Hey everyone, I hope you all enjoyed this film essay regarding the FOTR! If you would like to see more videos like this one, just let me know! I absolutely loved making it! It was originally supposed to use footage instead of stills, but a certain company may or may not have copy right claimed that version of the video... so I hope this is okay! Please check out my interview with Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd for more LOTR film content! ua-cam.com/video/AqALArNmWV4/v-deo.html
Now that I'm 51 I identify emotionally with King Theodin and Denathor like never before. I used to think their characters were boring. These films age with you.
FOTR is a Christmas movie! It's not Christmas until the Fellowship departs Rivendell! So be sure to leave out some Lembas, Pipeweed, and Salted Pork on Christmas Eve!
I could not agree more about them casting the perfect actors for those roles and the chemistry between them. No actor in any of the 3 movies did an average or bad job, they were all terrific.
I was 13 growing up in NZ when the Fellowship of the Ring was released. It was a great experience because my whole family loved the movie and it was something I could share with my mother. She loved the music and Aragorn and I was 13 and obsessed with Orlando Bloom. Despite hating school I had these films coming out along with the Harry Potter books being written, what a beautiful time.
I will never forget the night that my mother, a Tolkien fan since sometime in the 60’s, finally saw Jackson’s vision of Fellowship. I did not get to sit next to her in the absolutely packed theater here in our town, so we only caught up to each other after the film was over. Naturally, the first thing I asked her was, ‘What did you think?’, and her heartfelt response was, ‘I don’t know!’ Mind BLOWN! It got even better after we came home, when she proceeded to launch, bone sober, into a comprehensive history of Middle Earth, just in case some of us didn’t get it. The Lord of The Rings was her very favorite book, Peter Jackson’s vision of it, her favorite movies. She was 68 at the time, and was giddy as a schoolgirl. I will always remember her this way. ^_^
As a Kiwi I can't even begin to quantify even the effect these movies had here, people will say it isn't a NZ story which is fair, but it really is a story that this country brought to life. It might not be a story of our nation, but it is one made by it, and it speaks volumes in that regard. As it stands, it is embedded in the modern culture of this country.
I'm going to have to, respectfully, call BS on that one. Far as I, an American, am concerned, this IS a Kiwi story! If it wasn't your beautiful country and your, if I may be frank, slightly crazy people, none of this would have been possible! If I'm ever fortunate enough to visit your shores, my first night in the pub there's going to be one round on me as a thank you for bringing these movies to life! God Bless you, New Zealand!
@@GrayNeko Man I just was reading some LOTRs twitter talk thingy so seeing this is freaky. Anyhow, I should say you aren't wrong and that is to a degree what I was saying, LOTRs isn't a story about NZ, but the creation of the movies certainly is. I did a course on Kiwi Culture at uni and even in that fully academic setting it was addressed, because while not a story of us it was that impactful on showing what we are in that creation. A better way to say it might be that it became impactful to us not because NZ is Middle Earth, but that we made NZ become MIddle Earth.
I remember watching this in theaters as a 7 year old girl with my dad and falling completely in love with the story! 20 years later, of watching it multiple times every year, and I can still say it’s my favorite film of all time!
"Nine companions......you shall be the fellowship of the ring" The one aspect that I love about this film above all is that it brought all of middle earth to life! The characters, the history, the locations, all of it. Jackson brought this world to life for me and made it seem as tho I could physically travel to these lands. The film is what made me want to return to the books and become obsessed with it for the rest of my life ^_^
Bombadil not being in the film was one of Jackson's best decisions. I, as someone who reads the books once a year, am glad about that. Just look at The Hobbit. I remember sitting in the theatre, and feeling like a parent. 'I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed.' On the other hand, the Rings trilogy was brilliant. Thank you, as always, for this video.
it's hard to believe that it was 20 years... I was 18 years old back back then and I was finishing high school. Seeing this film and reading LOTR books are one of the best memories of my teen years and even my life as a whole...reading and seeing LOTR was marked my transition into adulthood.
“All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you.” That is one of my favourite film quotes, and whenever I watch the film and that scene again I am reminded to strive to be as brave and noble at heart as the Hobbits in these films.
Peter Jackson set out on an impossible task: to adapt a beloved series of classic literature with an unmatched legacy that kick-started a genre beloved the world over to film. He had to decide what to cut, what to blend together, how things should look, had the final decision on casting... and he had to do all this knowing that if he or the people involved didn't do something right, the particularly devoted fan base would be displeased. The fact that he and everyone else involved knocked it out over three films to the acclaim of most everyone (save for the few who think being contrarian means being intelligent) is a miracle. I feel so lucky to have been alive to have seen this films in the theater when they first came out.
The only negative thing I can think of the trilogy is how much people like it, and many think it is actually "better than reading the books". No matter how good the movies are, nothing beats reading a Tolkien book.
Because Peter Jackson put his love making this movie it has to perfect balance of CGI and using props each actor was perfect for the role at at least once a year I watch The Lord of the Rings trilogy New Zealand is Middle Earth
I remember how much I adored the LOTR trilogy when it first came out. The adaptation of these 3 films captured the essence of Tolkien’s work in every way that was to be considered from the source materials. The film industry can still learn alot from these films 20+ years later. We are now forever thankful for all of the care and attention to detail that went into making these films. Thank you, Sir Yoysten of Gondor… you bring great honor to Tolkien’s Legacy still.
I was 14 when this came out. I had only read the Hobbit at the time, and I remember being blown away by the Fellowship. I’ve been a huge Tolkien fan ever since. Thanks for the video!
Thank you for mentioning Howard Shore. This music really goes a long way into making the viewer identify with and FEEL what's happening. I use it in my classes in my soundtrack unit.
I will never forget going to see this in cinemas when it first came out, 8 Yr old me was captivated and it was the first movie/genre (fantasy) that I became passionate about.
as a kid and teenager I used to watch the trilogy so darn many times that I know most all dialog out of my head. This summer I watched them again for the first time in years (and in 4k) and I had shivers and tears in so many moments. It made me realise how much these movies mean to me and how stunning and well made they are
One of my happiest childhood memories is watching this movie in cinema when it came out. Great movie and a fantastic adaptation of the novel. God Bless.
