Movies that Define Cinema: The Lord of the Rings trilogy by Peter Jackson

My choice to do a movie, or movies, so recently made as a movie that defines cinema might be controversial to some, thought not like many read my blog. Regardless of the date of the making of these movies I feel it cannot be denied that this trilogy alone has defined visual storytelling as well as the Hollywood epic. Most of you know the story of the one ring by now and the quest of Frodo the hobbit to destroy it if not from the movie than from the books. So I will not focus on the narrative but rather on the filmmaking itself. Our introduction to Middle-earth comes to us in the first film through a narrative by Galadriel of the woodland elves. The narrative is brief, beautiful, and haunting. It is filled with images of grandeur and terror as the ring controls Isuldur and we see his dead body floating. From there we are given beautiful scenery in the land of the hobbits, the Shire, a heretofore unprecedentedly real, lush, and believable habitat for the curiously delightful hobbits. We go on to see the waterfall paradise of Rivendell, the eyepopping splendor of Galadriel's kingdom. We see giant statues from an older age of men. We see ruins from past ages. The grand fortress of Helm's Deep, the white city of Minas Tirith, the desolation of Osgiliath, the spire of Isengard, the entire land of Mordor is spectacle to behold. The key here, the dominating factor is that these places do not feel like sets, but instead feel like lands that have been walked and lived in by men who cease to exist which even the best true historical epics fail to do. Notice in Gladiator how false the Colosseum and all of Rome feel compared to the raw feel of Edoras or even Minas Tirith, the cities and lands feel real, feel old, feel as enchanted as we are led to believe. Outside of the mere sets are the effects used in the movie, how wise Jackson was in his use of effects. Here is a director who has used special effects in total aid of the film and medium of visual storytelling. We never feel as though we are watching a ton of CGI creatures, but rather a living breathing world. Consider for instance the Battle of Helm's Deep, a huge setpiece battle in the movie filled to the brim with CGI but tell me where it is, tell me where for sure you literally see it. Beautiful. And then there is the spectacle. Lord of the Rings is full of moments of such sheer awe as to have never been seen before in movies such as the moment at the end of the aforementioned battle as the sun rises and Gandalf appears at the top of the mountain, his white robe and stallion glowing. Listen as the music turns and Gandalf rides as hundreds of troops follow him. This is perhaps one of the most visually glorious scenes ever put to the screen, tell me your hair didn't stand on the back of your neck or that your eyes didn't water. There are many moments like that, but the real balance is the movie never feels heavy handed in its need for the spectacle, it fits right in. Now let us talk a small bit about the characters. Here is truly a battle of good and evil, the good guys are noble and just and the bad guys have no reason to deserve life. While in some regards this is a simplstic view of the world, it works as a powerful allegory of light versus the darkness and good versus evil. I cannot recall a character more noble than Aragorn, more wise and merciful than Gandalf, more spirited and full of good than the hobbits. On the other hand the orcs are driven by nothing but evil, there is no good in them. Not even the most terrible murderer can be said to be as evil as these creatures are; watch as they kill and eat one of their own. Then we have Sam, Frodo, and Gollum. These three characters represent the emotional weight. Yes the other parts are emotional and beautiful and grand, but without knowing the war that wages in Frodo there wouldn't be as much worth in the story being told. Frodo rests in the only gray area of the movie. He is a hobbit driven by his desire to do what will save all of middle-earth, but the ring he bears is killing him, tearing him down. On one side of him is Sam who no one could ask for a better friend, and on the other Gollum who is not evil, but is controlled by it no matter how far he seems to free himself from it. There is a seen of tenderness that is one of the most beautiful exchanges of friendship when Sam asks Frodo is he will ever be in books and little hobbits will ask "can we hear the story of Frodo and the ring?" To which Frodo responds "I wanna hear about Sam, Frodo wouldn't have made it far without Sam." You know the moment. There is so much to write about why this movie defines cinema, but I think you get the picture.