Lord of the Rings - Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Screenwriters: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson
Director: Peter Jackson
I started my Film Review Blog with my favourite, so why not start my Film Deconstruction Blog with the same one.
As great a story as this is, it is pretty standard stuff. Ordinary World, Road, Caves, Battle, which is about as 101 as you can get. Once again proving that execution is everything. And Tolkien along with Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens executed the pants off it by having loads of detail and back story, a grand scale and interesting characters.
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3 Act Structure:
Act 1 : Ordinary World = Shire
Act 2 a) : Road to = Rivendel
New World =
Act 2 b) : Caves/Castle = Moria
Act 3 : Battle = with the Uruks
Plot Points:
Act 1: Shire
PLOT POINT 1: Gandalf is waiting for Frodo in a Panic. Sends him out on the journey.
Act 2 a): Road to Rivendel
MID POINT: The Peak/Pass of Caradhras.
Act 2 b): Moria (Caves)
PLOT POINT 2: They must leave Lothlorien / The Uruk hai are coming
Act 3: Battle with the Uruks
Mythologically Speaking:
ACT 1: DEPARTURE, SEPARATION
DEPARTURE
[BETTER DAYS]: The days of glory are referred to throughout, especially in Rivendel when we see the shards of Narzil and when we meet the Argonath.
OPENING IMAGE: Galadriel starts speaking in Elvish over Black, immersing us in the world of Middle Earth. The Prologue then brings us up to speed.
INCITING INCIDENT: There are multiple - Sauron making the ring, Bilbo finding it but mostly Bilbo giving the ring to Frodo.
ORDINARY WORLD/ORDINARY SELF: The shire is a happy place where one gardens, eats, drinks and picks wax out of their ears. Frodo, a Manboy, Orphan is content in the shire reading under trees and having fun with friends and family. He longs to go on adventures like uncle Bilbo but is too reserved as well as being underestimated (fool triumphant) by many.
UNREST/SOMETHINGS GOTTA GIVE (STASIS EQUALS DEATH): The Shirelings talk of strange tales and strange folk.
EARLY DEATH: Bilbo leaves Hobbiton.
CALL TO ARMS (CALL TO ADVENTURE/CATALYST): Gandalf tells Frodo about the ring and how it cannot stay.
REFUSAL OF CALL (DEBATE): Frodo asks if it cannot stay in the shire.
ACCEPTANCE: Frodo bravely and quickly packs.
MEETING THE MENTOR (SUPERNATURAL AID) / SPECIAL FRIENDS (MEETING ALLIES I): Gandalf the demigod / Wizard orders existing and loyal friend Sam to accompany Frodo.
Merry & Pippin (more existing and loyal friends) also join rather magically, after a chance encounter in Farmer Maggots Crop!
THRESHOLD CROSSING (CROSSING THE FIRST THRESHOLD): Sam says that if he takes one more step it'll be the furthest he's ever been.
LEAVING THE OLD WORLD: They encounter the wraiths and cross the Brandywine.
ENTERING THE NEW WORLD: They persuade the Gatekeeper at Bree to let them in.
ENTERING THE NEW WORLD: They persuade the Gatekeeper at Bree to let them in.
BELLY OF THE WHALE INN: Prancing Pony - literally an Inn. Here the Hobbits find themselves to Fish out of Water among the world of the big folk, Dangerous Locals, before they gain a Shapeshifter, Strider, who turns out to be an Allie, Aragorn.
SEPARATION
TORN APART: Gandalf fails to arrive.
ACT 2: DESCENT, INITIATION, PENETRATION
(Tests, Allies and Enemies / FUN and Games)
DESCENT
ROAD TRIP (ROAD OF TRIALS): The 4 Hobbits, Aragorn and Bill the pony set out and face:
1. Hunger - "I don't think he knows about second breakfast Pip...",
2. Mosquitors in the Swamp,
3. The Nazgul on Weathertop, where Frodo is stabbed in the shoulder and begins his ontological, spiritual and physical DESCENT into the shadow realm.
