Disclaimer: Spoilers ahead

The Lord of the Rings holds a very special place in my heart. I love fantasy and adventure as genres for books and movies, and LotR has all the best elements of both genres. As a hopeful author myself, the complex world building is impressive and intimidating. Middle Earth, where the major parts of the story take place, will always be very iconic and has been developed beautifully. All the characters have been created with great care, each with their own personalities, flaws and strengths. Their interactions form the core of the story and we travel along with them on the quest to destroy the One Ring.

This film series is directed by Peter Jackson and consists of three movies adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien's novels of the same name. It all began with the release of "The Fellowship of the Ring" on December 19, 2001, in the United States. This was followed by "The Two Towers," which hit theaters on December 18, 2002, and the trilogy concluded with "The Return of the King," released on December 17, 2003. The screenplay for each film was written by a team including Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Peter Jackson. The films are well-regarded for their visuals, storytelling, and performances, standing out in the fantasy film genre.

The basic plot of this movie follows Frodo Baggins, a hobbit, and the rest of the members of the Fellowship as they travel to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring. This ring was created by the main villain of the series, Dark Lord Sauron, by concentrating evil and darkness into the form of a ring. It gives the wearer immense power but has a corrupting influence on them as well. It harbors the power to dominate all of Middle-earth, and its return to Sauron is sought to ensure his reign of darkness.

The movies start by giving the viewers a brief history of the One Ring. Sauron intended to rule the world with it by his side and bring eternal darkness. Through an intense battle, Isildur, the prince of Gondor, cut it off from Sauron’s hand, thus reducing Sauron to a fiery eye-like entity. This is one of the most well known symbols from the LotR series. Due to the corrupting effect of the ring, Isildur does not listen to his advisors when they ask him to destroy the ring. He keeps it and uses it for his own goals, unknowingly getting more and more corrupted inside.

The ring seems to have a will of its own, and this is shown when it betrays Isildur to his death and floats away, to be found years later by Bilbo Baggins, the Uncle of Frodo Baggins. The real story of LotR begins when Frodo receives the ring from his uncle and has to journey to a volcano in the Mount Doom before Sauron and his army can kill him and his friends.

To support Frodo in this perilous quest, a diverse fellowship is assembled. His gardener, and eventually his best friend, Samwise Gamgee, journeys with him in order to support and protect Frodo. The rest of the group includes Aragorn, a skilled ranger and heir to the throne of Gondor; Legolas, an adept Elven archer; Gimli, a sturdy Dwarf warrior; Boromir, a brave man from Gondor; Gandalf, the wise and powerful wizard; and other memorable characters. Together, the Fellowship begins a demanding expedition through varied landscapes.

The Fellowship's path is filled with hardships, including both physical and moral trials. There are multiple battles and narrow escapes that have us rooting for the protagonists. They navigate through forests, mountains, and confront the threatening forces of Sauron, including the wraiths sent to locate and retrieve the One Ring at any cost. Each member of the Fellowship faces personal challenges, and the group dynamics undergo testing. A critical turning point is at Amon Hen, where the Fellowship separate, and Frodo goes on with his quest with Samwise Gamgee.

The other protagonists, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli come together and become entwined in protecting Middle-earth from the armies of Sauron. They aided the people of Rohan in the Battle of Helm's Deep. Even when their win was impossible, Aragorn and the other characters fight on stating that it is “For death and glory. For Rohan. For your people.” Gandalf returns to their aid, along with the army of a neighboring kingdom, and together the battle is won.

As the War of the Ring gets more intense, the plot converges on various fronts. The Battle of Pelennor Fields presents a significant obstacle for Aragorn as he leads the Gondor army. Against Sauron's overwhelming troops, Minas Tirith's heroic defense serves as a ray of hope. Characters like Éowyn and Faramir's tenacity and bravery add depth to the story and draw in the viewer.