These films have been such an important part of my adult life. Had it not been for Peter, Fran and Philippa I may not have ever entered Tolkien’s Middle Earth. Whatever hardcore literary fans may grumble about, these films are IMO the best films ever made. And the films are what made me seek out the books.
It's the care and attention to detail from EVERYONE involved that really brings the trilogy together. Giving Peter Jackson all the credit is ridiculously oversimplifying it. I highly recommend the appendices of the extended DVDs to anyone who hasn't already seen them. The set designers, the costumers, the cast... EVERYONE was highly involved and in-tune. Things like Sir Ian McKellen reminding Sean Astin to grab Frodo's hand when he wakes up in Rivendell since Sam does in the book and "people will be looking for that." Just the incredible attention to detail, and the willingness to utilize practical effects instead of relying on CGI allowed the CGI that was used to stand out even more. The Orcs in LotR are SO much better than the Goblins in The Hobbit, just for one example. The Balrog STILL holds up better than literally anything in the entire Hobbit trilogy, and that was 2001!
i completely agree, though i have to say they did an amazing job with Smaug. Cumberbatchs performance and the whole design and CGI of him was in my eyes absolutely perfect.
How anyone can rate LOTR below 99% perfect is beyond me. As time passes, it's gotten better, not more dated, more relevant, not less so, more beautiful, not less so. A film for the ages, LOTR might be the greatest motion picture of all time, taken as a whole. Certainly, it put's "epics" from the 50's and 60's into an the uncomfortable position of being out done in almost every aspect. The emotional weight, the intellectual value, the technical brilliance, all combine to make a truly classic motion picture. Saying that any piece of art is the "Best" is of course, just opinion, but LORT makes a better case for that title than most.
I first came to the books thirty years ago and they quickly became my favorite (along with CS Lewis) and they shaped a lot of my thinking, the way I was to see the world. In 2001, I had just graduated college, moved to Chicago on my own, and 9/11 happened. You have a before and an after, an innocence and then not. This movie could not have come at a better time. It was made with love. This movie was a release, an escape, a gift much needed in a dark time. I am so thankful for it. I don’t know if we’d have the Tolkien fans today (as in a good part of you wonderful lore UA-camrs) if it wasn’t for this movie and the following two. Don’t forget, we have two more “20th celebrations” coming up for 2022 and 2023! Thank you, Yoystan, for your wonderful videos and this one in particular. 🌟
Fun Fact: The Lord of the Rings entire journey started on Dec 25th (from Rivendell) and ended with Aragorn's Coronation (Easter Sunday) and the Hobbits return to the Shire (Pentecost Sunday).
Thank you @menofthewest for graciously paying homage to this wonderful and timeless work by Peter Jackson on its 20th anniversary. All who were involved were the very best in the business. For me there has never been anything quite like it since. Every attention to details has never gone unnoticed. Bravo my friend, well done as are all your videos. Also, thank you so much for the work you put in sharing your thoughts and knowledge of all things Tolkien..💖🌠
Gonna rewatch the trilogy this week. I rewatch the movies every two years, and now for the first time in 4K due to the new Blu Ray release! Even tho I've seen it like 10 times already, I keep getting excited to watch it again. Which is saying something because I rarely rewatch movies. Just like the books, they are just timeless to me:)
Very much enjoyed this. The LOTR films are my favorite of all time, I first watched them when I was 13, 9 years ago. They got me interested in the franchise. They are faithful adaptations of Tolkien's films, the landscapes are breathtaking and places like the Shire, Rivendell and Minas Tirith are well done. The characters are well developed and it feels authentic with minimal CGI. The costumes are well done and fit well with the lore. Of course they cut some things like Tom Bombadil but that's inevitable, they left enough to make the story coherent. I read the books 2 years ago and really enjoyed them, they are more lore-heavy and there are even appendices at the end which give more background on the history of Middle Earth and how the languages were made. I even got a 3d Middle Earth map in my room for my 20th birthday. Your essay was very well done Men of the West!
My favorite movie trilogy of all time. I know it has deviations and book and lore purists have every right to gripe. But as their own thing they are marvelous. I will never forget watching these in the theaters. Best moviegoing experience of my life. The cast set design, score and writing are top tier. These are films 50 to 100 years from now folks will talk about.
Great film and films which are my favourite pieces of cinema ever. What also warms my heart is that it's cast likes it too - and each other. Dominic and Billy are litteral besties for life and the cast is still in touch (have you seen the rap video?) which may not always be public as several actors are more private and not on social media, but they are talking to each other behind the scene. I don't know why, but them having a good eperience makes me enjoy the product so much more.
Hi again! And thank you for making this video! This movie will live in our hearts forever! Happy 20th Anniversary and best of luck to the channel Men of the West from Mexico. 😊🎉🎊🎉🎂🎊🎉🎊
All these years later its nice to see Dune following the Lord of the Rings footsteps. Keeping the story grounded and filming as much on location as possible while treating the source material with the uttermost respect.
I think this is the first time I've ever seen Fran's face. She was always the silent party of the three and didn't appear much in the film appendices, at least not that I noticed. Don't think I got past Book II, besides certain artwork and very specific sections of the other 4. Now, back to your essay. I'd also like to take this opportunity to say thank you for all your hard work and dedication to Tolkien's lore and the extended lore of the films as I rarely comment but I greatly enjoy your work. Thank you, Yoystan. Onen i-Estel Edain, ú-chebin estel anim. Maigovannon Melon.
Such a great video essay Yoystan! I love your insight on the movie making and how Jackson made it possible to take something complex like LOTR into such an epic movie.
Of course i was going to like this video. Your passion and a your true interest and love for Tolkien's work cannot go unrecognized. I, like you, am a big fan a Tolkien's world, and I also see it as my world. And it seems you're also a fellow thespian. Keep doing what you do so well. You're an inspiration to Tolkien fans everywhere.
