The Fellowship of the Ring—the film that introduced countless cinephiles worldwide to the grandeur and mystique of Middle-earth, as well as the fictional characters who now feel as familiar as old friends— celebrates its 20th anniversary on December 19, 2021.
Fellowship and its ilk have inspired people for decades. For Lord of the Rings (LOTR) fans, the 20th anniversary of Fellowship's release serves as a reminder of how Peter Jackson's films made middle-earth more accessible, as well as influenced their views on men, morality, heroism and other perspectives.
Returning to the books and movies over the years inspired many fans to seek answers to life's big issues and to yearn to be swept into the epic story alongside hobbits, elves, dwarfs, and noble men.
One incentive to return to LOTR is that, unlike most fantasy novels, these books do not have a single protagonist or quest. LOTR is as much Sam's story as it is Frodo's. It's also a drama about greed, power and betrayal, as well as an epic story about a king restoring his birthright.
Women are generally absent from the picture, but in Éowyn, Tolkien shows a girl urgently attempting to defy gender constraints, who accomplishes what even males cannot: she takes down the Witch-King of Angmar.
Many people were inspired by Middle-earth to push outside their comfort zone and embrace breathtaking adventures and new experiences.
The king of Gondor, Aragorn, established unattainable standards. He was a just and virtuous king who ruled illustriously for 122 years, stayed true to Arwen, commanded the fellowship with bravery and kindness.
Aragorn was a healer, which was even more astounding than his charisma or battle prowess. If Frodo’s goal was concerned with the elimination of evil, Aragorn’s quest had to do with the reconstruction of harmony and peace after years of war and turmoil.
LOTR also emphasised the value of valuing friendships and platonic love. Frodo and Sam's friendship is a love story in and of itself, based on kindness and understanding, but devoid of sexual tension.
Likewise, Merry and Pippin's friendship is wholesome and clean. Legolas and Gimli, as elves and dwarfs, must overcome their biases in order to cooperate and interact with each other, with Aragorn serving as the human bridge between the two races.
The One Ring might be regarded as a metaphor for power's destructive nature. The absolute essence of power tempts and corrupts even the best of individuals if it is handled for an inordinate amount of time.
That is why, fearing the impact of the Ring, an aged Bilbo bequeaths his journey to young Frodo instead. And, in order to protect Frodo, Sam must facilitate him so that the two might share the heavy burden of the Ring together.
This, in turn, taught the value of not becoming overly involved and of maintaining personal boundaries at all times. Willpower and intention aren't always enough. Despite our best intentions, we are flawed and make bad decisions, and we need reliable friends and family to hold us accountable and remind us of our essential principles.
The Fellowship of the Ring serves as a reminder that success requires reliance and mutual cooperation. The One Ring could not have been obliterated if the small hobbit from the Shire had not received assistance and support, and Frodo might have evolved into another Gollum.
It's easy to be misled, much like Boromir, if you're not vigilant. Boromir, unlike Aragorn, desired personal riches and fame, and his deeds contributed to the dissolution of the fellowship, despite the fact that he was full of remorse at the time of his death.
Similarly, Saruman's decision to abandon his former companions in order to gain power ruined him. Communities, like the fellowship, can only thrive when members prioritise the needs of others over their own selfish desires.
Finally, Lord of the Rings serves as a reminder that evil cannot be entirely vanquished. It returns in various incarnations, disguised as characters such as Sauron, Saruman, Wormtongue, the Nazgûl, and the murderous orcs, aeon after aeon.
On the flipside, LOTR presents Gandalf – one of the most favourite fictional characters ever to grace the silver screen, an evergreen wizard with a shabby wizard-hat on the head and a mysterious stick that radiates powerful illumination when necessary.
Gandalf is at the heart of the LOTR series, who– with his enchanting charm of goodness– shows no matter what, virtue will prevail above evil.