Frodo, Sam, and Gollum (a creature who has been corrupted by the One Rings for many years and has hence become insane) journey to Mount Doom, battling the Ring's corrupting influence. The climax at Mount Doom tests Frodo's character, with Gollum's intervention leading to the Ring's destruction and Sauron's downfall. Post-victory, Aragorn fulfills his destiny and rules Gondor, signaling a new era. The characters' transformations and sacrifices highlight themes of friendship, sacrifice, and the fight against evil. The trilogy concludes with the hobbits returning to the Shire, forever changed. Frodo eventually leaves the Shire forever since he cannot go back to the way he used to live. It is a bittersweet ending to the great friendship of Frodo and Sam.

The narrative develops through a skillful balance between the various character arcs and the larger fabric of Middle-earth While Aragorn's destiny as the rightful ruler of Gondor is intertwined with the fate of the entire kingdom, Frodo and Sam's emotional journey symbolizes the human cost of the One Ring. The characters are guided by Gandalf's knowledge, and Gollum's terrible fall into obsession serves as a lesson. The utilization of several points of view enhances the narrative and enables viewers to empathize with characters on both an epic and emotional level.

Self-reflection:

Beyond the main conflict between good and evil, "The Lord of the Rings" delves into complex themes. The steadfast relationship between Frodo and Sam is an example of friendship and commitment. Characters like Boromir, who atones for himself by being selfless, are examples of sacrifice in action. The sad transformation of Gollum is a representation of the corrupting impact of power. The king's triumphant return highlights themes of fate and the circular nature of history. Environmental awareness is subtly incorporated as the protagonists deal with Saruman's industrial destruction. The richness of the trilogy resides in its ability to masterfully weave these issues into a broad story that speaks to everyone on a personal and universal level.

I can relate to several of these themes both through the experiences I have lived and what I have seen in my surroundings. My most favorite of all is the friendship between the characters. Frodo and Sam share an extremely special bond, and the friendship of Legolas and Gimli can put many present day friendships to shame. I aspire to be a friend as great as these characters, especially the undying loyalty Sam had towards Frodo. I consider Sam to be fundamental in the destruction of the One Ring; without his support and motivation, Frodo would never have been able to overcome the hold of darkness. Hence, from these, I have understood the importance of having friends and being the true friend they can count on during times of difficulty.

The next main theme is of sacrificing for the greater good. Personal morals, values, courage and willingness to make sacrifices are questioned, since we see the characters act for the better interest of all. As a leader, these are some of the things I will have to imbibe into myself. I have to be ready to shoulder the responsibility in case something goes wrong and protect my team members. Aragorn is a great role model for a leader to follow.

The burden of bearing responsibility can also be learned from Frodo since he had to bear the biggest responsibility of all, the One Ring. He managed to wield the great power without giving in to its corrupting influences. The decisions we make as ones with power are significant and have a lasting impact on our relationships and our surroundings. Hence, practicing responsibility is essential.

From Boromir, I learnt that there is always a chance for one to redeem themselves and do something for the betterment of the world. He first betrays the Fellowship, but eventually proves his worth and his death is not in vain. Gollum is another character that shows hope for redemption. His internal struggles and moral dilemmas are relatable to every human being, but to be able to forgive and better yourself is the true test of life.

The story also has environmental concerns, particularly in the Ents' fight against Saruman's industrial destruction. It made me think of how we are destroying our earth with our constant development of the material world. The environment is one of the topics that I am passionate about and I will definitely work towards helping nature at an individual level.

The entire series is about overcoming darkness; the win of light over dark, good over evil. I see that there is so much evil in our world. There is also a lot of temptation. I will soon be entering the corporate world, and the temptations are likely to increase. Being able to resist the darkness and stay with the light will always be my personal goal. Being like Gandalf, who stayed with the light and eventually became a White Wizard, instead of Saruman, who turned to the darkness, is a lesson to learn.

Several of the characters leave behind a great legacy. They will be known in the history of their world as heroes. I want to be able to leave my mark on the world as well. Whether I do it as in the corporate world or the literary world is yet to be seen, but I am certain that I will try my absolute best to do so.

Finally, the journey itself is a representation of life. There are so many ups and downs, wins and losses. We meet so many new people and lose so many connections. The lessons we learn along the way and the friendships we make are the true treasures of life. Material possessions are not the only important things in life, we must value our personal journeys and how they affect the world around us.

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