Beautiful essay. I was 14 when I first watched this film, and it was only afterwards that I began reading The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. This is the reason why I'm generally in favour of adaptations. Without this movie I would likely have never read Tolkien's works, and I'd wager that there are a great many readers who did the same after seeing The Hobbit films, regardless of their flaws. Hell, I bet that there are quite a number of Tolkien fans out there whose introduction to the setting came from playing Shadow of War (a game which I love despite its deviations from the source material). I'm personally very optimistic about the upcoming Amazon show, and I see great potential for it to tell compelling stories about Sauron's rise to power, those who resisted his schemes and those who succumbed. I look forward to seeing the colonialist tyranny of Numenor under King Ar-Pharazon, and its subsequent fall under Sauron's sway. I look forward to seeing the corruption that spread through Harad and Rhun, how the Dark Lord brought the peoples of those lands under his rule, and more importantly the inevitable individuals within those peoples who would oppose Sauron's rise, doomed though their efforts may be. As has been said, Middle Earth is a vast and complex setting. My fervent hope is for the series to explore the parts of it which have thus far had little to flesh them out. Oh, and I do disagree with you slightly about the LotR films not relying on gratuitous violence. Those movies do have plenty of graphic impalements and decapitations, it's just that they're generally happening to orcs.
What’s amazing is that the books irrevocably changed fantasy as a genre forever. And then the movies did the exact same thing but in a different medium. It just goes to show how wildly influential The Lord of the Rings is.
I saw this movie 11 times in theaters as an adolescent and when it came out on DVD my parents helped me do my best to simulate a movie theater and invite people over to watch it. I had read the Hobbit as a kid and loved it. But this movie got me into the LOTR books, which got me into the silmarilion and unfinished tales. Tolkien created something timeless and Peter did a good job highlighting it and bringing it to life
It’s a movie where the forced perspective, the CG, the models and miniatures, the characters and the world of fantasy works. It’s epic and one of my favorite movies of all time
Fellowship is my personal favourite film of the three, while i love the other 2 specially the epic scale of ROTK, i find myself coming back time and time again to the first one it has a cozyness not matched on the other ones.
The sad thing is they will never make great movies like this in the future. Movies and entertainment now just aren't the same as they used to be and are full of political propaganda and symbolism rather than being made for the purpose of entertainment and escapism. Tolkein's work was also inspired heavily by his faith as well as his experiences in the war and I feel as if many of his fans these days have either forgotten that or just don't know. I know that they (Hollywood and the entertainment industry) will not leave Tolkein's work alone and will do everything they can to basterdize and corrupt it. Not unlike how Morgoth and Sauron corrupted Middle Earth. Great video bro I pretty much agree with everything. God Bless and have a great Christmas and new year.
I'm glad Jackson left out the apologetics that people like the Tolkien Professor invoke constantly in ther discussions. It's nice to see things as just good luck instead of some absurdly complicated plan of an omniscient but arbitrarily benevolent deity. I agree that the past twenty years have seen too many films glorifying nationalism and war.
Honestly I think that my LIFE WISH is to watch LOTR trilogy in cinemas once again, unfortunally in croatia that will not happen, Yoystan amazing video I hope to see Two Towers next year, great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe you can...I brought my daughter and a few friends for a weekend in NYC when they played the entire trilogy with a live orchestra and choir at Lincoln Center. Technically we got a set of rooms in Holiday Inn on the NJ side, because it was much much cheaper, but we spent the days in NYC. That version of the films have travelled the world, more than once, maybe they will get another show together and it will be near enough to be affordable. Never say never.
I really enjoyed this video. Indeed, when I just opened the review of the two towers and learned you started with a review of th Fellowship, I stopped the review the Two Towers to watch them in order 😊. I had not read the LOTR or The Hobbit prior to a seeing Fellowship. I was so utterly ensnared by the movie that I immediately purchased by stories and read them, ensuring I had read them by the time of the Two Towers launch (I’m a slow reader and read a ton for my work). So this movie began my long dive into Tolkien’s legendarium, including a visit to Cambridge. One story I love to share about the depth of the amazing visual story telling is that my girlfriend at the time was convinced that the Argonoth was real and that we should book a trip to go see it. I was fairly certain it was not real given my knowledge of geography, but the movie made us seem so real that it drove people to want to see it.
I was captured by The Lord of the Rings Movies and The Hobbit. This lead me to the books, and the lore of Middle Earth that are such great stories, that I will never grow tired of! Thank you JRR Tolkien and Peter Jackson for creating these timeless tails that will never die.
These movies were what started my obsession with all things Middle Earth, I don't even know where I'd be as an artist or a person without their influence. I had read The Hobbit in high school but didn't read the trilogy until after the first movie hooked me, and wow did it hook me. I'm trying to be as cautiously optimistic as I can about the Amazon series, as while I'm excited to see what they do with the stories I'm also concerned that things like nudity and politics will overtake and ruin it.
Well done, thank you. Some great points brought up, as is often the case with this channel. Has it really been 20 years already... oh, boy, I could write many pages about this movie alone after having enjoyed and discussed it (and Tolkien's world) with friends over the years on many an occasion. I'll just try to avoid a wall of text (watch me fail miserably :-)) and pinpoint a few, in my view, crucial facts that make my favourite LOTR movie so good. It feels like the movie was made in a special point in time in cinema where CGI wasn't yet the go to solution for most of the content, and some brave productions could take place when stars aligned and properly motivated people got together. The writers decided to try and keep the 'poetic' nature of the world/story rather than using shocking violence/nudity/etc. I will not be overselling but rather underselling the importance of the OST when I say that at least 50% of the overall impact of Fellowship is Shore's once in a lifetime soundtrack. The actor chemistry and the way they adopted and played their roles with a rare mix of focus, intensity, humor and emotions made some of them have almost a special 'aura' in many scenes and indeed some of them will forever remain associated mainly with their LOTR roles. Absolutely crucial for the 'feel' of the movie was also the (mostly) measured hand with CGI use and instead banking on incredible masks/makeup/huge numbers of extras... that all makes for an incredible mix of scenes where on one hand you can 'feel' the orcs on screen, movements are natural, the care for what happens on screen seems more real to viewers, and then on the other hand when effects do show up, like the incredible Balrog, they don't feel over the top but rather properly arcane and done in a way that stands the test of time. Lastly, but no less importantly, the movie simply tells the story of the journey really well, without losing too much focus and in an engaging way despite omitting some incredible scenes/characters from the book (like many others I do have some gripes with the choices they made with the script, but the movie survives this criticism thanks to its qualities - which I cannot say of the Hobbit, in contrast). To conclude - the magic of seeing this as a teenager was palpable, will hardly ever forget it. As mentioned in the video, this movie did the really important and valuable task of introducing many into the fully fleshed, complex and impeccably written world of J.R.R. Tolkien and that alone would be a success.