INITIATION
(ALLIES)MEETING THE NEXT MENTOR (SUPERNATURAL AID II): Elrond heals Frodo.
MAKING NEW FRIENDS (MEETING ALLIES II): the Fellowship is formed at the Council of Elrond. Boromir a Shapeshifter, and Legolas & Gimli a Pair of Jesters join the four Hobbits, Gandalf and Aragorn, making 9 disciples.
SCHOOL TIME: Merry & Pip learn sword play from members of the Fellowship.
TESTS
ENCOUNTER WITH THE GATE KEEPER/S (APPROACH TO THE INMOST CAVE): they approach Moria after several trials with:
1. The Crebain from Dunland,
2. Caradhras,
3. the riddle protected gate and,
4. the Watcher - the creature in the water.
PENETRATION
(ENEMIES)THE POINT OF NO RETURN: The Watcher collapses the entrance to Moria, they now can go only one way.
STORMING THE CASTLE/ENTER THE CAVES: The Kingdom of Moria is both a series of caves and an underground castle.
ORACLE: Gandalf gives Frodo strong advice that will shape his actions in TTT. "...that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
SEIZING THE (OUTER) SWORD: They all draw swords against the Cave Troll & co.
MAGICAL MOMENT: The Hobbits are rewarded for their bravery when Frodo is magically saved from being skewered by the Cave Troll by the Mythril vest gifted to him by Bilbo.
ORDEAL (ALL IS LOST)
DRAGON BATTLE: the Flame of Udun.
DEATH/NEAR DEATH: Gandalf "falls" on the bridge of Kazad Dum.
REWARD
REBIRTH: They emerge from Moria but can't rest. They push on to Lothlorien.
[later in TTT Gandalf will be reborn, literally, after dying fighting the Balrog].
ATONEMENT WITH FATHER: Aragorn apologises to Haldir about Gimli. They lament Gandalf.
MEETING WITH THE GODDESS/WOMAN AS TEMPTRESS: Galadriel the greatest woman on earth and a demigod is tempted to take the ring in a slight reversal of the trope (i.e. Woman as Tempted).
APOTHEOSIS: Frodo sees into the mirror pond, things that are, things that were and somethings that have not come to pass. He understands that he must leave the fellowship.
GAINING THE ELIXIR (MAGIC POTION): Literally - Galadriel gives Frodo a GIFT: a bottle of liquefied light.
ACT 3: RETURN
REFUSAL OF RETURN: Frodo knows that he must leave the Fellowship having seen it in the mirror with Galadriel the Oracle. But he can’t bring himself to leave just yet, he stays with the fellowship as:
MAGIC CARPET RIDE (Magic Flight): They ride the river in their new boats and new garb, passing the Argonath, gate keepers to a darker realm.
NO MANS LAND: They land at Sarn Gebir.
RESCUE FROM WITHIN: Boromir’s digression (along with Aragorn’s strength) is a blessing in disguise at it gives Frodo the push he needs to:
SEIZING THE BOON (INNER SWORD): Frodo finds it within himself to leave the group.
ALLIES’ REFUSAL OF RETURN: Sam won't let him go.
ALLIES’ RESCUE: Sam starts drowning. Frodo rescues him.
CROSSING THE (RETURN) THRESHOLD: Frodo and Sam cross the river and leave the group.
FINAL CONFLICT: the Uruks fight the remainder of the Fellowship.
DEATH: Boromir is slain.
MAN-A-MANO: Aragorn and Lurtz fight man-to-uruk.
RETURN: Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas decide to honour the Fellowship by setting out to rescue Merry & Pippin.
MASTER OF THE TWO WORLDS: The Fellowship now spilt, can journey in two worlds at once:
- Frodo and Sam journey to Emyn Muil - East of the Anduin.
- Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas pursue Merry and Pip to Isengard via Rohan – West of the Anduin.
(HAPPY) ENDING (Freedom to live): you'll have to wait for ROTK for that!
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LINKS:
check out my review of LOTR FOTR here:
Deconstruction by A.B. McBlogsmith the Backwards Cap Film Reviewer
(c) Film Deconstructions 2011
