Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring come to life. Their magical existence and empathetic natures are never poisoned by an overdose of special effects. The visual odyssey heightens their emotional journey and lures the audience into a faultless realisation of the Tolkien mindscape.

A world filled with goblins, elves, wizards, trolls, dwarves, orcs and evil entities.

It is interesting how relevant Tolkien's story is today, socially and politically. Looking at Tolkien's background - born, bred and schooled in South Africa - it is clear where the story of different races that need to be united as one surfaced and eventually evolved into the Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring saga.

It is a dark story that exposes the weakness of human nature, and shows how humanity is persecuted by gloomy evil forces. Humans have to endure suffering and come to terms with their own fear in order to transcend to a realm of blissful reconciliation. It is through conflict and confrontation that the characters experience a re-birth.

In this classic battle between the forces of darkness and light, good and evil - quite reminiscent of the Star Wars saga - it is not necessarily about who wins or loses, but about the endurance of the human spirit and the will to survive.

The journey we undertake in Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring is one we all understand: growing up in separate cultures filled with different traditions and beliefs, then being set loose to explore the complexities of other cultures and ultimately uncover the uniqueness of our own individuality.

The central plot of Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring concerns the journey of a young hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) who inherits a ring that is an instrument of absolute power that could allow Sauron, the dark Lord of Mordor, to rule Middle-Earth and enslave its peoples.

Frodo and his loyal fellowship of hobbits, men, a wizard, a dwarf and an elf must take The Ring across Middle-Earth to the Crack of Doom, where it was first forged, and destroy it forever.

This quest is a world of discovery that unfolds as the characters travel through a mythological landscape that is vibrant and alive. A technicolour wonderland that is overwhelming and astounding. There are moments that you cannot believe what you see and will have to watch the film again to grasp the microscopic details that disappears far too quickly.

The subplot deals with the wizard's (Ian Mc Kellen) involvement in the journey, taking us into the underbelly of the netherworld where we meet the Dark Lord. It is a truly frightening and nightmarish exploration of evil that is filled with great moments of suspense. There are moments of intense silence where you could hear a pin drop in the cinema.

Each frame in the film is a masterpiece: one can only hope that Oscar will give recognition to the superb Art Direction, Production Design, Visual Effects, Sound Design, Editing, Costume Design, and Cinematography.

It is a tapestry of breathtaking illusion, where realism and fantasy are interwoven with a firm narrative, unforgettable characters, an imposing screenplay adaptation, and a cast of outstanding actors who cast a spell on you.

If this is what cinema has delivered after a century of craftsmanship it is clear that the magic of the movies will survive for eons to come.

There is only one major setback with this first instalment of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. We will have to wait an entire year to continue the unbelievable flight of fantasy and discover another facet of the magical Jackson-Tolkien wonderland.

RETURN TO HOMEPAGE

LORD OF THE RINGS: TWO TOWERS

LORD OF THE RINGS: RETURN OF THE KING