I read the books for the first time in 1969. It seemed impossible at the time that they would ever be adapted for a movie. Twenty years ago, I went to the midnight show and was blown away. I finally got to see Middle Earth!!! The casting was incredible. The effects were spot on. Even without Tom Bombadil, it was amazing. Peter Jackson rocks!
Man, the Films are 20 Years old...I feel old, even though I didn't watch these amazing movies for a while later... I was passed my first birthday! Little Marion Baggins was too young to see anything yet!!!! Man, and your right about it looking better than most of the MCU movies because they are way too heavy on CGI, Even in shots in a room! (The Room is CGI) And BTW when if People make me choose between a *certain* MCU moment or a similar *certain* moment from Middle Earth Moment, I choose Middle Earth Way!!! (Between Portrals vs Pelennor Fields) Thanks, Mellon, for talking about the Impact of the Greatest film Trilogy *See Steven Colbert LOTR Rap if you haven't* Until the Frame Narrative of Middle Earth...Marion Baggins Out!!!
I would add attention to detail. Peter's drive to get things (all things) right gave the trilogy integrity and a solidity. From the first scene the quality is unmistakable.
I remember watched this movie at theater on 2002 (FOTR was released on 2002 in my country). I didn’t expect much coz I wasn’t a high fantasy fan that day, but I changed a lot after watched this movie. This was the 1st movie which inspired me to read Tolkien’s work and gosh since then I’m obsessed. Even Tolkien became the person who inspired me to learn about linguistic. I pursue my degree on linguistic because of him and his work. It’s hard to compare LOTR trilogy to similar fantasy nowadays. If Tolkien is the father of modern high fantasy lore (in books&movies) I would like to say that LOTR trilogy is the father of high fantasy movie. My mind automatically compare to LOTR trilogy whenever I saw high fantasy movie. I should agree, till today this movie still unbeatable.
8:0014:44 'Weeds of amazing, yet complex lore'? An overgrown, evergreen garden, perhaps... Great interpretation from a theatrical perspective, Yoystan!
LotR Trilogy is the only movies I can remember since I was a kid. I remembered when I was 9 years old I wrote an essay about it out of amazement. Every one knows these movies, every household has a DVD and everyone talks about it. Even in school, some kids talked about it. I have no words how impactful these movies are.
The Fellowship of the Ring, my most favourite movie of all time. The plot, the scenery, the acting, the costumes, the effects and of course the music make this movie a masterpiece, together with the rest of the trilogy. But this one ignited my love for LotR.
I first read LOTR over a quarter of a century before the Fellowship of the Ring movie was released. I liked the trailers I had seen but was well aware that doesn't mean the movie would live up to them, particularly after my very disappointing experience a couple of years earlier with Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. I was actually quite nervous when I settled into my seat at the theater. It wasn't long before I was grinning ear to ear! It was a phenomenal experience. Sure, the movie has its flaws, as all adaptations do, and there are a fair number of changes Jackson made that I disagreed with but it was still a masterpiece, as were the next two. I can't imagine ever having a movie experience that great again.
Hey everyone, I hope you all enjoyed this film essay regarding the FOTR! If you would like to see more videos like this one, just let me know! I absolutely loved making it! It was originally supposed to use footage instead of stills, but a certain company may or may not have copy right claimed that version of the video... so I hope this is okay!
Please check out my interview with Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd for more LOTR film content!
ua-cam.com/video/AqALArNmWV4/v-deo.html
Loved the animated intro! Nice touch. Happy holidays!
thats understandable but these videos like all your vids are really cool i enjoy them and bet many fans of yours do also
@@shadowofchaos8932 yeah agreed its very cool
It is always great to see something you are so passionate about.
Thank you Yoystan, you are the cornerstone of the Tolkien community. I love your videos
Now that I'm 51 I identify emotionally with King Theodin and Denathor like never before. I used to think their characters were boring. These films age with you.
Théoden*
Denethor*
Not attacking or mocking, just a nerd 😎
100%.
@@RichieNicksGeeking I'm surprised it took a whole day, really.
@@soundrevolver886
Right? 🤷♂️
I’m 41and I still identify emotionally with Pippin.
FOTR is a Christmas movie! It's not Christmas until the Fellowship departs Rivendell! So be sure to leave out some Lembas, Pipeweed, and Salted Pork on Christmas Eve!
The last of which was particularly good!
I could not agree more about them casting the perfect actors for those roles and the chemistry between them. No actor in any of the 3 movies did an average or bad job, they were all terrific.
I was 13 growing up in NZ when the Fellowship of the Ring was released. It was a great experience because my whole family loved the movie and it was something I could share with my mother. She loved the music and Aragorn and I was 13 and obsessed with Orlando Bloom. Despite hating school I had these films coming out along with the Harry Potter books being written, what a beautiful time.
I will never forget the night that my mother, a Tolkien fan since sometime in the 60’s, finally saw Jackson’s vision of Fellowship. I did not get to sit next to her in the absolutely packed theater here in our town, so we only caught up to each other after the film was over. Naturally, the first thing I asked her was, ‘What did you think?’, and her heartfelt response was, ‘I don’t know!’ Mind BLOWN!
It got even better after we came home, when she proceeded to launch, bone sober, into a comprehensive history of Middle Earth, just in case some of us didn’t get it.
The Lord of The Rings was her very favorite book, Peter Jackson’s vision of it, her favorite movies.
She was 68 at the time, and was giddy as a schoolgirl. I will always remember her this way. ^_^
That’s a beautiful memory.
@@TJSaw Yeah, it sure is. Thanks.
Thank you for sharing that story! It warmed my heart on a snowy day.
I remember going to the premiere, I had to sit in the front row. I had just turned 17 back then and it was my birthday. Good times.
I got to see all 3 of these in their extended glory in 2019 in theatres. Best movie experiences of my life.
I wish I did but my local theater played the original Jurassic Park. It was cool but not lotr
Oh, you lucky bastard!!! ^_~
Super jealous
As a Kiwi I can't even begin to quantify even the effect these movies had here, people will say it isn't a NZ story which is fair, but it really is a story that this country brought to life. It might not be a story of our nation, but it is one made by it, and it speaks volumes in that regard. As it stands, it is embedded in the modern culture of this country.
I'm going to have to, respectfully, call BS on that one. Far as I, an American, am concerned, this IS a Kiwi story! If it wasn't your beautiful country and your, if I may be frank, slightly crazy people, none of this would have been possible!
If I'm ever fortunate enough to visit your shores, my first night in the pub there's going to be one round on me as a thank you for bringing these movies to life!
God Bless you, New Zealand!
@@GrayNeko Man I just was reading some LOTRs twitter talk thingy so seeing this is freaky. Anyhow, I should say you aren't wrong and that is to a degree what I was saying, LOTRs isn't a story about NZ, but the creation of the movies certainly is. I did a course on Kiwi Culture at uni and even in that fully academic setting it was addressed, because while not a story of us it was that impactful on showing what we are in that creation. A better way to say it might be that it became impactful to us not because NZ is Middle Earth, but that we made NZ become MIddle Earth.
@@jarlbreadmaker Yup! NZ will always be Middle Earth for me. If I ever make it to your fair shores, the first round's on me at the pub! ^_^
@@GrayNeko as a Kiwi, I am proud to agree with both of you - and I will be waiting to take you up on that drink.🍻
@@susanscott8653 Looking forward to it!
I remember watching this in theaters as a 7 year old girl with my dad and falling completely in love with the story! 20 years later, of watching it multiple times every year, and I can still say it’s my favorite film of all time!
Its also my favourite film of all time 😃
Mine too. It’s an enduring classic.
"Nine companions......you shall be the fellowship of the ring"
The one aspect that I love about this film above all is that it brought all of middle earth to life! The characters, the history, the locations, all of it. Jackson brought this world to life for me and made it seem as tho I could physically travel to these lands. The film is what made me want to return to the books and become obsessed with it for the rest of my life ^_^
The Argonath. I pictured it in my but the grandness of the Statues was breathtaking. And the Witchking didn't disappoint.
Bombadil not being in the film was one of Jackson's best decisions. I, as someone who reads the books once a year, am glad about that. Just look at The Hobbit. I remember sitting in the theatre, and feeling like a parent. 'I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed.' On the other hand, the Rings trilogy was brilliant. Thank you, as always, for this video.
it's hard to believe that it was 20 years... I was 18 years old back back then and I was finishing high school. Seeing this film and reading LOTR books are one of the best memories of my teen years and even my life as a whole...reading and seeing LOTR was marked my transition into adulthood.
“All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you.”
That is one of my favourite film quotes, and whenever I watch the film and that scene again I am reminded to strive to be as brave and noble at heart as the Hobbits in these films.
Peter Jackson set out on an impossible task: to adapt a beloved series of classic literature with an unmatched legacy that kick-started a genre beloved the world over to film. He had to decide what to cut, what to blend together, how things should look, had the final decision on casting... and he had to do all this knowing that if he or the people involved didn't do something right, the particularly devoted fan base would be displeased. The fact that he and everyone else involved knocked it out over three films to the acclaim of most everyone (save for the few who think being contrarian means being intelligent) is a miracle. I feel so lucky to have been alive to have seen this films in the theater when they first came out.
The only negative thing I can think of the trilogy is how much people like it, and many think it is actually "better than reading the books". No matter how good the movies are, nothing beats reading a Tolkien book.
Because Peter Jackson put his love making this movie it has to perfect balance of CGI and using props each actor was perfect for the role at at least once a year I watch The Lord of the Rings trilogy New Zealand is Middle Earth
I just wish the same thing had been done with the Hobbit trilogy.
I remember how much I adored the LOTR trilogy when it first came out.
The adaptation of these 3 films captured the essence of Tolkien’s work in every way that was to be considered from the source materials.
The film industry can still learn alot from these films 20+ years later.
We are now forever thankful for all of the care and attention to detail that went into making these films.
Thank you, Sir Yoysten of Gondor… you bring great honor to Tolkien’s Legacy still.
It's amazing to see how someone can put into words exactly how many of us feel watching those films. Thank you dear sir
I was 14 when this came out. I had only read the Hobbit at the time, and I remember being blown away by the Fellowship. I’ve been a huge Tolkien fan ever since. Thanks for the video!
Truly a legendary adaptation of the greatest fantasy novel of all time. We will always keep this beautiful legendarium alive.
FOTR was released just as my university course in fantasy literature was wrapping up. What a way to end that semester with a bang!
Thank you for mentioning Howard Shore. This music really goes a long way into making the viewer identify with and FEEL what's happening. I use it in my classes in my soundtrack unit.
Channel called Listening In made 4 indepth video essays analysing this masterpiece of Mr. Shore.
@@titanscerw I have shown them to my music appreciation classes
@@paulwagner688 awesome :)
Most influential film of my childhood. To think it had stayed on top to this day is remarkable. The old that is strong does not wither indeed
I will never forget going to see this in cinemas when it first came out, 8 Yr old me was captivated and it was the first movie/genre (fantasy) that I became passionate about.
as a kid and teenager I used to watch the trilogy so darn many times that I know most all dialog out of my head. This summer I watched them again for the first time in years (and in 4k) and I had shivers and tears in so many moments. It made me realise how much these movies mean to me and how stunning and well made they are
One of my happiest childhood memories is watching this movie in cinema when it came out. Great movie and a fantastic adaptation of the novel. God Bless.
I love LOTR, it's been my favorite saga of all time! Nothing compares to this cinematic gem! 💯💎
These films have been such an important part of my adult life. Had it not been for Peter, Fran and Philippa I may not have ever entered Tolkien’s Middle Earth.
Whatever hardcore literary fans may grumble about, these films are IMO the best films ever made. And the films are what made me seek out the books.
It's the care and attention to detail from EVERYONE involved that really brings the trilogy together.
Giving Peter Jackson all the credit is ridiculously oversimplifying it. I highly recommend the appendices of the extended DVDs to anyone who hasn't already seen them.
The set designers, the costumers, the cast... EVERYONE was highly involved and in-tune. Things like Sir Ian McKellen reminding Sean Astin to grab Frodo's hand when he wakes up in Rivendell since Sam does in the book and "people will be looking for that."
Just the incredible attention to detail, and the willingness to utilize practical effects instead of relying on CGI allowed the CGI that was used to stand out even more.
The Orcs in LotR are SO much better than the Goblins in The Hobbit, just for one example. The Balrog STILL holds up better than literally anything in the entire Hobbit trilogy, and that was 2001!
i completely agree, though i have to say they did an amazing job with Smaug. Cumberbatchs performance and the whole design and CGI of him was in my eyes absolutely perfect.
@@dwightsmith3815
He's literally the only redeeming quality of the 2nd movie.
How anyone can rate LOTR below 99% perfect is beyond me. As time passes, it's gotten better, not more dated, more relevant, not less so, more beautiful, not less so. A film for the ages, LOTR might be the greatest motion picture of all time, taken as a whole. Certainly, it put's "epics" from the 50's and 60's into an the uncomfortable position of being out done in almost every aspect. The emotional weight, the intellectual value, the technical brilliance, all combine to make a truly classic motion picture. Saying that any piece of art is the "Best" is of course, just opinion, but LORT makes a better case for that title than most.
I was about 6 years old when mom and dad brought it home, I’ve been a fan ever since.
Hard to believe it has been 2 decades since TFotR came out.
I first came to the books thirty years ago and they quickly became my favorite (along with CS Lewis) and they shaped a lot of my thinking, the way I was to see the world. In 2001, I had just graduated college, moved to Chicago on my own, and 9/11 happened. You have a before and an after, an innocence and then not. This movie could not have come at a better time. It was made with love. This movie was a release, an escape, a gift much needed in a dark time. I am so thankful for it. I don’t know if we’d have the Tolkien fans today (as in a good part of you wonderful lore UA-camrs) if it wasn’t for this movie and the following two. Don’t forget, we have two more “20th celebrations” coming up for 2022 and 2023!
Thank you, Yoystan, for your wonderful videos and this one in particular. 🌟
Fun Fact: The Lord of the Rings entire journey started on Dec 25th (from Rivendell) and ended with Aragorn's Coronation (Easter Sunday) and the Hobbits return to the Shire (Pentecost Sunday).
Tolkien didn't do that by accident, lol.
@@shadowofchaos8932 I know. It's quite fascinating though. How Tolkien incorporated it into his story.
Now this is really interesting
what means Pentecost? i speak decent english but don‘t know all words. Im from Switzerland.
@@blackwolf4653 Pentecost is in the Church year about 50 days after Easter.
Happy 20 years my fellowship!
Thank you @menofthewest for graciously paying homage to this wonderful and timeless work by Peter Jackson on its 20th anniversary. All who were involved were the very best in the business. For me there has never been anything quite like it since. Every attention to details has never gone unnoticed. Bravo my friend, well done as are all your videos. Also, thank you so much for the work you put in sharing your thoughts and knowledge of all things Tolkien..💖🌠
Gonna rewatch the trilogy this week. I rewatch the movies every two years, and now for the first time in 4K due to the new Blu Ray release! Even tho I've seen it like 10 times already, I keep getting excited to watch it again. Which is saying something because I rarely rewatch movies. Just like the books, they are just timeless to me:)
Very much enjoyed this. The LOTR films are my favorite of all time, I first watched them when I was 13, 9 years ago. They got me interested in the franchise. They are faithful adaptations of Tolkien's films, the landscapes are breathtaking and places like the Shire, Rivendell and Minas Tirith are well done. The characters are well developed and it feels authentic with minimal CGI. The costumes are well done and fit well with the lore. Of course they cut some things like Tom Bombadil but that's inevitable, they left enough to make the story coherent. I read the books 2 years ago and really enjoyed them, they are more lore-heavy and there are even appendices at the end which give more background on the history of Middle Earth and how the languages were made. I even got a 3d Middle Earth map in my room for my 20th birthday. Your essay was very well done Men of the West!
This is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE MOVIES in the whole wide world!!!!!!!!!!!!
My favorite movie trilogy of all time. I know it has deviations and book and lore purists have every right to gripe. But as their own thing they are marvelous. I will never forget watching these in the theaters. Best moviegoing experience of my life. The cast set design, score and writing are top tier. These are films 50 to 100 years from now folks will talk about.
I first watched these movies when I was 5 back in 2008 and I've watched these movies hundreds of times now
Great film and films which are my favourite pieces of cinema ever. What also warms my heart is that it's cast likes it too - and each other. Dominic and Billy are litteral besties for life and the cast is still in touch (have you seen the rap video?) which may not always be public as several actors are more private and not on social media, but they are talking to each other behind the scene. I don't know why, but them having a good eperience makes me enjoy the product so much more.
This movie is a Classic! Sir Peter Jackson is to be congratulated for directing this trilogy of movies with an outstanding cast.
It's hard to believe it's already been 20 years and crazy to think this was the first film I've ever seen!
This movie was released in the same day as my birthday. Quite a coincidence that years later this movie would be my favorite one
Hi again! And thank you for making this video! This movie will live in our hearts forever! Happy 20th Anniversary and best of luck to the channel Men of the West from Mexico. 😊🎉🎊🎉🎂🎊🎉🎊
All these years later its nice to see Dune following the Lord of the Rings footsteps. Keeping the story grounded and filming as much on location as possible while treating the source material with the uttermost respect.
I think this is the first time I've ever seen Fran's face. She was always the silent party of the three and didn't appear much in the film appendices, at least not that I noticed. Don't think I got past Book II, besides certain artwork and very specific sections of the other 4. Now, back to your essay. I'd also like to take this opportunity to say thank you for all your hard work and dedication to Tolkien's lore and the extended lore of the films as I rarely comment but I greatly enjoy your work.
Thank you, Yoystan.
Onen i-Estel Edain, ú-chebin estel anim. Maigovannon Melon.
Such a great video essay Yoystan! I love your insight on the movie making and how Jackson made it possible to take something complex like LOTR into such an epic movie.
I still cry man tears when I watch these today. They are the best movies ever made!!!
A series that utilizes each and every aspect of film making to its utmost potential.
It's amazing Tolkien continues to have such a powerful impact all these years later. How many of his friends would ever have suspected that?
The crew referred to the miniatures as “bigatures” because they were actually quite large. They also reused parts of the Hornburg set at Minas Tirith.
This trilogy coined the term bigature
Great video! I ordered my Colorado map from Lord of Maps today. Keep up the good work. It’s much appreciated
Great video man, The Fellowship of the Ring is my favorite movie of all time and this trilogy is an eternal masterpiece!
LOTR film series has been one of the biggest movies I have ever watched as a kid growing up in the 2000's and I'm very proud of it 🥰🥰🥰
I just want an extended extended edition
Fellowship Of The Ring is my favourite movie of all time and has been for a while
Of course i was going to like this video. Your passion and a your true interest and love for Tolkien's work cannot go unrecognized. I, like you, am a big fan a Tolkien's world, and I also see it as my world. And it seems you're also a fellow thespian.
Keep doing what you do so well. You're an inspiration to Tolkien fans everywhere.
Beautiful essay. I was 14 when I first watched this film, and it was only afterwards that I began reading The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. This is the reason why I'm generally in favour of adaptations. Without this movie I would likely have never read Tolkien's works, and I'd wager that there are a great many readers who did the same after seeing The Hobbit films, regardless of their flaws. Hell, I bet that there are quite a number of Tolkien fans out there whose introduction to the setting came from playing Shadow of War (a game which I love despite its deviations from the source material).
I'm personally very optimistic about the upcoming Amazon show, and I see great potential for it to tell compelling stories about Sauron's rise to power, those who resisted his schemes and those who succumbed. I look forward to seeing the colonialist tyranny of Numenor under King Ar-Pharazon, and its subsequent fall under Sauron's sway. I look forward to seeing the corruption that spread through Harad and Rhun, how the Dark Lord brought the peoples of those lands under his rule, and more importantly the inevitable individuals within those peoples who would oppose Sauron's rise, doomed though their efforts may be. As has been said, Middle Earth is a vast and complex setting. My fervent hope is for the series to explore the parts of it which have thus far had little to flesh them out.
Oh, and I do disagree with you slightly about the LotR films not relying on gratuitous violence. Those movies do have plenty of graphic impalements and decapitations, it's just that they're generally happening to orcs.
Awesome work. These movies literally taught me a lot of basic life lessons on being a decent human.
It became a pop culture hit from the moment they hit the big screen (despite their flaws) and cheers to 20 more 🍻
What’s amazing is that the books irrevocably changed fantasy as a genre forever. And then the movies did the exact same thing but in a different medium.
It just goes to show how wildly influential The Lord of the Rings is.
I saw this movie 11 times in theaters as an adolescent and when it came out on DVD my parents helped me do my best to simulate a movie theater and invite people over to watch it.
I had read the Hobbit as a kid and loved it. But this movie got me into the LOTR books, which got me into the silmarilion and unfinished tales. Tolkien created something timeless and Peter did a good job highlighting it and bringing it to life
It’s a movie where the forced perspective, the CG, the models and miniatures, the characters and the world of fantasy works. It’s epic and one of my favorite movies of all time
The best film out of the trilogy imo! Changed everything!
Fellowship is my personal favourite film of the three, while i love the other 2 specially the epic scale of ROTK, i find myself coming back time and time again to the first one it has a cozyness not matched on the other ones.
The sad thing is they will never make great movies like this in the future. Movies and entertainment now just aren't the same as they used to be and are full of political propaganda and symbolism rather than being made for the purpose of entertainment and escapism. Tolkein's work was also inspired heavily by his faith as well as his experiences in the war and I feel as if many of his fans these days have either forgotten that or just don't know. I know that they (Hollywood and the entertainment industry) will not leave Tolkein's work alone and will do everything they can to basterdize and corrupt it. Not unlike how Morgoth and Sauron corrupted Middle Earth. Great video bro I pretty much agree with everything. God Bless and have a great Christmas and new year.
I'm glad Jackson left out the apologetics that people like the Tolkien Professor invoke constantly in ther discussions. It's nice to see things as just good luck instead of some absurdly complicated plan of an omniscient but arbitrarily benevolent deity. I agree that the past twenty years have seen too many films glorifying nationalism and war.
Honestly I think that my LIFE WISH is to watch LOTR trilogy in cinemas once again, unfortunally in croatia that will not happen, Yoystan amazing video I hope to see Two Towers next year, great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe you can...I brought my daughter and a few friends for a weekend in NYC when they played the entire trilogy with a live orchestra and choir at Lincoln Center. Technically we got a set of rooms in Holiday Inn on the NJ side, because it was much much cheaper, but we spent the days in NYC.
That version of the films have travelled the world, more than once, maybe they will get another show together and it will be near enough to be affordable. Never say never.
@@marieroberts5458 We still holding on to something, there is some good in those cinemas, and its wort fighting for!!
I am from New Zealand and am as proud of these movies today as I was 20 years.
I really enjoyed this video. Indeed, when I just opened the review of the two towers and learned you started with a review of th Fellowship, I stopped the review the Two Towers to watch them in order 😊.
I had not read the LOTR or The Hobbit prior to a seeing Fellowship. I was so utterly ensnared by the movie that I immediately purchased by stories and read them, ensuring I had read them by the time of the Two Towers launch (I’m a slow reader and read a ton for my work). So this movie began my long dive into Tolkien’s legendarium, including a visit to Cambridge.
One story I love to share about the depth of the amazing visual story telling is that my girlfriend at the time was convinced that the Argonoth was real and that we should book a trip to go see it. I was fairly certain it was not real given my knowledge of geography, but the movie made us seem so real that it drove people to want to see it.
Great video, Yoystan! Thank you for sharing thoughts! Tolkien's world is great!
I love this novel and the film adaptation of it! My father took my older brother and I to the local theatre to see it on opening night.
I was captured by The Lord of the Rings Movies and The Hobbit. This lead me to the books, and the lore of Middle Earth that are such great stories, that I will never grow tired of! Thank you JRR Tolkien and Peter Jackson for creating these timeless tails that will never die.
This Video Essay is magnificently well done! Excellent work Yostan!👑 🗡 🥳 🍻
The story lives on, you have the best LOTR Channel.
These movies were what started my obsession with all things Middle Earth, I don't even know where I'd be as an artist or a person without their influence. I had read The Hobbit in high school but didn't read the trilogy until after the first movie hooked me, and wow did it hook me. I'm trying to be as cautiously optimistic as I can about the Amazon series, as while I'm excited to see what they do with the stories I'm also concerned that things like nudity and politics will overtake and ruin it.
“But in the end it’s only a passing thing, this shadow; even darkness must pass.” -
Gandalf voice, "Lord of the Rings, look at you! 20 years old...you haven't aged a day!"
Your comment about the lack of overt sex is correct.
I hope the industry hears you.
Just wait the Directors Cut, when there is a bed scene of Faramir and Eowyn. It is 22 hours more in all.
Great video and information! 20 years of amazing memories and hopes for the future.
Hey, it's a year late, but thank you for the Lord of Maps link. I just ordered one because they look amazing!
Well done, thank you. Some great points brought up, as is often the case with this channel. Has it really been 20 years already... oh, boy, I could write many pages about this movie alone after having enjoyed and discussed it (and Tolkien's world) with friends over the years on many an occasion. I'll just try to avoid a wall of text (watch me fail miserably :-)) and pinpoint a few, in my view, crucial facts that make my favourite LOTR movie so good. It feels like the movie was made in a special point in time in cinema where CGI wasn't yet the go to solution for most of the content, and some brave productions could take place when stars aligned and properly motivated people got together. The writers decided to try and keep the 'poetic' nature of the world/story rather than using shocking violence/nudity/etc. I will not be overselling but rather underselling the importance of the OST when I say that at least 50% of the overall impact of Fellowship is Shore's once in a lifetime soundtrack. The actor chemistry and the way they adopted and played their roles with a rare mix of focus, intensity, humor and emotions made some of them have almost a special 'aura' in many scenes and indeed some of them will forever remain associated mainly with their LOTR roles. Absolutely crucial for the 'feel' of the movie was also the (mostly) measured hand with CGI use and instead banking on incredible masks/makeup/huge numbers of extras... that all makes for an incredible mix of scenes where on one hand you can 'feel' the orcs on screen, movements are natural, the care for what happens on screen seems more real to viewers, and then on the other hand when effects do show up, like the incredible Balrog, they don't feel over the top but rather properly arcane and done in a way that stands the test of time. Lastly, but no less importantly, the movie simply tells the story of the journey really well, without losing too much focus and in an engaging way despite omitting some incredible scenes/characters from the book (like many others I do have some gripes with the choices they made with the script, but the movie survives this criticism thanks to its qualities - which I cannot say of the Hobbit, in contrast). To conclude - the magic of seeing this as a teenager was palpable, will hardly ever forget it. As mentioned in the video, this movie did the really important and valuable task of introducing many into the fully fleshed, complex and impeccably written world of J.R.R. Tolkien and that alone would be a success.
I read the books for the first time in 1969. It seemed impossible at the time that they would ever be adapted for a movie. Twenty years ago, I went to the midnight show and was blown away. I finally got to see Middle Earth!!! The casting was incredible. The effects were spot on. Even without Tom Bombadil, it was amazing. Peter Jackson rocks!
Keep up the good work guys!
awesome video Yoystan loved it really looking forward to the next one
Man, the Films are 20 Years old...I feel old, even though I didn't watch these amazing movies for a while later...
I was passed my first birthday! Little Marion Baggins was too young to see anything yet!!!!
Man, and your right about it looking better than most of the MCU movies because they are way too heavy on CGI, Even in shots in a room! (The Room is CGI)
And BTW when if People make me choose between a *certain* MCU moment or a similar *certain* moment from Middle Earth Moment, I choose Middle Earth Way!!! (Between Portrals vs Pelennor Fields)
Thanks, Mellon, for talking about the Impact of the Greatest film Trilogy *See Steven Colbert LOTR Rap if you haven't* Until the Frame Narrative of Middle Earth...Marion Baggins Out!!!
Film one of the #1 Trilly! First time all three were film consecutively.
I would add attention to detail. Peter's drive to get things (all things) right gave the trilogy integrity and a solidity. From the first scene the quality is unmistakable.
Way to make a bloke feel old, even if I do not look it.
Not thin and stretched yet!
20 Good Years.
I remember watched this movie at theater on 2002 (FOTR was released on 2002 in my country). I didn’t expect much coz I wasn’t a high fantasy fan that day, but I changed a lot after watched this movie. This was the 1st movie which inspired me to read Tolkien’s work and gosh since then I’m obsessed. Even Tolkien became the person who inspired me to learn about linguistic. I pursue my degree on linguistic because of him and his work. It’s hard to compare LOTR trilogy to similar fantasy nowadays. If Tolkien is the father of modern high fantasy lore (in books&movies) I would like to say that LOTR trilogy is the father of high fantasy movie. My mind automatically compare to LOTR trilogy whenever I saw high fantasy movie. I should agree, till today this movie still unbeatable.
Still, the greatest birthday gift of all time.
8:00 14:44 'Weeds of amazing, yet complex lore'? An overgrown, evergreen garden, perhaps...
Great interpretation from a theatrical perspective, Yoystan!
I didn't know that you were in theater! That's so neat! What shows were you in?
West Side Story, Chicago, Noises Off!, Guys & Dolls and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella to name a few! Absolutely loved it!
LotR Trilogy is the only movies I can remember since I was a kid. I remembered when I was 9 years old I wrote an essay about it out of amazement. Every one knows these movies, every household has a DVD and everyone talks about it. Even in school, some kids talked about it.
I have no words how impactful these movies are.
The Fellowship of the Ring, my most favourite movie of all time. The plot, the scenery, the acting, the costumes, the effects and of course the music make this movie a masterpiece, together with the rest of the trilogy. But this one ignited my love for LotR.
Loved it :D
Wassup TBS
I still listen to the trilogy soundtracks often to this day. Can’t believe the films’ 25th anniversary is not far away.
I first read LOTR over a quarter of a century before the Fellowship of the Ring movie was released. I liked the trailers I had seen but was well aware that doesn't mean the movie would live up to them, particularly after my very disappointing experience a couple of years earlier with Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. I was actually quite nervous when I settled into my seat at the theater. It wasn't long before I was grinning ear to ear! It was a phenomenal experience. Sure, the movie has its flaws, as all adaptations do, and there are a fair number of changes Jackson made that I disagreed with but it was still a masterpiece, as were the next two. I can't imagine ever having a movie experience that great again.
LOTR with your voice and passion is a win !